Monterey Bay Blues Festival
The History of the Monterey Blues Festival
In 1986, a gathering of local community citizens envisioned
a dream of perpetuating the American Art form “The Blues” and promoting youth
and the Arts. Today their dream is being realized. The Monterey Blues Festival
was established as a non-profit organization governed by a Board of Directors,
who generously give their time to prepare for the Festival. Every year the
event is held on the fourth Saturday weekend in June, in a beautiful oak-
studded, park-like venue in Monterey, California.
The Monterey Bay Blues Festival is considered one of the
premier Blues festivals in the country, continuing to attract and feature
world-renowned blues artists as well as young budding artists. The Festival has
and continues to feature the likes of Billy Preston, B. B. King, The Neville
Brothers, James Brown, Ruth Brown, Shemekia Copeland, Charlie Musselwhite, Al
Green and Buddy Guy, while simultaneously offering teens an opportunity to
thrill their audiences at the same Festival.
Limited in capacity by the small, but beautiful venue--the
Monterey Fairgrounds--the Festival continues to create ways to grow in quality,
reputation and purpose. In 1995, a third stage was added to offer attendees
more opportunities to enjoy a diverse menu of blues entertainment.
Having been founded by a group of visionaries, who in the
early years put up personal collateral to get the Festival established, today
award scholarships and grants each year to community youth who are pursuing
their dream in the field of music and other visual and performing arts. In the
last several years, the Monterey Blues Festival has given over one million
dollars to scholarship and grant winners. In 1993 the first Monterey Blues
Festival artist-of-the-year (MOBAY) award was bestowed on Etta James, an award
that today, artists proudly add to their credits and many covet. In 1999, after
13 years of growth, the Festival added a third day and broke all previous
Festival attendance records.
The new millennium has not slowed the pattern of success and
challenge for the Monterey Blues Festival. Shortly after the 1999 Festival,
Board Members were surprised to hear that the management firm that had assisted
the Board of Directors in administering the Festival would no longer be able to
continue in that role. With little more than a sigh, the Board reviewed its
options and executed its traditional "committee process" deciding to
hire its first Executive Director (today entitled Executive Manager) and
necessary staff, locate new offices and open for business.
Being a non-profit (501C3) organization of community people,
none of whom had experience in developing or implementing a Festival, the early
years were seen as an insurmountable challenge by those on the outside, but
seemingly a labor of love and purpose by the founders. The Board of Directors
of the Monterey Festival believe that by supporting youth and the Arts, with
emphasis on music, they can give back to the Community, and in a small way give
a gift for a lifetime.
With humble beginnings in 1986, approximately 2,000 people
enjoyed the music of Taj Mahal, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, Bobby
"Blue" Bland, Millie Jackson, and Frankie Lee. The Festival quickly
grew and attracted 15,000 in 1992; 21,000 in 1993; and in the last several
years, a "sell out", a short but successful, story only few Festivals
can boast.
Limited in capacity by the small, but beautiful venue--the
Monterey Fairgrounds--the Festival continues to create ways to grow in quality,
reputation and purpose. In 1995, a third stage was added to offer attendees
more opportunities to enjoy a diverse menu of blues entertainment. In 2000 the
Board committed to significantly increasing funds for scholarships and grants
from $60,000 to $100,000. In 1993 the first Monterey Blues Festival
artist-of-the-year (MOBAY) award was bestowed on Etta James, an award that
today, artists proudly add to their credits and many covet. In 1999, after 13
years of growth, the Festival added a third day and broke all previous Festival
attendance records.
The new millennium has not slowed the pattern of success and
challenge for the Monterey Bay Blues Festival. Shortly after the 1999 Festival,
Board Members were surprised to hear that the management firm that had assisted
the Board of Directors in administering the Festival would no longer be able to
continue in that role. With little more than a sigh, the Board reviewed its
options and executed its traditional "committee process" deciding to
hire its first Executive Director (today entitled Executive Manager) and
necessary staff, locate new offices, and open for business, with a goal of
having this major change transparent to its loyal fans. You be the judge!
One might ask, "Just what does the future hold for the
Monterey Bay Blues Festival?" Proposals have been made to
"package" the Festival to other parts of the country. Corporate
America has offered to "buy" the Festival (XYZ Corp. presents...).
Discussions have included the idea of a "Blues Museum." And
suggestions have even been made to relocate the Festival so more of America can
experience the flavor of the unique Monterey Bay Blues Festival.
One thing for sure (at this time), the Board of Directors
volunteer more time today than ever before; local control is a priority;
increasing scholarships for youth pursuing the arts and local non-profits
supporting youth and the arts is essential; and preservation and perpetuation
of the "Blues" remains something that is not negotiable.
The 24th Annual Monterey Bay Blues Festival will be held in
2009 on June 26, 27, and 28. This will be another "must attend" event
where quality talent, generous and giving people come together to enjoy
beautiful days in a "blues" heaven on earth!
Call (831) 394-2652 for ticket info or tickets will be available at the door.
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