This month we are celebrating our tenth anniversary here at BLUES JUNCTION. Prior to 1/1/11, I had floated editorials, record reviews (same thing really) and other blues related missives into the cyber world via a small Word Press platform. On 1/1/11, we decided to make it a monthly “publication.” It didn’t take me too long to realize that I just gave myself twelve deadlines. I figured this was a good thing, as it would keep me out of the juke joints, gin mills and pool halls. I had work to do.

By this time, it became apparent to me that the marriage of my two great loves, blues music and writing, wouldn’t be getting a divorce. The concept that you are destined to kill what you love the most or be destroyed by that which you love the most, was something that no longer haunted me.

My love for both of these things has grown. Sharing my love of this music with you has been one of the great joys of my life. Your response has been overwhelming and truly an inspiration to me, as we try to continue to educate, enlighten and entertain you as best we can.

The design and content of our monthly feature driven magazine was patterned after the jazz magazines I read as kid in the early and mid 60’s. The interviews came from Alex Haley’s work during the same time frame in Playboy Magazine. The famous writer and journalist virtually invented what has become known as the long form, print interview.

This month we have our annual Best of… edition of BLUES JUNCTION. We reveal the coveted BLUES JUNCTION Production Awards. Often referred to in the industry as the B.J.’s; As you might suspect I have mixed feelings about that moniker. It is not something I thought about when I named our publication BLUES JUNCTION.

We also have the list of The Ten Best Albums of 2020.

Additionally, we have my favorite feature of this annual edition of BLUES JUNCTION and that is called Dave’s Top Ten List of Top Ten Lists. I like it because I get to step aside, as I ask ten folks from various aspects of the blues community to list (in alphabetical order) their ten favorite blues albums of the previous year. The consensus winner this year was blues veteran Kim Wilson’s album Take Me Back! It appeared on nine of the ten ballots.

I would like to welcome two new participants to Dave’s Top Ten List of Top Ten List makers. They are Kelly Angeley of Huntington Beach, California, and Andrew Grant of Perth, Western Australia. In his bio, Andrew sites the influence of our departed friend Tom Hyslop. I thank Andrew for that. I was inspired to re-publish my appreciation of Tom who passed away on 1/2/20.

I also republished what I am calling the Readers' Choice Award. It is the most read article of 2020. I am very happy to announce that it was the interview I conducted with my mother. She passed away a couple of months later making this piece even more poignant. She was a professional musician, educator and of course, just plain Mom.

America just got a shot in the arm with the election of a new President, Joe Biden, who just got his own shot in the arm. The Democrats just took control of the Senate as Trump and his cult just secured their place in history exactly where they belong.

I would like to thank all of our readers from overseas who have sent me their concerns for my country. I know the optics of what happened on January 6, 2021, are disturbing to say the least. Yet, I feel we will be okay. My money is on a 245-year-old democracy and not a bunch of mindless thugs. The terrorists will not win.

2021 might be off to a very rocky start, particularly here in the U.S. However, I remain very optimistic that our lives will return to some semblance of civility, safety and tranquility. I look forward to another year of listening to America’s quintessential art form, the blues. I also look forward to sharing these musical journeys with all of you.

Be well and be in touch.

- David Mac



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