Featured image: Bobby “Blue” Bland at the Long Beach Blues Festival, 31 August 1996. CREDIT: Masahiro Sumori SOURCE: Wikipedia Commons (Public Domain)

I know this is way off topic for any of the subjects in THEI’s archive line-up except for “Sorry to Hear That.”

However in this case it’s more than that to me. My music is the blues.  Has been for over 50 years. I first hear the blues when I was about 14 over a car radio.  The station was WLAC, Nashville Tenn. the DJ was John R., and the sound he was putting down was the devil’s music!

Today I am deeply saddened by the death of Robert Calvin, more famously known as Bobby “Blue” Bland. He kept at it hard for all of his life. A true Bluesman and I am truly “Sorry to Hear That.”, but your music will always be there Bobby, Further on up the Road . . . EDITOR

From About.com-Blues By Reverend Keith A. Gordon, About.com GuideJune 24, 2013

Blues Legend Bobby “Blue” Bland, R.I.P.

It is with great sadness that we report on the death of a true legend, Bobby “Blue” Bland. The great blues singer passed away on Sunday, June 23, 2012 at the age of 83 years, his death due to complications from an ongoing illness. Bland died in his Memphis, Tennessee home surrounded by family.

Bland’s smooth-as-silk vocal style successfully bridged the blues and R&B era of the 1950s and the soul era of the 1960s with a number of hit singles like “Turn On Your Love Light” and “Further On Up The Road.” Along the way, Bland would influence scores of imitators and followers, including great soul singers like Otis Redding and Marvin Gaye, rockers like Van Morrison and Eric Clapton, and a generation of blues singers. . . . Read Complete Report

Looking Back: Bobby “Blue” Bland

From youtube posted by  malacomg

“Further On Up The Road” – Bobby “Blue” Bland

From youtube uploaded by malacomg

“Medley” – Bobby ‘Blue’ Bland, Bobby Rush, Johnnie Taylor

Uploaded on Mar 4, 2011