Who We Are

 

A group of people interested in acoustic blues music joined together to form an informal association.  The first meeting was held on March 14, 1985.  The name selected for the group was The Detroit Country and Classic Blues Society.  Individuals had varied reasons to gather but shared a common love of acoustic music.  Robert B. Jones, host of the WDET radio show “Blues from the Lowlands”, commented that he and others enjoyed touring musicians and wanted to have a place to jam with them during their Detroit visits.  The Society was formed and met in the First Unitarian-Universalist Church in Detroit.  Electric instruments were not allowed at the early Society meetings as they would have been too loud for the people hosting them.  The Detroit Blues Club, a group formed by local blues musicians, was still in existence at that time but was fading fast as key member Bobo Jenkins had passed away.

 

By 1988 the format began to include electric instruments and the Society met at various locations.  Included among these were Sully’s, Alvin’s, The Sunset Grill, The Soup Kitchen and the Attic Bar.  During the 1985 to 1990 period the membership numbered around fifty.  By 1990 the numbers of members were falling and the Society was in danger of ceasing to exist.  It was saved by the efforts of a small group of dedicated members who began to reorganize the Society.  In January 1992 the name was changed to The Detroit Blues Society (DBS) and a new Board of Directors was established.  A primary goal at that time was to increase public interest in the Society.  Press releases followed along with a series of DBS events.  Included among these were a number of indoor and outdoor concerts and school workshops.

 

Increased membership and a more organized approach allowed the Society to embark on special projects.  Educational programs became more formalized and in 1996 the Educational/Blues Heritage Series began.  Each session featured a theme based on some aspect of the Detroit blues tradition.  In 1997 the Society completed a project in cooperation with the publisher of the Detroit Blues magazine, Robert Jr. Whitall, to place a memorial stone in Mt. Hazel Cemetery to honor the late Eddie James “Son” House.  Another project was initiated to preserve on video the contributions of Uncle Jesse White.

 

The Detroit Blues Society (DBS) is a registered federal 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of the blues tradition.  It has as its primary goals to promote a wider appreciation for the blues by the general public and to serve the members of the Society.

 

DBS provides members with the monthly newsletter Blues Notes.  This serves to inform members and the general public regarding relevant news, schedules of upcoming events and profiles on our members.  DBS schedules concerts and blues jam sessions, strives to arrange discounts on merchant sponsored merchandise and administers an educational program.  Members are encouraged to support the Society in its many activities and are welcome to attend DBS Board meetings.  DBS welcomes personal donations and corporate sponsorship.  Please refer to the application form for details.  Merchants offering a discount to DBS members will be so recognized in the Blues Notes.

 

Year 2008 DBS Board of Directors

            Chairman of the Board:  Mike Rembor rembor@centurytel.net

President:  Steve Allen sallen8961@aol.com 

          Vice President:  Barb Gitre barbgitre@webtv.net

            Vice President:  Mike Boulan heatstocker@aol.com

          Treasurer:  Mike Rembor rembor@centurytel.net 

Secretary:  Christy Howard choward777@gmail.com (resigned during term)

            Secretary:  Woody Gill saabbuilder@gmail.com (appointed by the Board)

          Director-At-Large:  Barb Hicks lilbabsya@yahoo.com

          Director-At-Large:  Claudette Harrell sweetclaudett@aol.com

Director-At-Large:  Ann Hubbarth annhubbarth@hotmail.com (resigned)

Director-At-Large:  Jeff Howard jhoward6666@comcast.net (resigned during term)

Director-At-Large:  Wolfgang Spider detroitblues@flash.net (appointed by the Board)

Director-At-Large:  Anderson Coleman colephd@aol.com   

 

Year 2008 DBS Committee Chairpersons

          Blues Notes:  Mike Boulan heatstocker@aol.com

          Volunteers:  Barb Gitre barbgitre@webtv.net

            Special Events/Awards:  Barb Gitre barbgitre@webtv.net

          Web Site:  Wolfgang Spider detroitblues@flash.net  & www.dbsblues.com

          Membership:  Barb Hicks lilbabsya@yahoo.com

          Motor City Breakdown:  Steve Allen sallen8961@aol.com

          Publicity:  Steve Allen sallen8961@aol.com

          Blues Challenge:  Steve Allen sallen8961@aol.com

          Monthly Meeting/Jams:  Steve Allen sallen8961@aol.com

Blues In The Schools:  Claudette Harrell sweetclaudette@aol.com

            Direct Education/Training: Rodger Burghdoff roger@musicmentors.com

 

Year 2007 DBS Board of Directors

            Chairman of the Board:  Mike Rembor rembor@centurytel.net

President:  Steve Allen sallen8961@aol.com 

          Vice President:  Barb Gitre barbgitre@webtv.net

            Vice President:  Mike Boulan heatstocker@aol.com

          Treasurer:  Mike Rembor rembor@centurytel.net 

Secretary:  Marie Walker blueslover@wowway.com

          Director-At-Large:  Leonardo Gianola leonardogia@yahoo.com  

          Director-At-Large:  Barb Hicks lilbabsya@yahoo.com

          Director-At-Large:  George Seedorff gpseedorff@aol.com

          Director-At-Large: Mark E Gallo markegallo@netscape.net (resigned during term)

            Director-At-Large: Greg Maxey maxeyg@oakgov.com

 

Year 2007 DBS Committee Chairpersons

          Blues Notes:  Mike Boulan heatstocker@aol.com

          Volunteers:  Barb Gitre barbgitre@webtv.net

            Special Events/Awards:  Barb Gitre barbgitre@webtv.net

          Web Site:  Wolfgang Spider detroitblues@flash.net  & www.dbsblues.com

          Membership:  Barb Hicks lilbabsya@yahoo.com

          Motor City Breakdown:  Steve Allen sallen8961@aol.com

          Publicity:  Steve Allen sallen8961@aol.com

          Blues Challenge:  Steve Allen sallen8961@aol.com

          Monthly Meeting/Jams:  Steve Allen sallen8961@aol.com

Blues In The Schools: Leonardo Gianola leonardogia@yahoo.com 

            Direct Education/Training: Rodger Burghdoff roger@musicmentors.com

 

Year 2006 DBS Board of Directors

          Chairman of the Board:  Robert Jr Whitall blues@bigcitybluesmag.com

          President:  Shirley Mae Owens blues@bigcitybluesmag.com

          Vice President:  Barb Gitre barbgitre@webtv.net

            Vice President:  Mike Boulan heatstocker@aol.com

          Treasurer:  Mike Rembor rembor@centurytel.net 

Secretary:  Marie Walker blueslover@wowway.com

          Director-At-Large:  Leonardo Gianola leonardogia@yahoo.com

            Director-At-Large:  Steve Allen sallen8961@aol.com

          Director-At-Large:  Barb Hicks lilbabsya@yahoo.com

          Director-At-Large:  George Seedorff gpseedorff@aol.com

          Director-At-Large:  (open)

 

Year 2006 DBS Committee Chairpersons

          Blues Notes:  Mike Boulan heatstocker@aol.com

          Volunteers:  Barb Gitre barbgitre@webtv.net

          Web Site:  Wolfgang Spider detroitblues@flash.net  & www.dbsblues.com

          Membership:  Barb Hicks lilbabsya@yahoo.com

          Motor City Breakdown:  Robert Jr Whitall blues@bigcitybluesmag.com

          Publicity:  Robert Jr Whitall blues@bigcitybluesmag.com

          Documentary:  Anne Marie Graham-Hudak agraham1@peoplepc.com 

Education:  (open)

          Marketing:  (open)

 

Year 2005 DBS Board of Directors

          Chairman of the Board:  Mike Rembor rembor@centurytel.net

          President:  Shirley Mae Owens blues@bigcitybluesmag.com

          Vice President:  Barb Gitre barbgitre@webtv.net

          Treasurer: Mike Rembor rembor@centurytel.net 

Secretary: Marie Walker blueslover@wowway.com

          Director-At-Large:  Robert Jr Whitall blues@bigcitybluesmag.com

            Director-At-Large:  Mike Boulan mboulan@wwnet.net

          Director-At-Large:  Barb Hicks lilbabsya@yahoo.com

          Director-At-Large:  Greg Knaak (resigned)

          Director-At-Large:  George Seedorff gpseedorff@aol.com (appointed by the Board)

 

Year 2005 DBS Committee Chairpersons

          Publications:  Shirley Mae Owens shirleymae@bigcitybluesmag.com 

          Volunteers:  Barb Gitre barbgitre@webtv.net

          Web Site: Wolfgang Spider detroitblues@flash.net  & www.dbsblues.com

          Membership:  Barb Hicks lilbabsya@yahoo.com

          Motor City Breakdown: Robert Jr Whitall blues@bigcitybluesmag.com

          Documentary:  Anne Marie Graham-Hudak agraham1@peoplepc.com 

Education:  (open)

          Marketing: (open)

 

Year 2004 DBS Board of Directors

          Chairman of the Board:  R.J. Spangler rjblues2@aol.com

          President:  Shirley Mae Owens blues@bigcitybluesmag.com

          Vice President:  Mike Rembor rembor@centurytel.net

          Treasurer: Mike Rembor rembor@centurytel.net 

Secretary: Gary Beck gab_4blues@highstream.net

          Director-At-Large:  Mike Boulan mboulan@wwnet.net

            Director-At-Large:  Barb Gitre barbgitre@webtv.net

          Director-At-Large:  Don MacIntyre (none)

          Director-At-Large:  George Seendoff pr4blues@aol.com 

         

Year 2004 DBS Committee Chairpersons

          Marketing: George Seedorff pr4blues@aol.com

          Publications:  Shirley Mae Owens shirleymae@bigcitybluesmag.com 

          Volunteers:  Barb Gitre barbgitre@webtv.net

            Motor City Breakdown: Robert Jr Whitall blues@bigcitybluesmag.com

            Web Site: Wolfgang Spider detroitblues@flash.net  & www.dbsblues.com

          Documentary:  Anne Marie Graham-Hudak  agraham1@peoplepc.com

Education:  Jack DiFranco jdifranco@gosrr.com

          Membership:  open

 

Year 2003 DBS Board of Directors

          Chairman of the Board:  R.J. Spangler rjblues2@aol.com

          President:  Shirley Mae Owens blues@bigcitybluesmag.com

          Vice President:  Mike Rembor rembor@centurytel.net

          Treasurer: Mike Rembor rembor@centurytel.net 

Secretary: Gary Beck gab_4blues@highstream.net

          Director-At-Large:  George Seendoff pr4blues@aol.com 

          Director-At-Large:  Don MacIntyre (none)

          Director-At-Large:  Yvette Nixon ynixon8659@aol.com

            Director-At-Large:  Barb Gitre barbgitre@webtv.net

 

Year 2003 DBS Committee Chairpersons

          Marketing: George Seedorff pr4blues@aol.com

          Publications:  Shirley Mae Owens shirleymae@bigcitybluesmag.com

          2003 Nominating: Mike Rembor: rembor@centurytel.net

          Motor City Breakdown: Shirley Mae Owens shirleymae@bigcitybluesmag.com

          2003 Christmas Party: Shirley Mae Owens shirleymae@bigcitybluesmag.com

          Awards: Shirley Mae Owens shirleymae@bigcitybluesmag.com

          Volunteers:  Barb Gitre barbgitre@webtv.net

            Web Site: Wolfgang Spider detroitblues@flash.net  & www.dbsblues.com

          Documentary:  Anne Marie Graham-Hudak  agraham1@visteon.com

Education:  (open)

          Membership:  (open)

 

Have questions?  Need information?  Have interest in joining one of the volunteer activities?  Have comments, suggestion, additions or corrections to the web information?  Please let us hear from you.

          Email web site manager Wolfgang Spider at: detroitblues@flash.net

          Snail mail to: Detroit Blues Society, P.O. Box 488, Goodrich, MI 48438

 

Page last updated: July 24, 2008