American Blues News - "Dedicated to the promotion and celebration of the Blues."

(Pittsburgh, PA) On March 29th, California University of Pennsylvania offered a unique blues event where the history of women and the blues was presented.  What a great evening in honor of Women's History Month!  The guest of honor was Gaye Adegbalola, who shared with Roddy Barnes, her sheroes with a one evening Neo-Classical Blues Concert.  The purpose of the event was to show the strength of women through blues music selections and artist discussion. 

Ms. Adegbalola is more than qualified to offer expertise in this arena.  She was named the Virginia State Teacher of the Year in 1982.  She is a Blues Award Nominee this year.  With this nomination, she hopes to have a pair of awards sitting on her mantle!

It was evident that Roddy and Gaye, who have been working together for a while, have a great friendship.  They appeared dressed up in the spirit of great blues divas of the 1920s and 30s, with a bit of a twist, as both were donned in tuxedos.   The grand piano on the stage added to the element of moving back into time, rather than using an electronic keyboard of today.  Though dressed formally, their stage presence was informal.  As laid back hosts of their own party, they invited you in to just relax and enjoy the show.  You were drawn in to listen to the stories and enjoy the music, though the reality was the content of the show was really quite serious as the origins of blues music and lyrics and how lives were written to share sad, often intense, moments of a life were brought to life. 

Ms. Adegbalola offered her interpretation of song lyrics of the 20's and 30's, that are still pertinent for today.  As I spoke with Gaye a few days later, I discussed with her how I wish I would have taken my daughter to see her show.  She touched on topics such as pregnancy with the song,  'Careless Love'. 

When i wore my apron low
Couldn't keep you from my do'
Fare thee well, my honey, fare thee well

Now i wear my apron high
Scarcely ever see you passing by
Fare thee well, my honey, fare thee well

When Gaye performed this song, she used hand gestures to depict that the girl's apron was cut low.  When she began to sing the second verse with a circular hand gesture, she depicted that the apron was high due to a woman carrying a baby.  This was a song of consequence that still can hold true for today's world.


Keep in mind this was an event to recognize Women's History month.  And as I talked to Gaye, she shared that women are quite resilient, including herself.  Gaye has lived through life threatening cancer, oppression from being a woman, oppression from being a black woman, and heartbreak.

During the show Gaye shared that Bessie Smith was a blues woman who owned her own railway.  Can you imagine anyone owning a railway during the depression.  Let alone, a black female?  She shared that Memphis Minnie was always the lead guitarist to her husbands who played rhythm.  And, as I write this, it just occurred to me that women as a whole probably weren't even able to vote.  But here you have yet another example of strong black women who could take the lead of a band, of a song, of their lives. 



I would recommend this performance to any woman's college, since it shows the strength that women have.  I would recommend this performance to any parent with a teenager.  If you have a teenager, you probably are well aware that they feel that you couldn't possibly know or understand what they are talking about or feeling.  Possibly our teenagers could come to realize that the issues of the past are unfortunately the same issues of today. And, yes we lived through them too.  I would recommend this performance to any men's college.   Men aren't the only ones who should be written in the history books.  And, women can be pretty strong when given the opportunity.  Our sons of today, should know and realize this.     

The following day, a lecture, History of Women in the Blues, was presented.  Video and audio clips of Bessie Smith, Billie Holiday, Rosetta Thorpe, Big Mama Thornton, Etta Baker, Etta James and many others were featured.
 


Thank you Roddy and Gaye for an inspiring, enlightening evening. 
 
 




Copyright © 2010 Monica L. Yasher. All Rights Reserved.
Copyright © 2010 Maureen Ceidro. All Rights Reserved.