Preserving the Past - Promoting the Future!

LONG BEACH BLUES SOCIETY

The Long Beach Blues Society presents Blues in the Schools, an exciting program bringing together musically-inclined high school students and professional blues artists at Long Beach Polytechnic High School, 1600 Atlantic Ave, Long Beach on Wednesday, June, 14. 

Students will experience a hands-on opportunity to work with established blues musicians who’ll encourage them to achieve confidence in their musical development.  Through direction and collaborations, students will gain understanding about the importance of performing an engaging live show.  Blues artists help educate the next generation in the blues idiom and the cultural importance of blues music.

Luckily for Long Beach Poly students, Janiva Magness, a Grammy Nominee herself this year brings experience, grace and class this program.  Her releases routinely sit comfortably in the Billboard Blues chart top 10 and has amassed 25 Blues awards nominations!  She’s also the second female to win the highly coveted B.B. King Entertainer of the Year award, which is perhaps the most impressive award for this amazing world-class performer.   

Life-long blues evangelist, legendary guitarist, radio host, and educator, Bernie Pearl, will share his history and development of the blues as one of the original American musical art forms.  Pearl has been central to bringing the blues to Long Beach as the creator and host of “Nothin’ But the Blues” on KLON and KJAZZ radio stations.  Bernie is also the founder of the Long Beach Blues Festival, one of the first successful blues festivals in the Southland.

LONG BEACH BLUES SOCIETY BRINGS GRAMMMY NOMINEE JANIVA MAGNESS TO GRAMMY SCHOOL FOR “BLUES IN THE SCHOOLS” AT LONG BEACH POLYTECHNIC HIGH SCHOOL.

 

Shy But Flyy and Southside Slim are two acts helping the arts flourish in Long Beach. Shy hosts open-mic events throughout the city and her band, Shy But Flyy & The Allstarz, have been performing throughout Southern California for several years. Southside Slim - also a huge local talent - add’s author to his many achievements in blues as well as working with mega stars Paul McCartney and Terrence Howard. Shy and Slim’s enthusiasm combined with Janiva’s and Bernie’s experience will create a dynamic and engaging experience for the students to enjoy and an extraordinary opportunity for playing together.

This event is not only special because of the amazing talent being brought together, but also has special significance due to its location. Long Beach Poly has received numerous prizes for its fantastic music program including no-less than six Grammy awards for music instruction. Under the direction of Chris Stevens, himself a performing musician with over twenty years of experience,  Long Beach Polytechnic has long been a  leader in the education of the next generation of performers and artists. 

Students attending Blues in the School and their parents will be given complimentary tickets to the New Blues Festival 4, taking place on Labor Day Weekend, Saturday, September 2 and Sunday, September 3, at El Dorado Regional Park in Long Beach.

“This is more than a school event,” explains Bill Grisolia, founder of the Long Beach Blues Society and creator of the New Blues Festival.  “It’s a wonderful opportunity for the music and education communities of Long Beach to come together.” 

For more information on Blues in the Schools and the Long Beach Blues Society, call (562) 762-8317 or visit www.longbeachbluessociety.org.

POLY HIGH SCHOOL NEWS

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