Newsletter #10

Hey Blues Fans!

It has been a while since I put out a newsletter. I would like to fill
you in on a few things to get you up to speed with what this Blues
Society is doing.

Our biggest announcement is that the board of the TCBBS has
voted unanimously to hire Solomon O. Lopez as Executive
Director. He will be pursuing grants and sponsors as well as
helping us with our vision of educating young people about the
blues, and assisting us with live performances, recording and
other experiences he has in his arsenal of skills.

We are preparing to start offering classes and seminars on Blues
History as well as basic understanding of blues theory and the
common scales and patterns associated with playing Blues
standards, including the most common, the minor pentatonic
scale played in the 1st, 4th and 5th positions. Just teaching kids
how that works in blues songs would enable them to play dozens
and dozens of blues songs very quickly and participate in blues
jams with that basic knowledge. We will also be offering a blues
camp for kids, which is a 2-day event in the summer where they
can write songs, learn to play them as a group and perform at a
recital. All of that is in the works!

The TCBBS received a donated travel trailer which we have
stripped to the frame and are rebuilding as a mobile stage for
pop up shows as well as using it as a parade float. We are
currently having guitar raffles and shows to raise funds to
complete that project. Watch our Facebook Page for local
events.

We will also be giving another Scholarship out in May from the
Jak Payne Scholarship fund, managed by Celeste Trevino, the
fund’s Director. Last year it was given to Leonardo Riccardo, who
is currently attending the Berkeley College of Music in Boston.
March will bring our 2
nd Annual Poker Run. It was a great success
last year and this one will be our second. We have live
performances at each stop along the way (5 stops) and it is a lot
of fun.

April is Autism Awareness Month, and we will be having our
annual concert, hosted by Jonathan Carmony, our in-house
Autism Liaison. A great guy and performer that claims that
Autism is his superpower! There will be a $10 cover that will be
used to donate to an Autism charity. We have Donated to the
Autism Society of Texas and Autism Speaks in past events. We
also will be supporting an Autism Awareness fundraiser hosted
by the Pelican Lounge, on North Padre Island in May, 2026.
We will be having our annual elections for the board this
summer as well as the 4th Annual Jak Payne Waterfront Blues
Festival on June 27th. The line up of blues Artists will be
announced in May. We already have about 2/3rds of the slots
filled with some amazing bands! We have 5 bands from out of
town the local blues bands performing will be member bands of
the TCBBS.

I would like to remind everyone that any donation of cash or the
value of a donated instrument or vehicle to the TCBBS is tax
deductible. Our 501c3 is registered with the State of Texas and
the Federal Government, which authorizes us to issue tax
deductible receipts.
Also- please renew your membership if it has expired. We really
need your help to keep the Blues Alive!

Frank Butler
President
The Texas Coastal Bend Blues Society, Inc
admin@texascoastalbendbluessociety.org