Clemson Blues Festival Benefits Wounded Veterans

Legendary Blues singer Alberta Hunter once described the blues this way: “Blues means what milk does to a baby,” she said. “Blues is what the spirit is to the minister. We sing the blues because our hearts have been hurt, our souls have been disturbed.”

Proceeds from a blues festival set for next year in Clemson will help a local university minister to wounded veterans and help them achieve their educational goals.

Planners behind the 2013 Clemson Blues Fest recently announced that the festival will benefit an upcoming program at Southern Wesleyan University. 

“Southern Wesleyan University is starting a program for wounded veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan,” said Vince Jackson. Jackson helped start the Clemson Blues Festival, which celebrates the rich tradition of rhythm and blues in the Clemson area, a tradition that is outlined in his book, “The Littlejohn’s Grill Story: Blues, Jazz and Rock N’ Roll in Clemson, SC.”

The program will focus on female veterans, he said.

“Many of these veterans are amputees,” Jackson said. “They’re goin to need some special care.”

Southern Wesleyan University plans a program to provide dormitory space and college courses geared to the needs of disabled veterans.

“There’s a rehabilitation center that’s interested in coming to campus and help these veterans with their rehabilitation while they use their VA benefits to go to school,” Jackson said.

Designated proceeds from the Blues Festival will go to aid wounded veterans in the completion of their college education.

“They need to raise money for this program,” Jackson said. “We thought it was a very worthwhile program, so we decided they would be our charity for the 2013 festival. There’s not too many veterans programs that are just for women.”

Sponsors are needed to make this program possible. For more information and sponsorship opportunities contact Vince Jackson at 864-650-0585 for details.

“We’re looking for sponsors that will sponsor the blues fest to benefit,” Jackson said. “This will benefit the wounded veterans program. We’re looking for businesses that want to help, knowing that they’re supporting businesses and music in this area and also the Southern Wesleyan University Wounded Veterans program.

“It’s probably not a program that’s going to start anytime soon,” he said. “But they hope to get it going sometime in the next year or two. I think there will be a long-term need for this.”

Next year’s festival is set for April 18-21. For more information, visit clemsonbluesfest.com

The 2013 Clemson Blues Festival will be the second such fest, Jackson said. 

“We’ve had a real good response to it,” Jackson said, of the inaugural festival. “Last time, I had to call around to performers to get them to play it. This year, I’ve had performers calling me – Smoky Robinson, Jerry Butler, Rare Earth. We just can’t afford them, but one day we’ll be able to. We’re just trying to build this thing slowly.”