Painting of DC courtesy of
OK Music Hall of Fame and KEITH BIRDSONG
Winners of the Blues Foundation's
Keeping the Blues Alive in Education, 1999 - (The Blues
Foundation represents 105 blues societies from 27 countries)
KBA AWARD
Birthday card for D.C from a Sadler
Arts Student, Muskogee.
Award winning Blues vocalist, guitar
player Selby Minner, left, accompanied
Jim Thorpe Academy’s Garrett McDonald
during concert at Jefferson Elementary
School. Torrence Bear Cushinberry on
drums.
Lori Goat 21.JAN.10. 2010
The students at Jim Thorpe Academy (JTA) were singin’
the blues and lovin’ every minute of it.
On Jan. 14, the children at Jefferson Elementary
School were treated during lunchtime to an exclusive
concert by JTA students, accompanied by Oklahoma
Arts Council’s Blues professional Selby Minner and
guitar player/vocalist Jerry Criner, aka Cryout.
“It takes courage to do what these kids have done,
especially with less than two weeks of practice,”
Minner said.
Eight days of practice, to be exact. During the
eight days, a dozen JTA students learned how to
perform a dozen songs. JTA students Brad Hill sang a
Bob Marley tune, Shawn Budka banged the bongos and
sang a Lynyrd Skynyrd song and Garrett McDonald sang
a Tracy Chapman song and an original tune by her
band “Ballistic Balinda.” Calvan Parker strummed the
guitar, James Hedge tickled the keyboards and the
remaining JTA students played percussion and were
vocalists as backup for Minner and Criner.
“This is very valuable for all the students,”
teacher Royanna LaHue said. “It helps them learn
about music in an enjoyable way.”
Minner is an inductee in the Oklahoma Blues Hall of
Fame. She was the bassist and singer with Blues
legend D.C. Minner for 31 years. She won an
international “Keeping the Blues Alive” award in
education and has been featured in the Living Blues
Magazine, Black Entertainment Network and on The
Oprah Winfrey Show.
“Blues is the foundation of most American music,”
she informed the Jefferson Elementary audience, who
jumped and jived to the bodacious beat.
Blues originated in the Mississippi Delta following
the Civil War. Its influence is African American and
it’s a combination of field hollers, ballads, church
music and what was called “jump-ups,” rhythmic dance
music. The Blues found a home on Beale Street in
Memphis, Tennessee, where it expanded into a
national craze during the 1920’s.
Minner also said that the performances develop
certain skills in students, like confidence from
performing in front of peers, working together as a
group, learning the disciplines involved in creating
music and basic performance skills.
“Performing in front of an audience is also the
supreme exercise in building self-esteem,” LaHue
said. “It’s very difficult to put yourself center
stage.”
Besides funding from a grant through the Oklahoma
Arts Council, JTA’s Dollar-A-Day (DAD) program
furnished monies, Gateway to Prevention provided
some of the instruments and First Baptist Church of
Shawnee allowed the students to use their facilities
for rehearsals. Pottawatomie County’s Redbud Arts
Council introduced Minner to the area last summer at
a meeting and concert to explain the Blues In The
Schools program.
BITS (Blues in the Schools) HITS THE ROAD
D. C. and Selby Minner tour schools in HIGH SCHOOLS in Kansas
City and ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS in the Davenport - Quad Cities Iowa
Area 2000
November 2000 was a good and busy time for D. C. and his
BITS program. He and Selby headed north with their drummer
Daniel Williams for two weeks just before Thanksgiving. The
MISSISSIPPI VALLEY BLUES SOCIETY has an extensive
program of presenting Blues to schools - in it's tenth year
- and it was exciting to get up there and be part of it.
They have performers in the schools for a week every other
month and one full month a year. They also host a
highly respected Blues Festival on the banks of the
Mississippi annually - some rate it third in the nation
behind Chicago and Helena.
The
DAVENPORT AREA
kids were great, as always. Mostly
elementary,
first thru sixth grades. Rock Island Illinois Principal Mr. Osborne
wrote us later that ours was "by far the best assembly we've ever had
at Longfellow. You wouldn't believe the excitement you created by
donating your 'gold and diamond' ring ....Again, thank you for providing
this wonderful opportunity for the Longfellow students.".
'So how does Blues in the Schools go?... What exactly do you do?'',
you may well ask. Fair enough. Kids love the electric guitar. And they
know this music, they just don't know it as Blues. D. C. asks them "Do
you know anything about Blues or Rhythm and Blues?" They usually say "Noooo".
We say "well - we think maybe you do!", and proceed to play Johnny
B. Goode. The hands immediately go up -"Chuck Berry!!" We
follow that with Stand By Me, My Girl, Lean On Me, Blue Suede Shoes,
etc. They know all these songs. So D. C. tells them "I think we have a
problem here - you said you didn't know any Blues, but you know all of
these songs. I think we have a problem with labeling. What kind of music
did you think this was before today?" The answers come back 'Rock',
"Country".....So we give credit where credit is due, to the Blues
and R & B.
With all this music the wiggling characteristic which is of every
elementary school (!) announces they want to move around. So we tell
them they can get up and dance as long as they stay right on that little
spot in front of their seat.... We then break into a Blues version of
Hokey Pokey or Itsy BitsySpider. Redoing their songs in a Blues style gives them a very
clear idea of what we're talking about; it's fun for them also. They
dance. Maybe then it's time for them to "get a chance to shout in school
- would you like that?" "Yes" comes back across the room, I line
out the words and we break into a resounding version of Hey, Hey, The
Blues Are All Right. You can imagine 300 or more kids singing their
heads off in a gym(!).
D. C. wears 12 rings on his right hand when he does a show. They are
quite glittery, a fact not lost on kids who can be pretty materialistic.
So he tells them "I have a bunch of grandkids, and before I left home to
come up here they told me they needed shoes. They want some tennis
shoes, and they want some good ones; they have to be worth at least
$50." He goes on "I haven't got any money (always a snicker or laugh at
this point) but I sure would like to trade a good pair of sneakers for
one of these rings .... anybody want to trade?" Hands go up,
shoes get waved in the air -- oh yes, they're ready for that! So then we
talk about it a little while longer, and point out that maybe they need
to look a little harder at the deal. We know the value of their shoes,
maybe they need to find out what the rings are worth. "How much?" they
ask. D points to one and says "Two dollars and fifty cents - but this
one is worth more; I got it for $3.00!" Cries of "Fake " can be heard
across the audience.. "No, not fake," D. C. says, "have you ever heard
of a costume? You wear a costume at Halloween, don't you ...well, I
don't wear this earring in my ear to the grocery store ...or all of
these rings...this is my costume I wear onstage when I play." Finally he
gets to the point that you have to be careful about strangers making
deals that seem too good to be true. If they seem too good, they
probably are. And to prove his point that these are not diamonds and
gold rings, a student is chosen from the group to pick a ring off of D.
C.'s hand, and take it to the principal. A gift to the school to be
given later by the principal to some winning student; in a raffle or
maybe a writing contest.
Before we go we always sing one slow Blues - usually The Blues Ain't
Nothin' But A Good GirlFeelin Bad. We remind them that
Europeans consider this music America's greatest contribution to world
culture. Also that there would be no jazz or Rock as we know it today if
the Blues hadn't come first. Lead guitar solos come from the Blues after
all.
We met a lot of wonderful people in Iowa and Illinois. Thanks to Joe and
Katherine, Denise, Jimmy and everyone!
KANSAS CITY
An exciting addition to the tour were the two stops in KANSAS CITY,
coming and going. Joni Mayberry of the KC BLUES SOCIETY set up
three performances. We jammed with the jazz band classes of
Reggie Mays and Clarence Smith at the Schlagle and Paseo Arts High
Schools. The Mayfield Towns Memorial Project (recently written
up in the Blues Foundation's Newsletter) has had these kids performing
at the KC Blues Festival and doing other things. Well - I'm happy to
report that the Kansas City tradition of long jamming horn solos is in
good hands. The kids were not timid about improvising, each taking
several solos in turn. (Count Basie's band used to jam all night, many
tunes taking 45 minutes!!) It was great; characterized as "magical" by
Mr. Smith.
We also had a long and productive afternoon at the North KC
Detention Center. D's quite a motivational speaker, with a lot of
street experience. At risk kids are one of our favorite groups. They
have the Blues, and they know it. They're usually pretty smart and
creative too. Smart enough to know when they're bored, and creative
enough to do something about ... just something 'outside of the box' of
acceptance, is the only problem. So we speak of finding your passion in
life...a way to express that creativity that will work for them
and not against them. The full afternoon confirmed again my contention
that teaching guitar in the normal school curriculum would catch some of
these kids that are falling through the cracks of our educational
system. Their teacher Brenda said she plays some guitar, and would
try to put a class together when she saw their interest. Joni Mayberry
said she would try to scrape up some guitars. They already let Blues
Festival goers attend the show free if they show up with instruments to
donate to BITS. Up till now they usually get horns.
Kansas City is a real Blues town, running over with talent.
Jammed at the Paradox Club with D. C. Bellamy.
Also at the Grand Emporium. Met
Lady B - Brenda - who played flute, sang great Blues and is the
sister of OKC's Bluesman James Walker. Wendy Neutzler
- who helped us get Linda Shell here at Dusk 'til
Dawn 3 years ago - interviewed us live and pushed our new CD
MORNING TRAIN on her AM Blues show on KKFI. They
feature over 40 hours of Blues programming a week - just
imagine!! It was red carpet treatment all around. Our
hats off to Joni Mayberry!
UPDATE
Since this trip both DC Bellamy and Lady B
have played the Dusk til Dawn Blues festival - both were
highlights of the Fest.
UPDATE:
scroll down and read about DC and Selby at Tahlequah High
School in Feb, 2005
DC and Selby
Minner have been doing Blues in the Schools (BITS)
work since the 70's and have been on the roster of the
Oklahoma Arts Council since 1990. Both as Touring
Artists (fee supported Assemblies and Concerts) and
Artists in Residence, a 20 hour / week program
which puts kids onstage -in the band!Fun!
New experiences build confidence and courage which cross
over from music to any new thing they may later try.
Sadler Arts sings
the blues!
Please call with questions
Selby (918) 473-2411
or email dcminner@lakewebs.net
Oursong list of 50
tunes from which the kids choose includes: Blues
Suede Shoes, Dancing in the Streets, Lean On Me, Hey,
Hey, The Blues Is All Right, Johnny B. Goode, Mustang
Sally, Pretty Girls, Respect, Proud Mary, Rock Around
the Clock, Stand By Me, Standing on Shaky Ground, Sweet
Home Chicago, The Thrill Is Gone, Lets Do The Twist, We
Are Family, Give Me One Reason To Stay Here, Hokey
Pokey, Itsy Bitsy Spider.....
Press of interest...
Two articles on our work in ALTERNATIVE
ED schools
Locust Grove Learning Center
INTEREST IN THE ARTS
KEEPS KIDS IN SCHOOL
by Cody Bannister, printed in
the Ardmoreite, May 1 1998
With only three day's rehearsal under their belts,
students at the Take Two Academy (Ardmore OK) took the
stage with blues musicians D. C. and Selby Minner as
they sang, danced and played percussion alongside the
blues band.
"These kids will work hard
for something they want to do," said D. C. guitarist and
leader of Blues On The Move. "I tell them play equals
fun, so when you play and instrument, you're supposed to
be having fun."
The Minners travel the country from
California to Martha's Vineyard, putting on shows with
the help of school students. They use music as a
teaching method. Math is used to keep the beat, Reading
and English in the lyrics, and physics in the sound
waves.
According to Bob Haynes, director of
alternative education, alternative academies require one
arts and education project pre year. Last year the
school put on a play. This year it went for something
different.
"Lots of youngsters labeled 'at risk' are
interested in the arts, whether it be drawing, poetry or
music," Haynes said. "This is and attempt for children
to perform who might not have qualified for it in other
schools."
Haynes said students in the Take Two program
were often left out of school functions because of
discipline problems. ...
"There are two things musicians look for --
wealth and immortality." D.C. Said. "I've been playing
music for 45 years and haven't got rich yet. Now I'm
trying to cash in on immortality by getting kids focused
on music. If any of these kids get started in blues,
they will remember that old black man who came to the
school and showed them how it was done, and I'll be
alive as long as they remember me."
The music works it's
magic at Dusk til Dawn Blues Fest
FAVER SINGS THE BLUES:
ARTISTS SHARE SOUNDS, HISTORY W STUDENTS
by Lola Taylor, Guthrie News Leader
Guthrie student Jennie
Stewart stood on the tips of her toes, strained her
neck, and still her mouth could not reach the
microphone. She tried to find a different angle, coming
around the side of the microphone in an attempt to find
just a bit of amplification. No luck.
The introductory music reached it's
crescendo. The first verse was upon her. She closed her
eyes, threw back her head and did the only thing she
knew how. She belted out "Proud Mary" from the depths of
her soul, wailing as if she deserved the title "Miss
Blues".
Expecting a muffled, inaudible sort of
whimper, the crowd immediately quieted to listed to
unexpected talent.
Admittedly, Stewart is an amatuer blues
artist, trading secrets with Faver students who have
dabbled in the trade for merely days. But she's talented
and spunky, an attribute that delighted D. C. and Selby
Minner, her mentors for the week.
It is titled 'Blues in the Schools', the
Minner are touring the state in order to educate and
introduce students to 'America's First Art Form'
(sic: 'A music Europeans recognize as America's greatest
contribution to world culture'')
The Minner's project is entering it's second
year at Faver where they returned to teach their craft
to students ready and yearning for musical guidance and
itching to strum and sing.
Performing since Tuesday for the students,
the Minners have attempted to introduce the finer points
of blues, if not by instruction at least by osmosis.
When not dazed by sheer talent or deafened by
the echoing electrical guitar, Faver students learned of
history, legends, inside jokes, the source of 'original'
tracks, and about 'faking it'.
And, if they really listened, beyond D.C.'s
good natured wisecracks and the muffle of whispering
peers, they got a philosophical lesson on life.
"To be good at anything, you have to practice
and practice. It's like that in anything you do," D.C.
said into a microphone that didn't seem to amplify.
D.C. played in the corner the entire week
with a slouching hat that seemed to beg for a darkened
smoky lounge and the company of soulful artists
The corners of his mouth curled in a smile as
he plucked the electric guitar. He was truly happy;
happy to play and happy to accompany the amateur yet
inspiring voices of Guthrie students testing their
talent and octave range.
He was known to offer advice, stopping the
music entirely at one point to offer constructive
criticism.
"You're too flat," he said.
"You've got to do something with your voice.
Listen to the rhythm and the beat, and then start singin',"
he said.
He didn't want perfection, only a
distinguishable rhythm and students willing to try
despite the inevitable squeak, squeal or twang.
There was one contingency, however. For the Friday
performance, participating students had to choose
a blues selection.
"No Snoop Doggie Dog. I'm not playing
anything that barks," he said.
There were giggles, no groans from the crowd.
For the next two days, students wrestled with
lyrics, laughed, learned from mistakes and turned to the
Minner's for any last minute advice.
And then there it was, spoken magically
between "Born to be Wild" and "Rockin' Robin" - the
cardinal sin of music.
If concentrating upon the jingling
tambourines it was easily missed, but for those leaning
in and reading lips, it was decipherable.
"Never stop in the middle of the song. It's
the absolute worst thing you can do." D.C. said.
"Whatever you think is a mess-up, may not even be
detectable by the audience. So whatever you do, keep
playing."
Relying on professional instruction and
natural talent, the students braved the bare stage of
Faver School
"I'm not nervous at all," said Faver student
Johanna Rowley."I just want to get out there. It's just
fun, no pressure."
DeVean Thomas shared Rowley's calm. "I've
been singing all my life. This is what I've wanted to do
ever since I was a little kid," Thomas said
With passion and confidence, the group
stretched their vocal chords for a small but energetic
crowd.
And when the concert ended and the auditorium
emptied, a few lingered, posing as cleanup crew
for a spotless stage - perhaps secretly hoping the music
would once again play.
M
Music in your School and the funding to pay for
it!!
Selby Minner, is
currently on the artist in residence, and performing
artist roster of the Oklahoma Arts Council roster of
artists. The Arts Council will provide a Grant called
Small Grants for Schools which will fund a week
long Residency to bring music to your students! Selby
can walk you through the application, and provide
complete narratives for the grant essay questions in the
application. The narratives describe her music
programs, and how they connect with your curriculum.
Selby has
been doing ‘Blues in the Schools’ nationwide, and
particularly across Oklahoma, for many years. She loves
kids, knows music, and has even won an international
award from the Blues Foundation in Memphis for her work
– in 1999; the KBA (Keeping the Blues Alive) in
Education. Protégé of D.C. Minner she worked together
with him for 30 years and is a true blues master – a
singer/ bassist/guitarist. She brings in other band
members as well, and the excitement begins! Reach Selby Minner at
918-855-0978, 701 D.C. Minner St, Rentiesville, OK,
74459
dcminner@windstream.net,
www.dcminnerblues.com
There
are two options:
1. A
RESIDENCY WHERE THE ARTIST WORKS WITH THE STUDENTS FOR A
WEEK which
provides a complete arts experience and is easier to get
funded. Students get to be in the band either playing
percussion, singing, or dancing; hands-on music making
and performance!! The educational component is very
strong here, and that makes it a meaningful project for
the Arts Council to fund.
Second and simpler, but with a less sustained impact, is: 2. A CONCERT Performance/Informance
(an assembly program with the band for the entire
school) plus added WORKSHOP(S) or MASTER CLASS(ES)
Each of these programs would come in under the Small Grant Support For
Schoolsgrant, which will provide up to
$2000 from the Oklahoma Arts Council. The Arts Council
also requires a $200 match from you. This is an
incredible deal for your school! Together we will
design a residency that suits your needs. – up to five
classes per day, 20 classroom hours total per week.
We specialize in:
Alternative Education, Pre School, Elementary, Middle
School, High School, College, At Risk.
Why students benefit… and why music?
There is math in keeping time, teamwork is required in
playing together, and it takes courage to perform in
front of your peer group. We can also do songwriting,
and demystify the music business. With hard work and
determination all students can learn that music is fun,
and it’s cool!
The value of rehearsal:
•
as students practice they will see the music grow
•
they know they sound better every time…
TheSmall Grant Support is the grant
Small Grant Support For Schools will pay for
all the artists expenses. This is a $2,000. grant from
the Oklahoma Arts Council that requires a $200 match.
Your school can provide the $200 match, or you can run
the entire program through VSA Oklahoma, (a non-profit)
and they will provide the $200 match.
You must be a school
or non-profit organization to participate in this
program. To apply for funding you must first request a
login and password from the Oklahoma Arts Council. The
grant request must go in online 60 days before the
event/residency begins, and the Arts Council requires
that you mail in a signed contract (which I send to you
) the same day that the grant application goes in
online. After Grant Approval, we do the project, and
the artist(s) get paid on the day of completion. You
send in the Evaluation (online) to the OAC within 30
days, and the OAC sends their promised amount.
So let’s
get started!
In order to get a login from the Oklahoma Arts Council
you will need the following information:
Your DUNS, two signatures – the Authorizing Official
(principal) and the Program Director who oversees the
grant process - the number of people on your board, your
mission statement and a brief description of your
organization, it’s history and the constituents it
serves.
If you have any questions just
call Amy Knight at the Arts Council, her number is:
405-521-2931, or go to grants at
www.arts.ok.gov to get started. (getting the login
and password)
I will guide you through the grant process and provide
answers to describe our program, and how it will fit
into your arts curriculum, and covers the PASS
requirements. All narrative descriptions are tailored to
answer the specific essay questions in the grant.
I will
also help you with sample narratives which define each
of the two programs mentioned above that are available
to your school:
FOR A
RESIDENCY
Project Description Summarize the project in 2-3
sentences.
The Residency is 20 hours of classroom time per week;
usually done in four five hour days. Each target group
class will meet with Selby every day. The last hour
before the residency is over, Selby brings in a drummer
and another musician or two. Her band will then perform
a concert for the entire school– and the kids in each
target group get to be in the band!! They either
play percussion, sing or dance. Singing can be as a
group or backup vocals or soloists…whatever seems
appropriate to the situation and students involved. The
target groups can include any grades school, or the
entire alternative education school…or whatever you
desire.
Project
Description Describe the project in detail. If
applicable, list specific titles of productions or
performances. Include a description of community
partnerships.
The first day Selby Minner
and another musician on electric guitar perform for the
classes, explaining the project and we begin to pick
tunes. The students vote from a list of 50
age-appropriate R & B and Blues songs
The second day we start to
rehearse the tunes. Third day we edit – vote for the
strongest song choices, create a song list for the show
and rehearse. Day of the show the drummer comes in
early, we rehearse the students with the band on the
stage where the show will be presented, and then invite
in the audience and do the performance. If this is an
Alt Ed school we may go to the local elementary or
middle school to do the performance, say, during the
lunch period.
The residency includes
regional and national blues history, tying the music
(Johnny B. Goode, My Girl, Stand My Me, Stormy Monday,
Thrill is Gone, Lean On Me, etc. ) to music the
students already know (heavy metal, rock, country
Western, rap) an explanation of the blues genre and
mechanics to play it. Songwriting can be included. If
appropriate, students will be encouraged to bring lead
and bass guitars, keyboards etc. and play blues.
Project Description Summarize the project in
2-3 sentences.
Selby Minner and her band Blues on the Move will do an
informance/concert. This is a one hour event! Also a
hands-on workshop will be held at the school the same
week for students. The workshop will include regional
blues history, an explanation of the blues genre and
mechanics to play it. Students will be encouraged to
bring lead and bass guitars, keyboards etc. and play
blues.
Project Description: Describe the project in detail, if
applicable, list specific titles of productions or
performances. Include a description of community
partnerships.
Selby Minner, and her Band ‘Blues on the Move’ are on
the Oklahoma Arts Council roster of artists. They will
do a Concert/Informance at (your school). This will
include up to two hours of roots blues and the
instrumentation will be guitar, bass and drums and
keyboard. Selby is also an Artist in Residence OAC
Roster Artist and will do a related workshop on the
campus the same week. This will include a hands-on jam
session with students bringing in their instruments -
guitar, bass, harmonica, horn etc. and a discussion of
the cultural relevance of the blues and its history and
mechanics (chord
structures, etc) The workshop(s) will include regional
blues history, an explanation of the blues genre and
mechanics to play it. Students will be encouraged to
bring lead and bass guitars, keyboards etc. and play
music together.
Selby will also provide percussion instruments so all
present at the workshop can experience building a
rhythm, holding a 'groove' and playing
the blues!
Also from the Grant application, useful for either
project: As the legislature faces difficult budget decisions for
state agencies, how would the decrease or loss of public
funding for the arts impact your organization, project
and/or community?
We are an esteemed institution. Instruction and
experiences in the arts complete an education. Music
from the African American culture to celebrate black
history month… (or whatever)
…, is truly a fitting addition to the curriculum here.
This will work toward the future also through the
workshop, opening young minds to either their own
cultural roots or as a cross cultural experience. Selby
Minner is highly qualified to do this having been D.C.
Minner - a local blues legend from Rentiesville - having
been his bass player for 28 years.
Her current band includes Rudy Scott OK Blues Hall of
Fame Inductee and Drumming Educator Torrence Bear
Cushinberry as well and Homer Johnson, all great blues
players. Paying performers, innovators, and writers of
this music keeps the genre alive and gives our students
an invaluable hands on learning experience.
The workshop(s)
will include regional blues history, an explanation of
the blues genre and mechanics to play it. Students will
be encouraged to bring lead and bass guitars, keyboards
etc. and play blues.
SAMPLE Project Budget FROM THE GRANT APP
Expenses
Income
Outside Administration
$0
Cash Income
$200
Outside Artistic
$2200
Ticket Income
0
Outside Technical
$0
Government Support
$0
Marketing
$30
Other
$0
Facility Rental
$0
Travel
$0
Other
$0
Cash Subtotal
$2200
Cash Subtotal
$200
In-Kind
$0
In-Kind
$0
Request
$2000
Expense Total
$2200
Income Total
$2200
Budget breakdown Details: I will provide the bios for
the musicians we will bring, which will include a
guitarist to accompany Selby each day (she plays bass
and sings), the drummer and maybe another soloist the
day of the performance. Also the breakdown on paying
each artist.
N..B.: As mentioned above, there will be an evaluation
required by the OAC for you to access online and
complete within 30 days after the residency. Funds are
then sent as a reimbursement.
You pay the artist at the completion of her
work.
Sponsored by
F. O. R. Blues Inc. 501(c)3
Got a great review for our
work in the schools :
Sunday, February 27, 2005
Last
modifiedMonday,
February 21, 2005 11:49 AM CST
Tahlequah
High School students were
treated to some
"down-home blues"
music Friday afternoon,
performed by legendary blues
musician D.C. Minner, of
Rentiesville, along with his
wife, Selby. The show was one
stop in the band's "Blues
in the
Schools" nation-wide
tour. Photo by April Stone
THS
students get crash course in 'the
Blues'
By APRIL
STONE Press Staff Writer
Tahlequah High
School students got the blues Friday
afternoon, but not the down-and-out
kind of feeling.
Students were treated to a lesson in
history by legendary blues musician
D.C. Minner and his wife, Selby, in
the couple's national "Blues in
the Schools" (BITS) tour. The
Minners captured the audience's
attention by performing popular tunes
on stage in the Performing Arts
Center, mixed with some interesting
facts about how "The Blues"
influenced several other forms of
music.
Students
had a hard time keeping still in their
seats when the band opened with
"Route 66," and followed it
with "Ain't Nobody's
Business." Students clapped,
tapped their feet and danced while
they listened to music that was
written before they were born.
"What is 'the blues?'" asked
Selby, as she finished one song and
went into the next. "The blues
changed rock-and-roll and helped
create jazz."
Even though some people think the
blues just express sad feeling, Selby
said "blues music is about
expressing all the feelings, not just
when you have the blues."
The couple has been doing its BITS
tour since the '70s, and has been on
the roster of the Oklahoma Arts
Council since 1990 as Touring Artists
and Artists in Residence.
Some schools request their company for
a 20-hour program over one week which
puts kids on the stage with them. At
the D.C. Minner Web site, they
describe their efforts in education to
provide experiences for students that
help "build confidence and
courage which cross over from music to
any new thing they may later
try."
D.C. is an Oklahoma blues man who was
born and raised in Rentiesville, a few
miles south of Muskogee. He was
inducted into three different Halls of
Fame, including the Oklahoma Jazz Hall
of Fame in 1999, and the Oklahoma
Music Hall of Fame in 2003 that he won
by popular vote.
After a 25-year career on the road
touring with his band, D.C. returned
to his birthplace in 1998. He
re-opened his grandmother's
corn-whiskey house, once known as
"The Cozy Corner" and
re-named it as the "Down Home
Blues Club," and operated it as
an after-hours club for seven years.
The club serves as the site for his
internationally respected annual
"Dusk 'til Dawn Blues
Festival," that was founded in
1991. The festival continues to grow
each year with more musicians and
guests attending each year. Their
"true-juke-joint-for-the-nineties"
club in Rentiesville continues to this
day as a festival Site, preservation
hall and Blues Hall of Fame.
The couple describes their music as
similar to the "Oklahoma-Texas
style of T-Bone Walker, Freddie King,
and Lowell Fulson, with singing that
is relaxed and ingratiating, funky and
live."
D.C. kept the student's attention
Friday with his talent on the electric
guitar, all while wearing his
traditional 12 rings on his right
hand, and with humor that he uses to
help make points while educating
students.
"You know, most of us blues
singers got our start singing in
church," said D.C. "We
figured out that if we replaced all
the 'Oh Lord's' with 'Oh baby,' we
could take this song down on the
corner to the juke joint and make a
little money. We got to pay for these
guitars somehow."
He played one of the songs that had
been taken from the church and turned
into a blues song, titled "Don't
Let the Devil Ride."
"Now think about that; don't let
the devil ride, because if you let the
devil ride, he's going to want to
drive," said D.C. as he went into
playing the song.
They played some rock-and-roll in the
mix, when Selby sang "Magic
Man," and gave an example of how
a blues song could cross over and make
it to the Top 40 pop charts, when she
sang "Give Me One Reason."
The performance Friday was included in
the THS events during February's Black
History Month.
