Blues Moments in Time...

On March 13, two very different front lines—Selma, Alabama and swinging‑London—revealed how deeply the blues runs through global culture. As civil rights marchers faced state violence to secure the vote in 1965, a young Eric Clapton walked away from pop stardom to chase the raw truth of Black blues music. This episode traces how the blues, born from oppression and survival, shaped political resistance in the American South and ignited a musical revolution in Britain. A story of courage, conviction, and the enduring power of a sound that refuses to be silenced.

IN THIS EPISODE:

[00:00] - Introduction

[01:31] - The Cultural Landscape

[02:58] - The Political Climate

[04:19] - Exploring The Music

[07:02] - Births

[08:03] - Passings

[08:52.] - Conclusion

MUSIC USED IN THIS EPISODE:

Track: I'm Your Witchdoctor (1965)

Artist: John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers

Album: Bluesbreakers feat. Eric Clapton - Deluxe Edition

Label: Fontana

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Hosted by: Kelvin Huggins

Presented by: The Blues Hotel Collective - your home for EVERYTHING BLUES.

Website: https://www.theblueshotel.com.au/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theblueshotel

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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheBluesHotel

©2026 The Blues Hotel Collective.

=Listener Discretion=

This episode of Blues Moments in Time, includes historical discussion of racism and systemic injustice in the United States and may include the names and stories of people who are no longer with us.. We approach these topics in a factual, educational context, but listener discretion is advised.

This episode traces how March 12 reveals the blues as a mirror of struggle — from A. Philip Randolph’s fight for fair employment and the pressure placed on Billie Holiday to the creative spark of Jesse Fuller and the Allman Brothers’ Fillmore East breakthrough. Together, these moments show how the blues evolves while staying rooted in the lived experiences of its creators.

IN THIS EPISODE:

[00:00] - Introduction

[01:47] - The Cultural Landscape

[02:32] - The Political Climate

[03:02] - Exporing The Music

[04:15.] - Births

[04:47] - Passings

[05:07] - Conclusion

If you're loving these daily blues history drops, leave us a review via your favourite podcast platform - it helps other blues lovers find the show.

Hosted by: Kelvin Huggins

Presented by: The Blues Hotel Collective - your home for EVERYTHING BLUES.

Website: https://www.theblueshotel.com.au/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theblueshotel

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theblueshotel

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theblueshotel.com.au

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheBluesHotel

©2026 The Blues Hotel Collective.

From the Broadway debut of A Raisin in the Sun to the haunting "whoop" of Sonny Terry’s harmonica, March 11th is a day where the blues speaks the truth of the American experience.

IN THIS EPISODE:

[00:00] - Introduction

[00:46] - The Cultural Landscape

[01:27] - The Political Climate

[01:55] - Exploring The Music

[02:57] - Births

[03:23] - Passings

[03:46] - Conclusion

KEY FIGURES MENTIONED:

Sonny Terry (1911–1986)

Dusty Brown (1929–2016)

Lorraine Hansberry (1930–1965)

Fannie Lou Hamer (1917–1977)

MUSIC:

Sonny Terry - Lost John

Dusty Brown - Hurry Home

Harvey Mandel - Wade In The Water

Manfred Mann - I've Got My Mojo Working (Early B-Side, released shortly after the name change)

FURTHER READING:

Cultural - A Raisin In The Sun

Political - Reverend James Reeb

Music - Mann-Hugg Blues Brothers

Music - Sonny Terry

If you're loving these daily blues history drops, leave us a review via your favourite podcast platform - it helps other blues lovers find the show.

Hosted by: Kelvin Huggins

Presented by: The Blues Hotel Collective - your home for EVERYTHING BLUES.

Website: https://www.theblueshotel.com.au/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theblueshotel

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theblueshotel

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theblueshotel.com.au

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheBluesHotel

©2026 The Blues Hotel Collective.

Today, we honour the legacy of Harriet Tubman, celebrate the birth of guitar great Ronnie Earl, and revisit the historic 1972 Gary Convention.

IN THIS EPISODE:

[00:00] - Introduction

[00:43] - The Cultural Landscape

[01:20] - The Political Climate

[01:56] - Exploring The Music

[02:26] - Births

[02:56] - Passings

[03:26] - Conclusion

KEY FIGURES MENTIONED:

Harriet Tubman (1822–1913)

Luis Russell (1902–1963)

Ronnie Earl (1953–Present)

LaVern Baker (1929–1997)

Ernestine Anderson (1928–2016)

MUSIC:

LaVern Baker - Tweedle Dee

Ronnie Earl & The Broadcasters - I’ll Take Care of You

Ernestine Anderson - Never Make Your Move Too Soon

FURTHER READING:

Political - The National Black Political Convention

Music - Luis Russell

If you're loving these daily blues history drops, leave us a review via your favourite podcast platform - it helps other blues lovers find the show.

Hosted by: Kelvin Huggins

Presented by: The Blues Hotel Collective - your home for EVERYTHING BLUES.

Website: https://www.theblueshotel.com.au/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theblueshotel

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theblueshotel

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theblueshotel.com.au

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheBluesHotel

©2026 The Blues Hotel Collective.

Today on March 9, we follow the marchers back to the bridge in Selma, witness a historic legal victory for freedom in the Amistad case, and celebrate the New Orleans legend who gave us "Lawdy Miss Clawdy."

IN THIS EPISODE:

[00:00] - Introduction

[00:43] - The Cultural Landscape

[01:10] - The Political Climate

[01:35] - Exploring The Music

[01:58] - Births

[02:18] - Passings

[02:42] - Conclusion

KEY FIGURES MENTIONED:

Lloyd Price (1933 - 2021)

Ornette Coleman (1930 - 2015)

Henry Stuckey (1897 - 1966)

MUSIC:

Lloyd Price - Lawdy Miss Clawdy

Ornette Coleman - Blues Connotation

Skip James - Hard Time Killing Floor Blues (reflecting Stuckey's tuning)

FURTHER READING:

Cultural - Turnaround Tuesday

Political - The Amistad Case

Music - Lloyd Price

If you're loving these daily blues history drops, leave us a review via your favourite podcast platform - it helps other blues lovers find the show.

Hosted by: Kelvin Huggins

Presented by: The Blues Hotel Collective - your home for EVERYTHING BLUES.

Website: https://www.theblueshotel.com.au/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theblueshotel

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theblueshotel

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theblueshotel.com.au

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheBluesHotel

©2026 The Blues Hotel Collective.