Stepping Up Stepping Out

More than music, the blues is everyone’s psychologist, confidant, personal advisor and friend. It erases lines and builds bridges between people by recognizing that life is the ultimate shared experience, one that is defined by both joy and sorrow. The blues is realistic; it keeps life in perspective offering frank discourse, humor and even “crying in one’s beer” as valid options for dealing with the tribulations that periodically come our way. In so doing, the blues is a refuge where optimism and human resiliency reign, souls are cleansed and spirits raised.

Stevie Ray Vaughan, who confronted his share of demons during his brief life, expressed it very well when he said, “The purpose of blues is to soothe. It makes people who were feeling bad feel good again. That’s the true feeling of the blues. It’s not a depressing music as some folks have been led to believe.”