John Rhys Eddins/President and Co-Chairman
John Rhys WHY DO I PLAY THE BLUES?
"My only friends were the kids of the Black folks who worked for my stepfather at The Flint River Inn. It was on those occasions when my stepfather was away that I got to hear what was to become a lifelong love. The Blues. Race music it was called then. The last selection list on the old Wurlitzer juke box".
In 1947 I climbed on a Coca Cola crate so that I could see the selections on my Dad's Wurlitzer juke box. The juke box was located in the night club section of a business called The Flint River Inn, located just outside Cordele, Georgia.
I climbed up there for the first time not knowing what to expect. There, in front of me, was a mechanism that contained a series of flat discs that played music. That music was listed in front of the machine in categories.
There was Country, Popular, Big Band, and way down at the end was a category called "Race".
Now I didn't quite know what to think about that so I dropped a nickel into the slot and pushed one of the selections in the "Race" category.
This music was different. It had a "beat". The snare drum was way out front. The harmonies were velvet. It was a Wynonie Harris song. The man was a monster. As soon as the record started playing, some of the Black folks who worked for my dad, started dancing and clapping their hands. One of the ladies picked me up and danced with me. I loved it. She later told me it was the blues I had played.
Called "Race" because it was predominantly recorded by Blacks for Black entertainment. (Sold mostly by white record companies however).
The feelings I felt that first time I heard the blues, will never leave me. A young man, just come from England to a strange and different land where the only new friends were Black people and their children, built a bridge in my heart. The loneliness disappeared and was replaced by a never ending love of all that is The Blues. The players, the history and the music have been an integral part of my life ever since and I'm sure will be until I die.
Bluepower will be the central gathering point for anyone in the world who would like to learn about The Blues and it's contributions to the American musical art form.
The life and death struggle of a displaced people trying desperately to hold on to a small amount of dignity and some remnants from their past, must be saved for future generations to observe and from which to learn.
But most of all I love the blues because it makes me feel good. It always has.
John Rhys Eddins/BluePower
David Kimmelman, Co-Chairman, & Chief Marketing OfficerDavid Kimmmelman is responsible for developing business & marketing strategy, affiliate & advertising sales & execution of strategic relationships.
Kimmelman has 30 years of significant brand marketing, promotion, merchandising & sales experience.
He was National Director of Promotions, Special Projects for ABC Dunhill Records. He was involved in promoting recording artists such as; BB King, Bobby Blue Bland, Ahmed Jamal, Pharoah Sanders, Keith Jarrett, The Four tops, Three Dog Night, Steely Dan, Jim Croce, Chaka Kahn,& Rufus, etc.
Mr.Kimmelman currently is CEO/ President of Kimmelmedia Motivational Solutions, and is part of Adventures in Advertising / 4 Imprint, one of the world's leading brand marketing organizations. His client's are among the most prominent companies in the world. He has received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Akron.
In the 20 years David has been in his current industry,he has earned numerous professional awards for sales excellence i.e. Max Sacks International, " National Salesperson of the Year", Golden Pyramid Honorable Mention ( an A.S.I. award), as well as consistent Top Sales awards within his companies.
He has been a guest speaker at Cal State Los Angeles,U.C.L.A.,Cal State Norhridge,And National University, addressing the issues of branding corporate identity in the global marketplace.
Some of his prominent clients have included a cross -section of Who's Who in corporate America, such as; IBM,Tenet Healthcare,JBL,Mitsubishi, Los Angeles Times, Ericsson,MGM,Beverly Enterprises,GTE,Union Bank Of California, Great Western Bank, Universal Studios, Dole Foods, Amgen, Arco...and many more.
He has helped these companies to achieve many important marketing goals such as; new product launches,trade show promotions,direct response programs, performance- based incentive & recognition programs and other types of branding iniatives.
Mr. Kimmelman brings a mix of talents to Bluepower.com. He is well known for being a creative marketer,motivator and visionary in the promotional products industry.
Mark Hanson
Mark Hanson is 39 years old and lives in Leicestershire, England. Mark has studied computer graphics and graphics design.
Mr. Hanson grew up on black music, especially The Ink Spots, Mills Brothers and The Platters; his parents favorites.
One day, his sister introduced Mark to Northern Soul and Motown. Two of Mark's relations were DJ's in the mid-70's in the Northern Soul scene. Upon seeing this growing phenomena, Mark decided to become part of the scene. Mark became a promoter, DJ and one of Northern Soul's strongest supporters.
By the early 80's, Mark was into the Northern Soul scene properly along with his second love; motor scooters. He started collecting Soul and Deep Soul records but his first love is 60's Detroit records along with Soul music from artists residing in Chicago, Philadelphia and the Carolinas.
In the 90's, Mark became co-editor a British Soul Fanzine called Soul Up North.
Mark is currently working with the BluePower staff to create the pages at which you're looking now along with the exciting new BluePower show which can be found on Live 365. (See BluePower Radio link on sidebar).
BluePower welcomes Mark Hanson to our illustrious staff and look forward to many years great music.
