Topic: Paul Garon Article on Race

[doctorpep]

http://www.bluesworld.com/WHITEBLUES.html

The above is a great article about the role that race plays in the Blues world. I'm not sure why he felt the need to bring Rodney King into the mix, but the article is certainly worth deeper discussion. One thing he failed to mention, though, is that blacks found the music so appealing because of the vocals and lyrics, whereas whites tend to obsess about guitar explosions (and how much of a trucker you can look like). Or maybe those are just my feelings.

[eagle rockin daddy]

What a read!  There is so much that I could say, but I think I'll just agree with his statement that talent is colorblind.

I know this is important to a lot of people, but for me, well, life is too short.  I guess I take a very micro, personal view that I just like this music, for some reason I have spent 40 years learning how to play and sing it, and I like playing it, and sharing this with friends who feel the same.

Mike

[RobBob]

I think Paul felt/feels a need to defend blues for Black musicians.  There are lots of folks, black, white and other who also love blues.  They play it and they may take jobs from black folks.  I lose gigs to folks who just want to play and do not care if they get paid.  Anymore, the servant class in America does not wear any one skin color.  Perhaps that is why so many of us like the blues, no, love the blues.  I have played blues with lots of folks and it was my older, Black mentors to whom I owe much in life and more in music.  If only we could recognize skin color in the same way we see hair color, we'd all be much better off.

[eagle rockin daddy]

  If only we could recognize skin color in the same way we see hair color, we'd all be much better off.

Heard any good blonde jokes lately?

Robbob, your point about pay at clubs is well taken, but I think that is another issue than race. 

Mike