W.C. Handy is the Father of the Blues, so the Music Preservation Society, Inc. is proud to present the Salt & Pepper Blues Series Concert as our 2017 W.C. Handy Music Festival headliner. Next year we will join with the Handy Family in celebration of Handy Brothers music, and this is a fitting lead in for that. The concert will feature master acoustic Blues artists who will present their interpretation of the music that Mr. Handy made known to the world.
The Salt & Pepper Blues Series began in February of this year and continued in March and April. It was so popular that it will continue to be presented in the Shoals each quarter.
We are grateful to each of the performers: Jontavious Willis, 2 Blu Duo, Alabama Annie, Maxwell Russell, Jock Webb, and Clarence "Bluesman" Davis for sharing their amazing talent; to Alabama Folklife, its Executive Director Mary Allison Haynie, board members Russell Gulley and Dick Cooper, for their tireless work in bringing the shows to fruition; and University North Alabama's Dr. Robert Garfrerick, our gracious host, for his invaluable contribution to this series and concert. We hope that you enjoy experiencing the "blues" as much as we have enjoyed giving the "blues" to you!