THE HISTORY OF THE MONTEREY BAY BLUES FESTIVAL 1986-2004 Nineteen years after a gathering of local community citizens envisioned a dream of perpetuating the American Art form, "the Blues", and promoting youth and the arts; the dream is being realized.

Today the Monterey Bay Blues Festival is considered one of the premier Blues Festivals in the country. It continues to attract and feature world-renowned blues artists as well as young budding artists of the future. The festival has and continues to feature the likes of the late Johnny Lee Hooker, B.B. King, the Neville Brothers, Little Milton, Etta James, Bobby "Blue" Bland, Shemekia Copeland, Johnny Otis, and James Brown while at the same time giving youthful high school students an opportunity to thrill their audiences at the same festival. The Monterey Bay Blues Festival was established in 1986 as a non-profit organization governed by a Board of Directors, who generously gave of their time, year round, to prepare for the festival held on the fourth Saturday weekend in June in a beautiful oak-studded, park-like venue in Monterey, California.

Having been founded by a group of visionaries, who in the early years put up personal collateral to get the Festival established, today award in excess of one hundred thousand dollars in scholarships and grants each year to community youth who are pursuing their dream in the field of music and other visual and performing arts.

Being a voluntary, non-profit organization of community people, none of whom had experience in developing or implementing a festival, the early years were seen as an insurmountable challenge by those on the outside, but seemingly a labor of love and purpose by the founders.

The founding Board of Directors included: Dr. Elisha Brandon (Deceased), Billy F. DeBerry*, Ron Harold, Dr. Henry T. Hutchins (Deceased), William Jackson (Deceased), Col. (Ret) Otis Jones, Sam Karas (Deceased), Augustia Lewis*-Treasurer, LTC (Ret) Morris McDaniel-President, James Manning, Elmer Phillips, Martin Puentes*-Secretary, Atty. Warren Robbins-Legal Advisor (Deceased), Reuben J. Simpson, Josh Stewart* and Franklin Washington. (See photograph below. * Indicates Founding Board members still with the Festival.)

Over time, new members have been invited to serve on the Board of Directors. Today the Board consists of 18 Directors, 4 Associate Directors, 6 Ex-Officio Board Members and 5 Out-reach Board Members.

Having a humble beginning in 1986 with an attendance of approximately 2,000 people to see the likes of Taj Mahal, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, Bobby "Blue" Bland, Millie Jackson and Frankie Lee, the festival quickly grew and attracted 15,000 in 1992; 21,000 in 1993; and in the last several years, has been a "sell out", a short but successful story only few festivals can boast.

Limited in capacity by the small but beautiful venue, the Monterey Fairgrounds, the festival continues to create ways to grow in quality, reputation and purpose. In 1995, a third stage was added to offer attendees more opportunities to enjoy a diverse menu of blues entertainment. In 2000 the Board committed to significantly increasing funds for scholarships and grants from $60,000 to $100,000. In 1993 the first Monterey Bay Blues Festival artist-of-the-year (MOBAY) award was bestowed on Etta James, an award that today, artist proudly add to their credits many covet. In 1999, after 13 years of growth, the festival added a third day and broke all previous festival attendance records.

The new millennium has not slowed the pattern of success and challenge for the Monterey Bay Blues Festival. Shortly after the 1999 festival, Board Members were surprised to hear that the management firm that had assisted the Board of Directors in administering the festival would no longer be able to continue in that role. With little more than a sigh, the Board reviewed its options and executed its traditional "committee process" and decided to hire its first Executive Director (today entitled Executive Manager) with the necessary staff, locate new offices, and open for business with a goal of having such a major change be transparent to its loyal fans. You be the judge!

One might ask, "Just what does the future hold for the Monterey Bay Blues Festival?"; Proposals have been made to "package" the festival to other parts of the country; corporate America has offered to "buy" the festival (XYZ Corp. presents...); discussions have included the idea of a "Blues Museum"; and suggestions have been made to relocate the festival so more of America can experience the flavor of the unique Monterey Bay Blues Festival.

One thing for sure (at this time), the Board of Directors volunteer more time today than ever before; local control is a priority; increasing scholarships for youth pursuing the arts and local non-profits supporting youth and the arts is essential; and preservation and perpetuation of the "Blues" remains something that is not negotiable.

The 19th Annual Monterey Bay Blues Festival will be held this year the weekend of June 25, 26, 27, 2004. This will be another "must attend" event where quality talent, generous and giving people come together to enjoy beautiful days in a "blues" heaven on earth!

Call (831) 394-2652 for ticket information or tickets will be available at the door.

Founding Board

(Front Row, left to right) Billy F. DeBerry; Dr. Elisha Brandon (Deceased); Martin Puentes-Secretary; LTC (Retired) Morris McDaniel-President; Dr. Henry T. Hutchins (Deceased); (Back Row, left to right) Augustia Lewis-Treasurer; James Manning; Sam Karas (Deceased); Franklin Washington; Josh Stewart; and Elmer Phillips. Not pictured are Attorney Warren Robbins-Legal Advisor, (Deceased); COL. (Retired) Otis Jones; William Jackson (Deceased); Ron Harold and Reuben Simpson.

Monterey Bay Blues Festival

PRESIDENTS
1985-1988 Morris McDaniel
1988-1992 Billy DeBerry
1992-1994 Lewis Jackson
1994-1996 Mary Ellen Harris
1996-2000 Fred Davis
2000-2002 Dr. Gwendolyn W. Laster
2002-2004 Fred Davis

2004-Present   MBBF President Gus Lewis

2004-2005 Board of Directors
Executive Committee:
President - Gus Lewis
1st Vice President - Billy DeBerry
2nd Vice President - Billy Baker
Recording Secretary - Doris Jones
Treasurer - Dee Latimore-Berry
Finance Secretary - Reuben Simpson
Director-at-Large - Josh Stewart
Immediate Past President - Fred Davis
Parliamentarian - Dr. Gwendolyn W. Laster
Legal Advisor -Robert T. Hatcher Esq.

Directors:
Jim Claypool
Lee Durley
Mary Ellen Harris
Julie C. Paisant
Sherman Smith
Will Wallace
Joe Watson

Ex Officio Directors:
Evella Brandon
Rick Buvia
Pat Coniglio
Michael Fields
Michael Klein
Alan Richmond

Associate Directors:
Robert Allen
Darryl Choates
Willie B. Smith

Outreach Directors:
Joan Harris
Shirley Harris
Rex N. Miller
Bobbie J. Redic
A. Lee Scott

MBBF Office Staff:
Executive Manager - Martin Puentes
Accounting Specialist - Martha Cardamone
Office Technician - Glen Maxon
Office Technician - Ted Johnson