(C) 2013 by Rych McCain, All Rights Reserved. No part of this column may
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Professor Fernando Jones - Music
By Rych McCain International/Nationally Syndicated Entertainment Columnist
Professor Fernando
Jones’
Blues Kids Camp Is On!
Photos via FJBKC
 |
| Professor Fernando Jones Blues Artist and Teacher |
The Blues as an art form has taken the
rollercoaster ride of being “In” then “Out” like her sister art forms i.e.,
jazz, R&B and so on since its inception in the Mississippi delta in the
early 1900’s. Professor Fernando Jones is not only a music educator at Columbia
College in Chicago, he is also a veteran Blues recording artist who sings and plays
guitar.
Jones’ love of blues is so strong that he created a workshop/camp for
youth to not only teach them how to play the blues but also to help preserve
the music and keep it going strong for future generations to come. Jones
explains, “The Blues Camp started in 2010 at Columbia College in Chicago and it
is part of a program called “Blues Kids of America” that I founded back in 1989
here in Chicago. So the camp came out of a 20 something year-old music program
with a focus on the blues.
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| Blues Camp Kids Jammin |
The Fernando Jones Blues Kids Camp is a
program of The Blues Kids Foundation which is an IRS recognized 501(c)(3)
nonprofit charitable organization. The camp’s staff is made up from highly
qualified music instructors. The program provides scholarship tuition
waivers for all of the student musicians (ages 12 - 18) that attend. Some
scholarship waivers also include lodging and transportation arrangements.
Jones’ Kids Blues Camp started in Chicago but is now offered in several cities.
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| Bassist Logan Layman laying it down |
As Jones states, “Our camp is designed especially for the Blues Kid who simply
wants to perform this music and experience this priceless, cultural enrichment
opportunity in a nurturing environment with like-minded others.´
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| Guitarist Ray Goron is gettin' into it! |
What served as his motivation to create
all of this? Jones relates, “A number of things motivated me to start the blues
camp. Most of the things that I have started or created in my life have been
things that I saw a need and also at some point of my life, things I tried to
give away to other people. Most of the things that I have done have not been necessarily
for myself but they needed to be done.”
 |
| Live blues kids session |
Jones also mentions his many experiences
playing around the country where parents will bring their child to his concert
and the youngster showed an interest is playing the blues. He reflects,
“Sometimes when you get to a town and people like you, they will bring their
family to meet you and in some cases they will bring a kid who is a guitar
player who will come up and ask you if they can play. Because I started playing
when I was around four years-old, I could pretty much see myself in this kid.
They’ll get up and play a tune with you for the night, then four or five weeks
later you get a beautiful handwritten letter made out of construction paper
with the kid saying how wonderful the experience was and how in so many was it
helped saved their lives and helped them from being weirdos.”
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| Another Blues Camp Conclusion |
Jones adds that the music
department at Columbia College had a well developed jazz program so he pumped
up the blues emphasis. He also believes that his blues camps serves as a source
of new ideas, new life blood and promotion of the blues for upcoming
generations. Jones conducts his blues camps around the country then concludes
every year with a week long master blues camp in Chicago at Columbia College.
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| Hard to get tickests |
They then have a grand concert at a major Chicago blues venue. This year the
concert was at the House of Blues and the place was packed. For support
donations and more information on how your child might benefit from the Blues
Kids Camp, go to www.blueskids.com
 |
| Leroya Sanford |
The Blues is not
dead.
I spent an incredible
week at Columbia College in Chicago learning, playing and singing the Blues with Professor
Fernando Jones and the Blues Kids Camp.
I don’t know of any music that can make you feel good and dance about all the problems you have in life. The Blues is like a healing to the
soul. I think that’s why I love the Blues so much.
It’s the same reason I love doing comedy, because crying about all the
issues I deal with and problems I see in the world didn’t do me any good.
The Fernando Jones Blues Kids camp welcomes musicians and singers from all over
the world to learn the importance and historic perspective with some of the most
talented Teen Instrumentalists I have ever seen. If
you play an instrument and don’t know The Blues then you’re not a true
musician. Without the Blues we wouldn’t have the music we have
today. Did I mention that Professor Fernando offers this week
long Blues camp for FREE in various locations throughout the U.S.?
Give your support and keep it alive visit: www.BluesKids.com
Every minute spent angry is 60 seconds of happiness wasted.
©
2013 Rych McCain Media/Syndication tm
(You
DID Hear It From Me!)
Twitter@rychmccain and Facebook
