Preserving the Past - Promoting the Future!

LONG BEACH BLUES SOCIETY

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Mission Statement:

The Long Beach Blues Society serves youth, seniors and veterans and underserved communities by providing inspirational learning opportunities, concerts and interactive engagements across Southern California through the time and talents of award winning Blues artists, writers, broadcasters and educators. We preserve the past and promote the future of the Blues!  ​

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) statement:

Since the founding of the Long Beach Blues Society, we acknowledge the rich historical roots of Blues music in Black culture and post-chattel slavery America. We intend to preserve this lived history through our intergenerational music programs including education and enrichment.  As an organization, we strive to practice Anti-Racism, create and hold space for People of Color to connect, learn, work and grow through arts and music.

OUR MISSION, DEI STATEMENTS & HISTORY

History: 

The LBBS team first came together working for GIG International to produce the New Blues Festival in 2014, meeting the demand for a local, live blues festival. This annual event continues to grow each year, with over 7000 blues fans in attendance to hear 17 bands over two days in 2017. Long Beach has a strong history supporting the blues through the local CSULB radio station KLON (now KKJZ), who produced the annual Long Beach Blues Festival from 1980-2010 and today provides Southern California with regular on-air blues programming and worldwide internet radio.

Recognizing the need for education and connection with underserved communities, the Long Beach Blues Society (LBBS) was incorporated in 2015 in the State of California and given tax-exempt status as a 501(c)(3) public benefit nonprofit corporation in 2016. Initial board members were recruited from the New Blues Festival staff, with recent additions from the local musician and blues advocate communities.