Contributed by Hillary Fontana on behalf of Hudson Valley Blues Society, edited by Elisa Zuckerberg, HearItThere 
Thursday, October 21, 2021
When you hear the soulful playing of a guitar, the heavy sounds from the harmonica, the pulse of the drums, and the gritty stylings of vocals, you’ve got the blues. But the blues sound ranges by geography, history, and performers.
After Hillary Fontana and her husband Steve, spent many years traveling to festivals, music venues, and sailing on the Legendary Rhythm and Blues Cruise (LRBC), they realized they missed the opportunity of having a local New York Blues Society in the Hudson Valley. When Paul Toscano, a NY Blues Hall of Fame inductee was feeling the same loss, it was fate that they were introduced to each other by Doug Deming and the Jewel Tones from Florida, who were on tour in the area.
After the initial meeting in 2018, and mutual respect for the same goal and mission of blues music in the area, The Hudson Valley Blues Society (THVBS, Inc.) was formed. With the call-out for interested participants who would like to bring a new music venture to the area, the first meeting was held in the Studio Around the Corner in Brewster. The take-away from that meeting was a newly formed board to help bring blues music and education to the Hudson Valley.
The new HVBS board worked extremely hard with their mission to preserve and promote the past, present, and future of blues music throughout the New York Hudson Valley area. This all-volunteer group of music lovers have incorporated the goals: to promote the performance of local and internationally renowned blues musicians in the Hudson Valley area; offer blues artists and audiences imaginative programming and venue opportunities; and provide educational opportunities to people of all walks of life resulting in increased awareness, not only of present-day blues music, but also its rich and varied heritage.
The Blues Foundation was founded in Memphis, Tennessee, “The Home of the Blues,” in 1980 by its first executive director, Joe Savarin. Over the past 40 years, The Blues Foundation has grown from a small base of Memphis supporters that presented the first National Blues Awards at the Orpheum Theatre on November 16, 1980, to an international membership of over 4,000 individuals and organizations.
All blues societies and organizations are required to fulfill a numerous list of items to be completed and reviewed before acceptance as an affiliate to the Blues Foundation. The one-year required waiting period was approved for the Hudson Valley Blues Society, a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, in January of 2020. Paul Toscano, President of HVBS, received word of the accepted affiliation when he was at the International Blues Challenge (IBS) in Memphis, TN. An affiliation to the Blues Foundation lifted the members and HVBS board emotionally that New York Hudson Valley can be recognized for “Keeping the Blues Alive in the Valley.” Then…. COVID hit.
The Hudson Valley Blues Society would not be discouraged, but how can you promote live blues music during COVID? The HVBS board continued to meet for their monthly board meetings, but now via Zoom. That proved to be so successful, it was unanimously decided to continue meeting virtually, which allows and welcomes the community to join in and learn more about the projects being developed. Monthly board meetings take place the second Monday of the month at 7pm. The Zoom link can be found on the HVBS website.
Next step was how do you stay financially active during a pandemic and keep the interest of the membership? The HVBS board realized that the quality of musicians in the Hudson Valley needed to be shown off to the blues community. Out of a simple idea… “let’s make a compilation CD.” The HVBS was proud to release the first (2-disc) CD featuring 23 original songs from artists of the Hudson Valley! All the musicians donated their music for this fundraising project and continue to own the rights to their music. What you will hear on these CD’s is typical of the blues genre – a wide variety of styles, emotions, and creativity, all done from the heart with the passion that underlies all flavors of the blues. The response from the blues community was astounding. This CD is available for purchase on the HVBS website.
In mid-March of this year and getting a bit antsy from lack of seeing live music, the Hudson Valley Blues Society and the Long Island Blues Society formed a partnership and developed the Inaugural Downstate Virtual Bluesfest, a six-hour live streaming event with 16 acts from both societies, playing a 20-minute set from their individual homes, recording studios and venues. Each act was responsible to setup their streaming system, and given a practice run to avoid glitches. The results were so successful that requests have been made to do another one. The live stream that went out over Facebook to date, has been viewed over 4.9K times.
The HVBS raised funds to purchase an engraved brick that is part of the front sidewalk at the Blues Foundation Museum in Memphis. The New York Hudson Valley Blues Society is now “set in stone” as blues history for the future generations of visitors.
As an affiliate of the Blues Foundation, the Hudson Valley Blues Society can send a band and a solo/duo act to compete in the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, where over 200 acts from around the world compete. The IBC represents the worldwide search for those blues performers ready for the international stage, yet just needing that extra big break! HVBS held their first local blues challenge “The Road to Memphis.” 8 acts each performed a 20-minute judged set. The HVBS Blues Challenge winners, Adam Power Project (solo/duo) and the Menza Madison Band will represent the Hudson Valley in the 37th International Blues Challenge (IBC) in Memphis, January 2022.
HVBS NEEDS SUPPORT FROM BLUES LOVERS ALL ACROSS THE REGION
The Hudson Valley Blues Society must raise funds to help financially support the winners with their travel expenses to the IBC in January 2022. On November 13, HVBS will hold its 2nd Annual Blues Benefit at the Beacon Elks Lodge, 900 Wolcott Avenue, Beacon, NY. This will be a great evening of blues music from the Adam Power Project and the Menza Madison Band, flavors of Memphis dinner, raffles, and a silent auction. Bidding is now open for the silent auction. There are autographed CDs, books, photos, festival tickets, and unique experiences – recording studio time, music lessons, paintball, and golf packages.
HVBS is also raffling a modified Fender Squier Stratocaster Guitar, which has been signed by Hudson Valley musicians who played the 9th Annual Patterson Rotary Blues and BBQ Festival this past September. Tickets are $10 each. Winners do not need to be present at the drawing on November 13.
Go to the website for more information.
About the HVBS: The Hudson Valley Blues Society has worked closely with local venues, Daryl’s House in Pawling, Turning Point in Piermont, NY, The Falcon in Marlboro, NY and Towne Crier in Beacon to help promote blues music and bring opportunities to local and touring acts. There have been established blues jams around the area that allow members and local musicians to network and play, while creating a new audience of blues lovers. HVBS have had a presence at local festivals and look forward to holding the first Hudson Valley Blues Festival in Stone Ridge, NY in 2022. HVBS is also looking forward to the goal of bringing history and blues education to all ages.
As a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, the Hudson Valley relays on their growing membership, donations and participation of the community at their events.
