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The ABP is a proud sponsor of the Alabama State License Tag Legislative Committee's Support the Arts, tags. Please consider supporting the arts in Alabama (or your state) through your local Probate's office by purchasing a tag that shows that you support the Arts! Funding from the Alabama Legislative Tag Committee goes toward the funding of the arts in Alabama! 
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS | ADVISORY BOARD
ADVISORY BOARD | TEACHING ARTISTS | AWARDS
Dr. Steven Hobbs, President
Professor Hobbs graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University in 1975 with a Bachelor of Arts degree and received the juris doctor from the University of Pennsylvania aw School in 1979. He was a member of the Washington and Lee law faculty for 16 years before accepting the position of Tom Bevill Chairholder of Law at Alabama in 1997. Upon graduation from law school, he practiced in the Department of the Public Advocate in Trenton, New Jersey. Both his professional and scholarly interests demonstrate his commitment to the fair distribution of social and legal benefits to individuals. The classes he has taught, the topics of scholarship on which he has written, and the issues he has addressed at professional conferences deal with elder law, family law, fair housing law, and social and economic justice. He has written numerous law review articles on these subjects and was instrumental in drafting the Virginia Human Rights Act. Rosa Johnson, Vice President
Ms. Johnson is a lifelong resident of Tuscaloosa and an active member of the community. Currently, Rosa is employed as a Field Director with the Girl Scouts - Tombigbee Council and has worked for the Council for seven years. Rosa currently volunteers for the West Alabama Chamber of Commerce as a Chamber Ambassador. Ms. Johnson has been an active supporter of the Alabama Blues Project for several years, and in her spare time enjoys listening to music, cooking, or spending time with family and friends. Matthias Tormaehlen, Treasurer
Matthias Tormaehlen has worked with Daimler Chrysler since 1988. He is Manager in the area of Finance and Controlling. From 1995 until 2002, he was an integral part of the establishment of Mercedes-Benz U.S. International Inc. during the first years of the M-Class vehicle production in Tuscaloosa. At that time he served on the Board of Directors for the Alabama Blues Project, was a Board member of the Alabama Germany Partnership and worked on a fund distribution committee with the United Way of West Alabama. He returned to the German headquarters of Daimler Chrysler in 2002, and then came back to Mercedes-Benz U.S. International Inc. in July 2006. Since his childhood, he has played music in several orchestras and bands, with a special interest in and focus on guitar and blues music.
Following his years of private law practice, the Honorable Judge John H. England, Jr. has served as Associate Justice in the Alabama Supreme Court and a Circuit Judge in the Sixth Judicial Circuit Court. Judge England attended public schools in Birmingham and earned a BS degree in Chemistry from Tuskegee University in 1969. After serving his country for two years as a Military Policeman, Judge England graduated from The University of Alabama Law School in 1974 and received an Honorary Doctor of Law from Tuskegee in 1999. He was elected to the Tuscaloosa City Council in 1985, where he was Chairman of the Finance and Community Development Committee. Judge England is a member of the Bailey Tabernacle Church where he serves as Trustee, Sunday school teacher and a member of the male chorus. Dr. James Hall
African American culture scholar Dr. James Hall joined The University of Alabama from the University of Illinois at Chicago where he served as associate professor of African American Studies and English. Hall is a self-described blues fan and a devotee of Willie King. His book Mercy, Mercy, Me: African-American Culture and the American Sixties, published by Oxford University Press, is considered a major contribution to the understanding of 1960s American Culture. Dr. Rhoda Johnson
Dr. Rhoda E. Johnson is an associate professor of Women’s Studies and African American Studies at The University of Alabama and is a frequent consultant for rural arts and education programs throughout the South. Her research involves women and AIDS in the rural South. She was a 1996 Fulbright Scholar to China where she learned about the development of Women’s Studies in that country. Johnson is also currently co-president of the Coalition of Alabamians Reforming Education (C.A.R.E.). Jeff Mason
Jeff Mason is the Senior Vice President of Randall-Reilly Publishing. He is the Group Publisher of Randall-Reilly's trucking media group consisting of numerous national business to business publications and brands. In addition, the group creates and manages numerous trucking web sites and online initiatives as well as produces several key trucking industry events nationwide. Mr. Mason is active in the trucking industry currently president of the Allied Committee for the Trucking Industry (ACT I) and serves on the Board of Directors for the Truckload Carriers Association and The American Trucking Associations. Jeff is a 1980 graduate of the University of Texas at Austin with a BS in Marketing/Advertising. After graduation he began selling advertising space for the Dallas Times Herald then moved to Houston with B2B publisher, Gulf Publishing Company and World Oil magazine before moving to Tuscaloosa in 1986. Jeff is an active cyclist and member of the Druid City Bicycle Club, an avid music and arts fan with an interest in the bass guitar. Jeff and his wife Carolyn have two children, Callie and Laura. Dr. Charles Nash
Charles R. Nash has served as Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs for The University of Alabama System since 1992. As a senior academic officer in the System, he is the chief liaison to academic, institutional research and planning officials at The University of Alabama, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, and the University of Alabama in Huntsville. He advises the Chancellor on all academic policy matters and provides primary leadership in program planning, development, and review. He also represents The University of Alabama System with the Alabama Commission on Higher Education, the Alabama Department of Education, and the Alabama Department of Postsecondary Education. Richard Remaley
Richard Remaley grew up in Tuscaloosa and developed a taste for music at an early age inspired by the musicians and bands that played local venues and traveled the Armory circuit, such as the Allman Joys (Duane and Greg Allman), The Atlanta Tams, the Swinging Medallions, The Rubber Band, The Dominos and many, many more. As his interest grew, so did the venues, and Richard traveled around the south to hear groups like The Rolling Stones, The Vanilla Fudge, The WVOK Shower of Stars presenting acts like the Shangrilas, Paul Revere and The Raiders, The Turtles, The Four Tops, The O'Jays, The Righteous Brothers and scores of others. His interest in music has never waned and continues to grow. Richard refers to his association with The Alabama Blues Project as one of the most rewarding experiences of his life. Richard's professional accomplishments include a 16-year tenure with Bellsouth, several years with the University of Alabama as Manager of Technical Operations in Telecommunications and 15 years as Executive Director of IT Operations and Technical Services with Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. He and his wife Jeanette own and operate North-River Interiors and Alabama Mosquito Management, and Richard also consults when needed on IT projects. Dolores Royal
Aaron Vold
Aaron Vold is the Director of Development for the College of Arts & Sciences at the University of Alabama. In that role, he is responsible for all the College’s major gifts operation. Aaron’s prior work experience includes fundraising, public relations and marketing. While director of public relations at Big Communications, Inc. in Birmingham, he was responsible for publicity for the 40th anniversary of the city’s Civil Rights Movement and Foot Soldier’s Reunion. His efforts gained national recognition from media outlets such as the New York Times, L. A. Times, and “60 Minutes.” He holds a bachelor’s degree in public relations and a master’s degree in business administration from The University of Alabama. Charlie Wolbach
We are very excited to have Charlie Wolbach as the latest addition to the Alabama Blues Project Board of Directors. He is not only a fan of the blues, but he is also a talented musician and plays in a blues band with fellow Board Member Richard Remaley. Charlie is a prominent citizen of Tuscaloosa and has been the President of First Federal Bank since 1992 as well as staying active in various civic organizations. In addition to his work in the community and music accolades, Charlie is a road cycling enthusiast and has been racing and touring annually for the last 20 years. He is married and has four children.
OFFICE STAFF | TEACHING ARTISTS | AWARDS
OFFICE STAFF | BOARD OF DIRECTORS | ADVISORY BOARD
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Dolores Royal has been a health and fitness instructor at Shelton State Community College for almost ten years and she is also a certified Tai Chi instructor. Her interest in public education has led her to be a regular volunteer in under-served communities in Tuscaloosa City Schools. A native of Alton, Illinois, she moved to Alabama in 1981. Her love for the blues began long ago at her father's tavern in Edwardsville, Illinois, which was a regular stop for traveling blues musicians. Her passion for the blues and belief in the importance of arts education came together in 1998 when she began volunteering with the Alabama Blues Project. 
Michel Frank is the recipient of the 2008 Blues Foundation "Keeping the Blues Alive" Award for Manager. In 1972, Michael Frank met David “Honeyboy” Edwards and Blind Jim Brewer, and they soon became fast friends. In 1973, Michael started booking Honeyboy and playing harmonica with him, as well as booking Jim Brewer. In 1976, Michael formed the Honeyboy Edwards Blues Band to get gigs in Chicago's burgeoning North Side club scene and they also continued to perform as a duo. Since those early years Michael, as manager and booking agent (and later biographer and producer), gradually built up Honeyboy Edwards' career from a local to an international touring schedule and celebrity as an elder Blues oral historian. Michael founded Earwig Music Company in 1978 and recorded Honeyboy and his friends Sunnyland Slim, Kansas City Red, Floyd Jones, and Big Walter Horton for the second release of the label - Old Friends. Earwig has subsequently released 40 Blues CDs. Michael also managed Brewer's career until his 1989 passing and in the mid 1990s, the career of Maxwell Street Jimmy Davis. Over the past 34 years Michael's management and Honeyboy's talent and persistence have led Honeyboy to become the preeminent elder Blues statesman, a Delta Blues legend sought after for Blues documentary films and interviews about the early days of Delta Blues. Honeyboy and Michael have in the past two years performed over 100 shows per year worldwide.
Born in London, Gilroy was educated at University College School and obtained his bachelor's degree at Sussex University in 1978. He moved from there to Birmingham University where he completed his Ph.D. in 1986. Gilroy is a sociologically inclined scholar of Cultural Studies and Black Atlantic diasporic culture. He is the author of 
Peter Guralnick is an American music critic, writer on music, and historian of US American popular music, who is also active as an author and screenwriter. Guralnick's first two books,
Fruteland specializes in performing acoustic blues, from contemporary to traditional, from the blues of early field-holler songs and work songs to Delta and Piedmont Blues, as well as his own original works. He is one of a select group of Americans dedicated to gathering, preserving and performing Acoustic Blues, in all their various forms. As an Acoustic Blues Artist, he has taken his art to hundreds of venues in America, and has performed in Spain, France Britain and Italy, all to great reviews. As an Oral Historian, he has taken his extensive knowledge of Blues history to schools, colleges and universities, all over America. Fruteland created the award winning "All About The Blues"™ series Blues in the Schools programs, to bring his love of the blues and its important contribution to music in the world to every venue and classroom he is invited. He has received awards and acclaim across the country for his research, innovation, curriculum and presentation of the history about the people and music that make up the blues. Fruteland Jackson was awarded the 1996 Illinois Arts Council Folk/Ethnic Heritage Award and is the recipient of the 1997 "Keeping The Blues Alive" for Blues in Education. He also has two 2008 Blues Music Award nominations: Best Acoustic Artist and Best Acoustic Album. 
Sam Lay, Drummer, vocalist - is one of the most celebrated virtuoso drummers in blues history, and a mainstay since the late 1950's. He began his auspicious career in 1957 as drummer for the Original Thunderbirds and soon after became the drummer for the legendary harp genius, Little Walter. In the early 1960's Mr. Lay began recording and performing with the founding fathers of blues,Willie Dixon, Howlin' Wolf and Muddy Waters. The recordings Lay made during this time, (including Muddy Waters' Fathers and Sons album recorded in the 70's), are considered to be among the definitive works from the careers of Waters and Wolf. In the mid 60's Mr. Lay was persuaded to join with the Paul Butterfield Blues Band and recorded and toured extensively with this important blues group. Bob Dylan (with Sam Lay as his drummer) was the first performer to introduce electric-rock at the Newport Folk Festival. Lay also recorded with Dylan - most notably on the Highway 61 album. Mr. Lay's unique style of drumming can be heard on over 40 recordings for the famed Chess Records label with the most prominent names in the world of blues. He has recently toured the major Blues festivals around the US and Europe with the Chess Records All-Stars. In the late 1980's Sam Lay was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in Memphis. He was recently inducted into the Jazz Hall of Fame in Los Angeles, and the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. He was nominated eight times for the coveted W. C. Handy Award for "Best Instrumentalist" including a recent 2005 nomination. Mr. Lay has two very recent recordings with his own band on Appaloosa Records, Evidence Records, and a recording on Alligator Records with the Siegel-Schwall Band and was nominated in 2000 for a Grammy Award for his performances on the "Howlin' Wolf Tribute" CD and was honored by the Recording Academy January 2002 for the " Legends and Hero's Award" for his significant musical contributions. Mr. Lay was prominently featured on a PBS-TV broadcast of 7 episodes on the "History of the Blues" produced by Academy Award winning director, Martin Scorsese.
Asherson first heard the blues in his native city of London, England, and began to play the harmonica, guitar and piano in the '60's. He has been playing harmonica and keyboards in bands in Europe and the U.S. for the past twenty years, and for the last four years he has been playing with blues legend Willie King and The Liberators, touring in the United States and Europe. He has played keyboards and harmonica for other Alabama blues greats, including Little Jimmy Reed, B. J. Miller, Carroline Shines, and Eddie Kirkland. Rick is Assistant Director of the Alabama Blues Project and a regular blues instructor with the ABP's after-school programs and artist residencies. He has worked closely in developing the Alabama Blues Project educational programs, curriculum and traveling exhibitions.
Herman Bell began his career in music at the age of nine. “Big H” picked up the harmonica in 1966 while in Vietnam and has become a master player and dedicated teacher. A valuable member of the project since 1993, Bell has been a major influence on our budding harmonica superstars. Big H has worked with famous musicians such as the late great 
Stuart Bond first got into the blues at age fifteen after hearing Son House. He is an extremely talented musician, especially when it comes to playing the guitar. Currently Stuart Bond is teamed with Rachel Roberts to form Sparrow & the Ghost, to create a mixing of traditional music with a unique spin on the classic sounds of folk, country and the blues. Sparrow and the Ghost performs all across the state of Alabama and has had the amazing opportunity to play in SXSW in Austin. Stuart believes music is life and this certainly shows when he performs on stage!
Dr. G.B. Burt was born in Birmingham, Ala. on January 30, 1937. During WWII, his family moved to the west coast where his father went to work in the shipyards. In 1947, his family moved back to Alabama and then on to Florida often migrating to wherever his dad could find work. He comes from a musical family. His mother played the piano and sang gospel music. His father and two uncles, Arthur and Herbert Burt, were all blues guitarists. G.B. took up the guitar and started playing the blues when he was in his teens and has kept it up ever since. When he was 14, he began to box. In 1954, he fought in the Golden Gloves tournament and later he trained with Alvin Blues Lewis who went on to fight Muhammad Ali. When he was 30, he married and settled down and found work with Ford Motors in Michigan. After nearly 10 years he went out on his own, bought a wrecker truck and became an independent mechanic, a job he continues to this day.
DeShawndre Hill brings a wealth of drumming experience to the Alabama Blues Project. His career started in his mother’s kitchen banging on pots and pans when he was only three, and since then, DeShawndre has played music — drums, guitar, and piano — for 23 years and counting. While in college, DeShawndre was a member of the Jacksonville State University Gospel Choir and Jazz Band. In addition he is a member of two gospel groups, Voices of Restoration and Church with a Vision Band. He has worked with musicians such as Bruce Hornsby, Michael Gagliardo, Keith Williams Andy Harnsberger, Debbie Bond and many more. DeShawndre is an experienced teacher who has worked with various middle and high school marching bands in Alabama and Georgia before coming to the ABP. He is also a traveler who toured Europe with the Spirit of America National Honor Band in 2001. When he is not playing music, DeShawndre is a substitute teacher and husband to Heather Sims. 
Lonnie Bradley Holley, sometimes known as The Sand Man, is an African American artist and art educator. When his sister's two children died in a house fire in 1979, he decided to do something constructive with his grief. As the family could not afford to buy tombstones for the children, he decided to make them himself. The Tombstones were Holley's first works of art. He soon began to create an environment of found materials that he assembled in his yard. Eventually he took some of his carvings to the director of the Birmingham Museum of Art, who was so impressed that he contacted the Smithsonian. This resulted in Holly's work being included in the exhibition, "More Than Land and Sky: Art From Appalachia," which originated in 1981 at the Museum of American Art in Washington. Holley's work is in the permanent collection of the Birmingham Museum of Art after first being exhibited there in 1980. For the first few years, Holley worked almost exclusively with industrial-made sandstone. He then began to work with other found materials such as discarded wire, scrap materials, and wooden objects. In what is considered a natural progression of his work, Holley eventually began to paint. Self-taught and driven, Holley has made his life his art. His yard, his house, his car, his business. It's all art. He can make something out of nothing and instill it with so much meaning that you can't believe he stores it (and most of his art) out in the yard or eternally open garage.
At eight years old, DieDra Hurdle began her life long singing career in a family gospel choir. Since then, DieDra has become a sought after blues vocalist and teacher. DieDra sang for the group Melvin Dawson and the Genesis Ensemble, and she has worked with musicians such as Betty Wright, Denise Laselle, Al Green, Avant, Sunshine Anderson, Bobby Rush, and Carl Thomas. When she is not singing, DieDra teaches vocals to children at her church, as well as, the Alabama Blues Project and helps develop other artists. Currently, her latest blues CD, “Overcoming Hurdles” is on two separate southern soul charts. In May 2009, DieDra is scheduled to do a “Divas of Blues” Tour with Denise Laselle and Betty Padgett. DieDra is married to ABP guitar instructor, Keith Ruff, who serves as her manager and loyal supporter.
The late Blues singer/guitarist/song-writer Willie King received international acclaim for his last four CD releases and his hot juke joint style live shows. Hailing from Aliceville, Alabama, King’s high energy jukin’ blues and his socially conscious messages make a unique and exciting combination. People love to dance to Willie King and the Liberators, and his music is attracting a rapidly growing devoted audience. Recent honors include two nominations for W. C. Handy awards, and Living Blues magazine’s award for “Best Male Blues Artist,” “Best Blues Album” and “Best Contemporary Blues Album.” He has been featured on NPR’s "American Routes," was the cover story for Britain’s 
Lusian has been playing the blues for more than fifteen years with many outstanding blues musicians, starting with the legendary Johnny Shines in the early '90s. Since then, he has worked with many blues greats, including Jerry "Boogie" McCain, Willie King, Little Jimmy Reed, Topper Price, and Beverly "Guitar" Watson. He has also recorded with Jerry "Boogie" McCain and Beverly "Guitar" Watson. Ralph has been an outstanding instructor with the Alabama Blues Project education programs for over five years.
Born in Kansas City, MO, BJ Miller was destined for greatness. She is the daughter of Bettye Miller, reigning musician in K.C., known as the “Queen of Jazz”. To enhance the premier music atmosphere that was her home, Miller took formal studies at the university of Missouri-KC Conservatory of Music. She thrived in this total immersion in music, from trombone to electric piano and on to singing. Blessed with talents from both parents, BJ has used her abilities to captivate audiences across United States, Canada, France, Spain and Tokyo. She has played and sung with a multitude of artist such as Ronnie Laws, Bloodstone, Bonnie Pointer, B. B. King, Fred Wesley, Marvin Cease, Roy Ayers, Sir Charles Jones. BJ's skills include writing, singing, playing, arranging, engineering and producing just to name a few of her talents. Among her production duties is the CD Better Man by the talented Mack Davis on the Mixed Company label. Clearly, Miller is a multi-gifted artist.
Linda Munoz has worked in the medium of glass for over 25 years. Her other artistic love is sewing and she has won awards for her quilts. Although trained as a Registered Nurse, she gave up nursing to pursue art full time when she realized that art could bring healing in ways medicine could not. Linda has taught mosaic art to children and adults for the last 8 years. She has taught at the Alabama Folk School at Camp McDowell, at Fine View Nursery in Ga., and at Black Belt Treasures in Camden, Ala. - just to name a few venues. Linda is also currently working on a 9x9 foot mosaic mural on the wall of the Gallery at Kentuck in Northport (pictured). Her art can be viewed at 
The Alabama Blues Project is fortunate to have Keith Ruff on our staff of guitar instructors. Keith has been playing music for over 25 years and has toured all over the United States, as well as, China, Sweden, Iraq, and Canada. He is currently the lead guitarist for 
Big Joe Shelton was born in the Black Prairie region of northeast Mississippi. As a child growing up in a small Mississippi town he was exposed to an African-American culture, which still strongly reflected that of the early part of the twentieth century. He attended tent minstrel shows, bar-b-que picnics and heard street musicians performing authentic traditional blues. As a young man he was fortunate in befriending Big Joe Williams and this association greatly influenced his musical sensibilities. As a child Shelton sang in church and grammar school choirs. In his teens he began playing the harmonica and guitar. Songwriting soon followed and he found he had a wealth of experiences from which to draw. In the mid seventies he moved to Chicago and experienced the urban blues scene first hand. From Maxwell Street to the south side he sopped up the blues gravy served by the likes of Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Buddy Guy and many others. He is a member of the Mississippi Arts Commission “Artist Roster” and “Folk Arts / Folk Life Directory” and was honored by being included on the “Columbus / Catfish Alley” Mississippi Blues Trail Marker. Big Joe has performed at numerous festivals and clubs throughout the southeastern United States including: King Biscuit Blues Festival, Howlin’ Wolf Memorial Blues Festival, Freedom Creek Blues Festival and the Beal Street Mess Around. He has also toured England, France, Belgium, Bulgaria and the Netherlands. He has played with blues legends Big Joe Williams, Furry Lewis, Son Thomas, Junior Kimbrough, Fenton Robinson, Living Blues 2003 “Artist Of The Year” Willie King, BMA Award nominees Blind Mississippi Morris, R. L. Burnside and Johnny Rawls as well as Daniel “Slick” Ballinger, the 2007 BMA” Best New Artist” honoree. Among his many contributions toward perpetuation of the blues is his involvement with the Jazz Foundation of America and the Howlin’ Wolf Blues Societies “blues in the school” educational programs.
One of Alabama’s best kept secrets is the talented blues diva Carroline Shines. Carroline is carrying on the blues tradition she learned from her father, the late, great, world renowned Johnny Shines. As a legendary guitar player, singer and song writer, Johnny Shines lived the blues, performing and writing songs his entire life, even traveling with Robert Johnson in his youth. He was always a great educator and supporter of the blues, and passed on his passion to his daughter, Carroline Shines. Carroline grew up in this rich musical environment with her father as her mentor. She dedicated her early years to raising her own family and singing in the church and local bands while putting her own career on the back burner. In 2004 Carroline began working with the Alabama Blues Project after-school program, teaching young singers and helping to educate the next generation about the blues. Those who have long been aware of Carroline’s extraordinary talent are so excited that she is launching her performing career.
Jesse Diego Walker Suttle is the Project’s lead drum instructor. Music has always been a part of his life and in addition to drums he plays piano, guitar, bass and trombone. Jesse brings a wealth of experience having played in numerous bands and worked with some of the great names in blues music. His bands include 
Miz Thang is a self taught folk artist from Hawkinsville, GA. All of her blues art is original. Her wooden pieces are usually cut out of cabinet grade birch and then sanded. She paints with acrylic paint and sometimes she coats her pieces with shellac. She doesn't use brushes, but prefers to paint exclusively with her fingers. When her fingers are in the paint she feels connected to her art and she feels she is passing along some of her special brand of mojo. Some of her creations have been on display at shows, museums and galleries throughout the USA and abroad. Her art is on display at the Smith Calloway Banks Southern Folk Art collection and Research Center at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, GA. Her blues art has been on display at the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in Macon, Georgia since 2004. In addition to being an accomplished folk artist, Miz Thang is a certified music educator.
Willie James Williams has been Willie King’s drummer for over 25 years. A native of Noxubee County, Mississippi, he has been the percussionist on all of Willie King’s CDs, and has toured with him throughout the USA and in Europe. Performances with Willie King have included the Chicago Blues Festival, Pocono Blues Festival, the King Biscuit festival in Helena, Arkansas, Clarksdale’s Sunflower Festival, and the Blues Passions festival in Cognac, France.
The KBA Awards are given each year to individuals and organizations that have contributed greatly to the growth and vitality of blues music. Recipients from the non-performing world range from blues societies and clubs to corporate sponsors and radio personalities, as well as writers and educators. A committee of professional blues industry representatives, historians, and artists chooses the KBA Award recipients annually through a comprehensive selection process.