A4. The Story of the Blues

They say “the blues had a baby and they called it rock & roll”. The blues gave us jazz, as well. The blues is fundamental to American popular music, and it’s got a story all its own, beginning on the black vaudeville stage in the early days of records and radio, then following the Great Migrations to Chicago, New York, and LA. The blues developed a family tree along the way, with different styles branching off the main trunk, shaped by time and place such as the Piedmont, Delta, Chicago, and Texas/LA Blues (R&B). This is that family history – and a social history as well.

INSTRUCTOR: Rick Hendra is a philosopher by training and inclination (BA: SUNY/Buffalo, M. Phil: Columbia U., EdD:  UMass-Amherst) and as much a polymath as possible. A born bibliophile, Rick was raised in an apartment full of books, now living in a houseful (25 bookcases – and 2 on order). Reading everything was good training for an academic career, and for 30 years he taught writing, critical thinking, leadership, community development, and organization theory at the University Without Walls, an experimental college for adult students at UMass/Amherst. For the past several years since retirement, Rick has pursued another career as a radio show host on community radio WCUW, playing the stories of American roots music. Also, Rick is co-founder of the Worcester Hot Club, nurturing appreciation for the era of 78’s. He lives in Oakham, MA with his wife and son.

NO REQUIRED BOOKS Instructor will make available 5-three hour radio shows, one for each unit.