1987 -
One night, while driving home from a show I heard Mai Cramer announce "Beginning next Friday is the Chicago Blues Festival, a three day event free and open to the public". I had just bought a good used car and decided to go. I convinced my roommate Jon to join me and on Thursday after work, we set out. I drove all night, 18 hours straight and pulled into Chicago at around 11:00 am. We could see the trails of smoke from the BBQ and followed them to Grant Park. We heard some cheeers, and walked to the stage which had the large crowd making all the noise. There on stage was Jimmy Rogers, Pinetop Perkins and James Cotton. There were about 15 feet from us, and they looked to be having a lot of fun. I turned to Jon and told him: "I'm never going to miss another one of these!".
I went the following year, 1988 and also 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995.... 1999, 2010. Maybe I'll go again next year, in 2016.
I went the following year, 1988 and also 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995.... 1999, 2010. Maybe I'll go again next year, in 2016.