Board of Directors
The Topeka Blues Society was recently formed and is still in the process of establishing By-Laws, setting up shop, formulating promotional and event activities in addition to applying for and acquiring the non-profit 501(c)(3) status.
Listed below are the Topeka Blues Society Board Members and officers.
Each Board member was asked the question "Why do you like the blues and why did you want to put together the Society or be part of it." Their responses are provided below.
Luan Betts • Topeka
BOARD MEMBER |
| I love the blues because the blues have so much soul and can make you feel good when you are feeling down. Almost all of the other music genres can trace at least a portion of their origins back to the blues. Blues is true American music. |
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Stacy Jeffress • Topeka
SECRETARY |
| I love the rhythm and passion of Blues music. I find Blues artists to be creative, intriguing, and accessible, and since they are - for the most part - struggling to stay afloat, I want to be supportive of their craft so they can keep doing what they do best. By forming the Topeka Blues Society, we are putting our money, time, and resources where are mouths and hearts are. We can attract members of the public to this art form who may not have been exposed to this wonderful music. |
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Bruce Luetje • Topeka
VICE PRESIDENT |
| I alway liked the idea of having a Blues Society in Topeka. Blues are the background of all music. It will be a great asset of our town. |
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Rod Peterson • Topeka
BOARD MEMBER |
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Walter Revell • Topeka
BOARD MEMBER |
I've been a rock n' roll and blues lover since 1965. When I heard Van Morrison & this band called Them, the song was called Mystic eyes in the 60s. Later, after my Led Zeppelin, The Who, Ten years After, and Savoy Brown days, I bought this album "The London Howlin" Wolf Sessions the year 1970, and I fell in love with Chester A. Burnett, a.k.a Howlin' Wolf, Blues music is an American original - loved all over the world.
In Topeka and in Kansas as a whole, people need to learn about the origins of the blues from the Delta blues where it all started, to Chicago, Texas, New Orleans, and Kansas City. The Society's mission, in my opinion, is to keep the Blues alive, to help educate the public about this great original, American art form. |
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Barbara Schwartz • Topeka
TREASURER • MEMBERSHIP COORDINATOR |
| I am a blues fan because the music is easy to listen to. Outdoor festivals are the best! I wanted to be part of an organization that promotes live music. |
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Tamara Starkey • Baldwin City
BOARD MEMBER • TBS WEBSITE COORDINATOR • KBC WEBSITE COORDINATOR |
| The reason I dig them blues, them low-down dirty blues that Memphis has known and loved for years and touched my heart at a young age, with great artist like T-Bone, B.B. King and John Lee Hooker. Is because the blues are subtle, a true pleasure to listen to that posses certain qualities and values. By keeping the Blues alive in the Heartland and being a part of the Topeka Blues Society, we can say we have helped to keep avenues open for new and upcoming artist, like Tab Benoit and Trampled Underfoot and others, to have venues to play at and fans who will not have to travel to Memphis or Chicago because they have to. They will be able to meet them here in the Heartland! |
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Jim Toomay • Topeka
BOARD MEMBER |
| I like the blues because it has the beat, and the soul of life itself. A blues society would bring more artists to Topeka, and we might be able to introduce more people to "good" music. It does free the soul. |
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Dana Valyer • Wakarusa
BOARD MEMBER |
| Cause blues Rocks. I like the artists and the ones I have gotten to know personally are just like a big family traveling around. |
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Suki Willison • Topeka
PRESIDENT |
My love for blues goes back to my teens, but I was never really sure what it was. I just knew where ever blues was playing I was drawn. Now after many years and listening to all kinds of music the basis to most music comes from blues. It's our American roots, the music we were built on.
To able to bring Blues to Topeka has been a journey for me, to put together a society that can go on forever and support the music and people that love it is a blessing.
It's been an on going statement that "there is nothing to do in Topeka". I am hoping with awareness, participation, and knowledge that the people of Topeka will take that statement out of their conversations and replace it with, "we have this to see, this to do, and this place to go". Support the music America was built on, it's our heritage. |
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Luan Betts
Board Member
Stacy Jeffress
Secretary
Bruce Luetje
Vice President
Rod Peterson
Board Member
Walter Revell
Board Member
Barbara Schwartz
Treasurer
Membership Coordinator
Tamara Starkey
Board Member
TBS Website Coordinator
KBC Website Coordinator
Jim Toomay
Board Member
Dana Valyer
Board Member
Suki Willison
President
Membership Info
Membership Questions
Membership Form Online • PDF
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