Memorial Day is a grand American tradition that began as a way of honoring those soldiers who didn’t make it back home from the Civil War. One of the first, and certainly largest gatherings to commemorate and pay honor to the fallen, took place in Charleston, South Carolina. The observance took place on May 1^st, 1865, on a site that was used as a Confederate prisoner of war camp. It was there that at least 257 Union soldiers died. Thousands of people gathered on the site, most of them freed slaves, to pay homage to those who suffered and died there. Many historians have referred to this as the first Memorial Day.

Music that had been created by these freed slaves was played at this observance. This sound has given birth to virtually every strain of American music and is now being played by musicians from all over the world. It is called the blues.  

By the beginning of the 20^th century, the observance formerly known as Decoration Day became a time to honor all of those killed while serving in America’s armed forces. This Memorial Day I continued with a now four year old tradition of my own. I gathered with fellow music lovers to remind ourselves that it is our culture and musical institutions that help make America so special. It seems within this context so utterly appropriate that blues music be celebrated over the Memorial Day weekend.

During World War 2, our greatest ally in fighting the Nazis, Great Britain, was enduring tremendous hardships as a result of war. There were many inside and outside of the British Parliament that called for Prime Minister Winston Churchill to cut funding for the arts and redirect those funds toward their military efforts. Churchill without hesitation, and with great resolve said, “Absolutely not, we have to remind our people why we are fighting.”

For twenty four years now, the Rotary Club of Simi Sunrise has understood this ethos as they have held one of the largest events of its kind over this special weekend. They have brought Cajun and Zydeco music that was born in Southwestern Louisiana to this Southern California community. Just five years ago they added a second stage for blues. It was such a hit they brought in Randy Chortkoff, founder and C.E.O. of Delta Groove Music, the following year. Attendance at this stage has grown exponentially in the subsequent years. Blues music, like one of its many offspring zydeco, was also born out of the American South. The first blues artist to take the stage this weekend, Al Blake, reminded fans that blues is the quintessential American music.

By Sunday evening that stage saw perhaps the greatest assemblage of pure blues talent gathered anywhere in recent memory. The large crowd did not need classic rock or oldies acts to satiate its thirst for a first rate musical experience. The final artist of the weekend was the award winning singer, Janiva Magness. Like many Americans, she exhibits a sense of social responsibility evidenced by her impassioned plea for fans to learn more about foster care.

Service to the community and our fellow man are also hallmarks of the American experience. The Rotary Club of Simi Sunrise exemplifies this tradition. Each year as many as 500 volunteers help to make to make this event a success. These folks were courteous and professional to a fault. Their efforts helped to insure that fifty local charities are the recipients of their generosity.

The Simi Cajun and Blues Festival is a musical event that has an international scope, yet feels more like a community fish fry. Each year, eight to ten thousand people a day visit Rancho Santa Susana Community Park for this festival. The spaciousness and layout of the venue help give the festival a relaxed feel. There are more food vendors and artisans here than at any festival that comes to mind. Many culinary choices are available but what has become another Memorial Day tradition for me is my annual indulgence of fried catfish. This is served up with hushpuppies and I always I slather them with a healthy dose of Louisiana hot sauce.

Another emerging tradition that is part of the Memorial Day weekend has become the official after parties. World class blues music is in such short supply these days, fans of this music travel from all over the globe to hear it. Straight Up Blues Productions knows this and has helped to turn The Simi Valley Cajun and Blues Festival into a destination resort style weekend event.

I spoke to Art Martel, the founder and president of Straight Up Blues Productions. He told me, “These after parties create a value added experience for the fans of what I like to call straight up blues. Rather than have people drive back home each evening to communities all over the Southland, I thought it would be a great idea to keep them in Simi Valley for the weekend. This festival actually has people coming into town from all over the world. In previous years many of these folks spent their evenings and money in Los Angeles. Now they stay right here in Simi Valley’s Grand Vista Hotel and other nearby hotels and motels.” These after parties took place both Saturday and Sunday evening at the Grand Vista’s Arena Room. They have become this establishment’s busiest two nights of the year.

The Grand Vista also has a reliable shuttle service to and from the venue. This helps to alleviate much of the traffic and parking issues that plague other festivals of this size.    

The actual Memorial Day observance took place on Monday, May 27^th. I decided to take the long way home from Simi Valley and drove through the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. These federally protected lands separate Ventura County’s Conejo Valley and the Pacific Ocean. As I descended into Malibu I was reminded that the long way home is not always the road less traveled, as Angelino’s were flocking to the beach to celebrate the unofficial first day of summer.

It is a wonderful thing to see so many people enjoying the freedoms that were insured by those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. The long drive back to Orange County gave me time to catch up on some listening. I am glad I did. I heard two new blues albums that were played with style and verve. What these two had in common is this American music was being played by musicians from Europe. Somehow hearing our music played with such reverence, and yet with such flair, by people from all over the world fills me with a big dose of American pride.  

By the time I got home, it was time to engage in another quintessentially American tradition and watch a baseball game on television. My beloved and beleaguered Los Angeles Dodgers were engaged in a donnybrook with an American League team that plays in nearby Anaheim. While I stood on my front porch I could hear longtime Dodger broadcaster Vin Scully share Memorial Day memories from his sixty plus years as part of the Dodger tradition, I could smell hot dogs being barbequed at the nearby fire rings on the beach. It felt like America.

I thought about those African-Americans who engaged in that observance in 1865. I thought about how for them the civil war represented the second American Revolution and a war of liberation. I thought about the veterans of that horrific conflict. I thought about the veterans of foreign wars in the last century who fought for such noble causes against such unspeakable evil. I also thought about our more recent wars and those who lost their lives. I also dreamed of peace. Maybe someday this too could become an American tradition.

-        David Mac

 Editors Note: Enjoy a photo essay by our team of photographers under the tab, The Simi Valley Cajun and Blues Festival 2013.