Welcome to the June, 2021, edition of BLUES JUNCTION. It would appear, for all practical purposes, that the novel corona virus is in our collective rearview mirror. If this nightmarish Covid-19 worldwide pandemic is over, we all welcome the return to normal or at least the latest edition of normal.

The beaches here in Southern California were packed again over the recent Memorial Day observance. It was as if 2020 never happened. This weekend reminded me of kids in a classroom who are staring at the clock waiting for the bell to ring for recess. The second that bell rang kids were trampling their teacher trying to all be the first to hit the playground.

We are not children, but are ready to go out and play nonetheless. I hope this great national release of anxiety doesn’t come with any unnecessary health risks. We are, after all, responsible adults and as such we have all had our double doses of the Covid-19 vaccine. With respect to our own personal health, our families, our communities and our country, people who haven’t taken the Covid-19 vaccine can’t really be called adults. They are exhibiting behavior that is selfish beyond belief and are demonstrating a callous disregard for their fellow man heretofore unimaginable.

Even though I’ve had the double dose of the Pfizer vaccine, I will continue to wear a mask in certain indoor spaces. I will also forgo the customary handshakes that have been a staple of our social protocols and customs for a very long time. If I’m being overly cautious, so be it. It doesn’t negatively impact anybody and I would remind you that I have two pre-existing conditions. I’m an old fart and a fat fuck. Two very attractive qualities that make social distancing that much easier.

With summer in the air, outside blues music programs are happening all over. I will begin to venture out a little and check some of this out. In the meantime, I will continue to keep you abreast of what is spinning around here at home on the turntable and our compact disc player.

With something called Record Store Day being commemorated on June 12^th this year, I thought it would be a good time to take care of a few pieces of business. The first of course is to direct you to our Recommended Listening feature. I have listened to each of these offerings and personally endorse these selections. I once again solicited the help of two like-minded blues authorities, Charlie Lange of Bluebeat Music and Jeff Scott Fleenor, who, like Charlie, has a varied and extensive background in the blues music field and is an archivist of the highest order. I truly appreciate their help with this ongoing feature.

I also want to point out that I have an editorial that has appeared here before but I thought it would be appropriate to share that with our readers once again in case you missed it. It is entitled Are CDs and Vinyl Records Obsolete?

Additionally, I would be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge the passing of a blues music empresario of the highest order, Bob Koester. Koester was the founder and owner of Delmark Records. He also operated the Jazz Record Mart in Chicago which was widely acknowledged as the largest jazz and blues retailer in the world. Delmark’s 1966 release of Hoodoo Man Blues by Junior Wells is considered a landmark recording and an essential entry in the blues canon. 1967’s West Side Soul by Magic Sam, Sam’s 1968 album Black Magic and Wells’ 1969 offering Southside Blues Jam also are indispensable recordings for anybody who loves American music.

I was extremely humbled to receive letters to the editor from Bob Koester. He was kind enough to heap some pretty effusive praise on my writing and small contributions to the blues scene. Bob was a classy guy. Robert Gary Koester died on May 12, 2021, while in hospice care. He was 88 years old.

We also have another edition of Charlie’s Re-Issue Rodeo this month. One of the albums that is featured here is by the seminal Austin rhythm & blues ensemble known as The Cobras. There were several iterations of this band but they never performed or recorded without long time Austin resident, guitarist Denny Freeman. We lost Denny in May of this year. You are welcome to read my appreciation of this consummate musician.

Prior to Denny’s passing, Austin based blues musician Paul Oscher died on April 18^th of Covid-19. Back in February, Gene Taylor died of hypothermia during a cold snap that was exacerbated by a Texas sized case of corporate negligence and ineptitude that cost hundreds of lives. Taylor froze to death in his Austin home, fully dressed and in bed on February 20^th.

Taylor was a long time California based pianist who played with the James Harman Band early in his career. James Harman passed away on May 23^rd. Read my appreciation of this full-service blues man here in this edition of BLUES JUNCTION.

It should be noted that despite the grim reaper tearing his way through the blues world more or less at the same rate he stalks his prey everywhere else, we have much for which to be thankful. Not the least of which, it is summertime. The longest day of the year takes place later this month, marking the first official day of summer. This of course is the perfect time to revisit my musings on the best summertime song of all-time and that is of course (you guessed it) Summertime.

I also urge you to let your friends and neighbors know that you are a discerning listener of blues music and a supporter of our little enterprise. You can make a modest donation to our cause by clicking on the PayPal button at the bottom of many of the features you see here this month. Remember we are 100% reader supported, completely independent and advertising free. If you have any questions or comments you are welcome to contact us by going to our contact page. I enjoy hearing from you and try very hard to respond to these emails. I’m not much of a social media maven but you can find me on Facebook at David Mac. I’m pretty good at getting back to folks who contact me there as well.

I want to thank many of our readers who have reached out to us regarding Tracy’s recent cancer surgery. By all accounts it was a success. I also want to point out she is going in for additional surgery to remove a mass on her kidney. She will be out of commission for another spell starting on the 15^th of June. As you all know, Tracy is the brains of the operation and will be missed around here. I’ll try and keep you posted on what we hope is a smooth and speedy recovery.  

Until we meet again, be well and be in touch.

- David Mac

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