T.J. Wheller <t.j.wheeler7@yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 30 Dec 1998
Note: In the last six years Handy Award Winner T. J. Wheeler has performed his Hope, Heroes And The Blues education programs for over 125,000 children in schools in some of our nation's largest cities. He is called a Blues in the School Master. T.J.'s early Blues early pilgrimages from Seattle to the Deep South afforded him the opportunity to play and learn from early Blues legends such as Bukka White, Furry Lewis and Babes Stovall. In 1985 he formed the Blues Bank Collective, a blues educational and music organization in the New Hampshire Seacoast area with the mission of uniting people of all ages, races and creeds through the "distinctly soulful American music called BLUES." Programs take place all over the country in schools and clubs, with blues societies, arts organizations, civil rights groups and more. - S. Balkin
To Whom It May Concern (and I sure HOPE it does),
"You can't stand in the way of Progress" That certainly was the economic battle cry of the 1950's-the 1960's. Fortunately there were people of vision that preserved such historic districts such as Pioneer Sq. in Seattle, the Old Port in Portland, Maine, Laramer Sq. in Denver, Beale St. in Memphis and of course the French Quarter in New Orleans. Simply put ,by preserving these famous locations they insured each of their city's TRUE PROGRESS in a economic sense (as far as tourist $$$ go) and certainly as far as recognizing the cultural contributions, from the past to the present ,that each site represents.
Maxwell Street ,when viewed in this greater context {than just the fast expedient, but fruitless, quick bang and buck) deserves this same protection and preservation. Literally millions of people around this wide round world look to Maxwell Street as a shrine to the beginnings of urban electric Blues. I trust that you are one of the visionaries that will see past the immediate temptations(like the good book say's "Every thing that shines is not gold") and make real progress for Chicago a reality by recommending the revitalization & preservation of MAXWELL STREET ..not it's destruction!! Thank you for taking the time to read and think about my comments.
Sincerely Yours,
T.J. Wheeler, Executive Director
Blues Bank Collective
9 Towle Farm Rd.
Hampton Falls N.H. 03844
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