Today, the Blues Foundation announced the 2011 Keeping Blues Alive award (KBA), and our own Tom Wendt, long time host of Blues Power and Blues Junction (Second & Fourth Saturdays, 2:00pm - 4:00pm), won for public radio.
Here's what they had to say:
Radio (Public): Tom Wendt -- KBOO-FM, Portland, Oregon
When Curtis Salgado says, “When you meet somebody like Tom Wendt, you realize you can’t even carry his lunch pail,” one takes note. Wendt has been the station’s volunteer blues DJ, hosting “Blues Power” (now called “Blues Junction”) since 1974. A lifelong student of the blues, Wendt credits KPFA in Berkeley and Chris Strachwitz of Arhoolie Records with turning him on to the blues. Through his vast selection of modern and rare recordings, Wendt has been instrumental in helping his audience learn about and enjoy the blues. It is that dedication to sharing the music that has made him a mainstay of the blues in the Portland area. Whether he’s at the stage absorbing a new blues performance or sharing his experiences about legends who have passed away, Wendt is truly a living blues historian.
More information about the Keeping Blues Alive award
The Blues Foundation will honor 21 individuals and organizations during a recognition brunch on Saturday, February 5, 2011, in Memphis, Tennessee. Each year, The Blues Foundation presents the KBA Awards to individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to the blues music world. The KBA ceremony begins at 10:00 A.M. and will be held in conjunction with the 27th International Blues Challenge (IBC) weekend of events that will feature the final rounds of the world’s most prestigious blues competition and largest gathering of blues acts, as well as seminars, showcases, and receptions for blues societies, fans, and professionals on February 1-5.
The KBAs are awarded strictly on the basis of merit by a select panel of blues professionals to those working to actively promote and document the music. Nominations are accepted from affiliated blues societies, past KBA recipients and current members of The Blues Foundation’s Board of Directors.
“The recipients of this year’s awards – as with every year – are people and organizations who are an integral part of not only promoting blues music, but of preserving it as well. Their work applies to the business of recorded music, also to live events, print media, radio and visual broadcasts, and increasingly, the international blues community,” notes Art Tipaldi, KBA chairman.
Comments
TOM WENDT "Deserves This !!!!!!!!!!!"
<p>I have often listened , and always learned , from TOM WENDT, Saturday afternoons, from at least the late 90"s til present . And all the statements are correct ! When it comes to THE BLUES, Tom knows his s@#t !!!! It is always a surprise to find an organization that does awards of this nature, to get it right ! Congratulations TOM WENDT, you deserve it. See you in MEMPHIS !</p>
Tom Wendt
The Keeping the Blues Alive award is a huge honor that not only recognizes the passion and commitment of Tom Wendt, it is also a wonderful reflection on KBOO's format to allow such an outlet for the blues genre. Sadly, Tom may not be able to afford to make the trip to Memphis to accept the KBA in person and he has asked that if this is the case that I accept it in his name. Tom should be there! This is a once-in-a-lifetime honor being bestowed upon him by The Blues Foundation, recognizing him for his exceptional work out of all the blues DJs on public radio world wide. How can KBOO and the blues community come together to help Tom get to Memphis?
Greg Johnson
President, Cascade Blues Association
SEND TOM TO MEMPHIS
I couldn't agree more with you Greg. This is a HUGE honor for Tom. To be sure - it is also a great compliment to KBOO programming and will provide such positive visibility for the station. I would sincerely hope that KBOO management can find (and finance) a way for Tom to accept this award in person. The Blues Foundation is the premier organization honoring blues today. To be selected by them is impressive.
Well done and keep up the good work!
Wendy Schumer
Cascade Blues Association
Tom Wendt to Memphis
Since Tom's well deserved award also benefits KBOO, I think you should
have a fundraiser to help send Tom to Memphis in May to accept his award.
Terry
I will help get the fund
I will help get the fund raising support needed to get Tom to Mephis! We have an excellent music family and Tom has seen the magic when we all come together for all the right reasons and THIS is HUGE for Tom, KBOO ~ The Pacific NW music family are soooo proud to have Tom recipient of this award!!! Will KBOO meet donations raised to show appreciation to the yrs of volunteering Tom has dedicated to KBOO radio??? I challenge KBOO to meet fund raising donations to "Send Tom Wendt to Memphis to receive his "Keeping the Blues Alive" Award!!!
What great community support!
<p>Thanks so much, Jan, and everyone expressing their appreciation of Tom and his wonderful service to the Blues Community! As KBOO's Volunteer Coordinator, it's my honor and pleasure to work with Tom and other brilliant and passionate volunteers who work to bring commercial free music, art, culture, and information to the airwaves.</p>
<p>I agree, Tom very much deserves a trip to Memphis to receive this award in person. I will see what KBOO can do, but I believe it will need to be a community effort. Please contact me if you have thoughts about raising funds to support Tom as he is recognized for his long-standing contributions to the Blues.</p>
Keeping Blues Alive Award
So glad I moved to Portland in 1977 and was introduced to KBOO, George Page and Tom Wendt. I have been enjoying Tom's shows ever since. This honor is richly deserved by Tom, and reflects well on Portland and KBOO. I hope KBOO will endorse a fund to defray the expense of making the trip to Memphis to accept the award in February. As a working blues musician, I challenge all the other musicians in KBOO's listening area to contribute at least ten dollars as a thank you for all that Tom has done for blues music.
Congrats to Tom Wendt and KBOO
This award is a very big deal and well deserved for both Tom and KBOO itself. He has a wonderful show and Portland stations like KBOO make radio worth listening to. Is there some way to organize a something to make it possible for Tom to go to Memphis to personally accept the award that he has earned for himself and the station? Keep up the great programming KBOO... you make us Portlanders proud!!