Increasingly, live music is often axed by clubs tightening their belts or protecting themselves from lawsuits. Live music, however, is vitally important, and deserves to be fiercely supported.

A real life Forrest Gump, Blind Tom was an autistic savant with an unheard of gift of piano. The first African-American to perform in the White House and the “last American slave”, his life was enigmatic.

The Roots N Blues N BBQ festival recently unveiled a Blues in the Schools mural, an attractive way to raise awareness of this valuable program.