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Caption: Mr Mohamed looks on as Piedmont 8th grade students enjoy the music and stories in the first of what we hope becomes an annual tradition: a Piedmont's blues unit partnership with the Charlotte Blues Society.
On April 24th, Piedmont's entire 8th grade experienced a concert and informational session on the blues thanks to their teachers and the Charlotte Blues Society.
Organized by Amanda Styles, Piedmont Individuals and Societies Department chair, the event connected blues music to students' study of the great depression in the 1930s and its effect on America.
Ms Styles, along with Mr Mohamed and Ms Ecelbarger wrote the interdicipliary unit of historical study that will culminate in student blues performances of their own albums.
“All our students will listen and learn about blues music in the USA and then create their own blues album with their social studies teachers," said Ms. Styles, who has taught social studies teacher social studies at Piedmont IB since 2013.
"All of the clapping and shout and response shows me our students are so engaged when music is involved, that's what I notice so far"
"The blues attitude reminds me of my grandparents: it reminds me of something my grandparents and uncles would say and do." said student A.M. who wishes to remain anonymous. "It was different but I liked it."
Click the arrow above to watch Zydeco master Don Caesar on harmonica accopmpained by "the Happiest Man in Blues" Big Ron Hunter on guitar at Piedmont IB' s Charlotte Blues Society Concert.
"The blues are America's greatest contribution to music," pointed out Mr Caesar. Both men have performed their music in countries around the world.
While known internationally, the two blues performers at the event are also Carolinas locals. Donald Caesar is from Orangeburg SC by way of Mamoun, Lousiana and Big Ron Hunter hails from Winston-Salem, NC
Describing his own introduction to blues music, Mr Caesar said, "My dad played the blues. My momma played the banjo, Bo Diddly's "You Cain't Judge a Book by Its Cover", and I thought-even with yall I cant tell by looking at you just how you are but how yall treat everybody, I can tell. But just looking at the cover of you I cant tell who you are."
Although lyrics included "I gotta go to school, and that's the rule" the gentlemen spoke of the importance of academics to music to history and to their own careers.
Mr Ceasar and Mr Hunter each shared the names of celebrities they call friends including Stevie Ray Vaughn, Muddy Waters, Clifton Chenier, Sam Cooke, The Temptations, and more. "Elvis's hound dog is from Big Momma Thornton, a black woman singing the blues" said Mr Ceasar.
The men shared stories of the old days including party lines, round metal lunch pails, and doing the farm chores before heading to school. The men marvelled at the beauty of Piedmont compared to the one room school houses out in the country in the old days.
They spoke of their own childhoods having to move off the sidewalk to let white people pass and colored drinking water signs in the courthouse. They said it brought them happiness looking out at the students like so many multi colored flowers making the bouquet more beautiful than in segregation days when all the flowers were black or white.
“It’s all about the feeling. The purpose of the blues is to be happy, and at your age, you should be happy.”
"Y'all are part of history today at Piedmont. You may bring your kids to Piedmont one day to this library and say, " Here's where I saw the blues."
Turns out that a distinuguished guest was making his own return to the school for the first time in 74 years. Blues Society member and Piedmont Alum Dick Gilland graduated from PIedmont in 1951.
Read more about Mr Gilland in our alumni spotlight interview found at Piedmont's 100th anniversary website coming in 2025. (LINK TBA)
Higher quality recordings of the complete sessions will be posted to Charlotte Blues Society's facebook.com/CLTBluesSociety and YouTube @charlottebluessociety2928
Play The Game: How Much Do you Know about the Blues ?
Play The Game: How Much Do you Know about the Blues ?
Study the American Blues Infographic then Show Off Your Learning at the Piedmont Blues Quizziz htps://quizizz.com/join?gc=67211999
Study the American Blues Infographic then Show Off Your Learning at the Piedmont Blues Quizziz htps://quizizz.com/join?gc=67211999
American Blues Infographic Courtesy of CBS's Bonnie Spalding whose husband Mike Spalding ran sound for the event.
An affiliate of the Blues Foundation, the Charlotte Blues Society (CBS) is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to Keepin' the Blues Alive! Their website is http://www.charlottebluessociety.org
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