The blues. An evocative word used more than two centuries ago by John James Audubon when he wrote to his wife that he “had the blues.” Before that, the first written reference was in English playwright George Colman’s 1798 Blue Devils, most likely a term filtering down from the 1600s referring to “intense visual hallucinations that can accompany severe alcohol withdrawal.”
A momentous expansion was realized when Charlotte Forten wrote in her diary about “the blues” in 1862. Forten was a free-born Black woman from Pennsylvania, a schoolteacher. She came home one day feeling down — feeling the blues — and overcame her depression through songwriting. Her songs were popular among the enslaved in America, although she was unable to describe the manner of singing involved. Forten wrote that the songs “can’t be sung without a full heart and a troubled spirit.” That cornerstone of inspiration flourished and has become one of this country’s great contributions to the world of music.
Those pulsating rhythms, seductive chords and shaded lyrics continue to resonate today, stretching around the globe. One leading influencer for the blues is based in Iowa’s capitol city.
The Central Iowa Blues Society (CIBS) is one of the Midwest’s most proactive promotional and advocacy groups. The passion that its members have has been translated into a number of pay-it-forward, get-engaged programs and events, especially for introducing next-gen fans.
This volunteer-driven organization has developed a legion of blues ambassadors for their programming. For major events, such as the annual two-day Winter Blues Festival and their Iowa Blues Hall of Fame Induction Celebration on March 30, volunteers give two hours of their time to fill the necessary event positions. This gives them free admission to the event, offsetting their membership fee.
Initiated in 1999, the Iowa Blues Hall of Fame boasts a roster that reads like a who’s who of Iowa’s music scene. The 2025 event is co-chaired by Bryan Church and Terry Cole, and the musicians to be honored are Eddie Bowles, John Resch, Turk E. Krause and Scott Long.
Bowles (1884-1984) is of particular note, as his posthumous honoring recognizes a special blues pedigree. Growing up in New Orleans, he learned to play guitar alongside Louis Armstrong and Kid Ory. His search for work brought him to Cedar Falls, where his lifelong musical talents were a leading part of the region’s Blues Revival of the 1960s. Young guitarists sought out the sage Bowles, eager to learn his unique guitar-picking style. He continued playing for audiences well into his 90s.
CIBS has honed its abilities to coordinate events with a special musical panache.
Hall of Famer Bob Door and his band will host. Dinner is by Flying Mango and dessert by Steve “the pie man” Vasquez. All tickets include free parking, and the evening promises to be a wonderful overview of Iowa’s current blues scene.
CIBS also holds community outreach throughout the year, including their popular “Blues in the Schools” program. A resident educator with the org, Kevin Burt — solo winner of the Iowa Blues Challenge and the International Blues Challenge — is currently leading programs on music appreciation, rock history and jazz history within Des Moines Public Schools.
“He will perform at another program, the Rick Lussie Music Appreciation Day music festival at Ruby Van Meter School, a special school that serves secondary students with significant intellectual disabilities,” Vasquez explained.
Other outreach efforts include CIBS’s “Blues with a Healing,” a music therapy program, and “Crossroads: A Journey with the Blues,” a favorite in libraries. These feature a performance with storytelling, an interactive song, a history of the blues and a student harmonica giveaway with lessons.
“We strive to educate and ensure the future of the blues through the Blues Music Education,” Vasquez said, then added with a deep smile, “and, we have a lot of fun in the process.”
This article was originally published in Little Village’s March 2025 issue.
