29 years of live Blues music history comes to a close (at least for now) on WUSC's longest-running show in history, Blues Moon with Clair DeLune, tonight - April 30, 2019.
It has been a pleasure and my honor to have the opportunity to bring you nearly three decades of Blues history thanks to the University of South Carolina Radio Station, WUSC-FM and HD-1 Columbia - streaming since the early 90s.
The ability to teach roots music history courses at UofSC has been a thrill, and the graciousness of my WUSC bosses (all student run radio station) has been a joy to behold. I love each and every one of my student, staff and faculty colleagues and look at this passage of my life as one of the most interesting and fulfilling ventures I could ever have dreamed of - and it all came true.
Without this, I'd never have researched Music of the Carolinas, been published in numerous books and magazine pieces, done countless interviews with amazing musicians or seen and heard live so many artists who are part of the tapestry of this American tableau.
Thanks go to my underwriters through the years who substantially supported the station's efforts to remain "The Awesome Alternative," and I am ever grateful for their assistance.
To donors, who gave their all year after year or perhaps just on occasion - it mattered and deepest thanks.
And to listeners and followers of this blog, and our Facebook page (which will live on in some fashion - perhaps reinvented or renamed? we as yet do not know) - you brighten each day!
It is an odd sensation to put your entire heart and soul into a passion and have very little sense of whether it matters to anyone or not - but enough of you have communicated that what I do matters to you and for that I am uplifted and grateful. It has always been my goal to share my rare recordings and whatever knowledge I have managed to dig up (and remember - that's getting to be harder and harder - LOL) and relate that in a warm, folksy way - I don't think I could do it any other way - that's sort of my style. Like it or not, that's what I could do, and through the years it has meant a lot to so many, and that - my friends - is a goal well-met. Riches are found in mysterious ways and not always in gold or silver. I feel enriched by these 29 years - my gift to you became a gift that kept giving to me. Funny how that works.
Life moves on and things that get put on the back burner with a "manana" promise start barking ... and it is time to reinvent myself and see what is going to be next on the horizon.
But please don't think I won't miss you - and prepping the shows - and playing the music and making my corny jokes. I will. So very much.
In my own inimitable style, I could not stop finding theme songs - all of the first 80 minutes of music have "Goodbye" in the title, leading others, and even me, to exclaim "How the hell do you DO that?" and I have to think that synchronicity (which is nowhere else in my life, believe me) is my superpower. LOL!
Then I found some other songs to fill the gap to a two-hour show and some don't have Goodbye in them, but the titles fit what I want to say as I make my exit from live radio.
Keep in mind, my usual caveat: It's the song titles that contain the message... those scamps sometimes put things in the lyrics that do not apply, so that part is from them, not ME. ha!
29 years - like Willie Dixon's 29 Ways - is a lot. It shows determination and commitment - and yet 30 seemed too staid, so this is when I shall drop back and see what else the earth has in mind for this old gal. I hope to be on it until I'm 100 - riding my horse with my faithful pup at our sides.
From me and Jaxi (aka: Sonny Boy Red Jackson), and the ghosts of RockyDawg Blues Defender and Lawdy Miss Clawdy the Blues Doggess... we bid you adieu and farewell as host of the live version of Blues Moon Radio on WUSC-FM.
Stay in touch over on Blues Moon Radio at Facebook... and please come see me at the Words and Wine Book Event, where I'll be the speaker (and signing copies of South Carolina Blues), at the Lourie Center in Columbia SC Tuesday June 18, 2019 at 6 p.m.
(Will have copies for purchase - 24 includes the tax - cash or checks only, please).
Much love,
Clair DeLune
Tonight's playlist will feature picks from these lists:
Meet your Hosts:
Clair DeLune, author of South Carolina Blues, longtime professor of Roots and Blues Music History and your host since 1990 of Blues Moon Radio; along with her valiant co-host since 2017, Sonny Boy Red Jackson (doing his best RCA Dog impression).
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| Your host, Clair DeLune June/July 1990- April 30, 2019 |
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| Jax to the Max: 2017-present |
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| Clair DeLune & Lawdy Miss Clawdy - Original show co-host from 1995-2008 |
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| KeeKee the Wonder Hoss Sassy mascot: 2007-present |
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| RockyDawg Blues Defender, who never had an issue with the limelight and adored everybody (and vice versa!): show co-host from 2008-2017. |
In the meantime, if you feel as if you need some great Blues music OR MY BOOK (which makes a great present, hint-hint-hint!)...
And please always remember our underwriters:
And please always remember our underwriters:
Our supporters:
As always we thank our long-time underwriters, who help bring great music to the Midlands all year around, because we could not imagine our show without their input and support: Papa Jazz Record Shoppe, Word of Mouth Productions AND South Carolina Blues. You can link to these orgs by clicking on the visuals...
This blog is brought to you in part by:
and
and
South Carolina Blues
500 years of roots and blues music history in S.C.
by Clair DeLune
on Arcadia Publishing
500 years of roots and blues music history in S.C.
by Clair DeLune
on Arcadia Publishing
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