Keeping the Blues Alive (KBA) awards are presented each year by The Blues Foundation “to individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to the Blues world.” https://blues.org/keeping-the-blues-alive-award/

Prairie Crossroads Blues Society would like to nominate Dave for this award next August and we'd like to hear from you about why you think he deserves it.

As for us...

If it was blues related, Dave knew about it. He knew the delta, festivals, promoters, fans and most of all musicians. With that sly grin and crook of his finger, he’d lead you to an artist you might never have heard of and turn you on to not only great blues music but the stories that went along.

Dave brought countless musicians to his radio show in Champaign over the years and many times treated them to lunch and a few dollars of gas money to keep them rolling down the road.

He encouraged everyone to check out the festivals in the delta and elsewhere, especially King Biscuit and Juke Joint Fest.

Dave served on the board of the Killer Blues Headstone Project to get gravestones placed in cemeteries for blues musicians in unmarked graves.

He helped the local blues society bring outstanding musicians to clubs nearby and turn people onto the music.

Dave seemed to be everywhere and know everyone. Countless hours on the road. How many times did he lose his voice just by chatting people up about the music and musicians? How many hands did he shake? How many anecdotes did he share?

We want to give a little back by collecting signatures (and memories) to include in our petition for a Keeping the Blues Alive award from the Blues Foundation.

Help us spread the word and we’ll be keeping the blues alive as well.