well, on a day that i have time to be entertained by mindless chatter, i read through all of the comments.
it is interesting that the article is one sided against joe sherrick. and i do agree with one poster who said that the fact he added his girlfriend to the board is really no big deal considering that she had to have won this election which she did. also, i did not know that michelon and cassandra were mother and daughter. i also didn't know that karen baum and tom tipton were in a triste. but then, all of this could be lies.
paul should have stayed out of the article since he's not a music member and he posts his events on the kcbs page so what's he crying for? i could hear your voice in this and you sound like you were drinking when you were interviewed. sounds like your hos who have come to your defense should chill and just keep dancing and unbuttoning their blouses just a little bit further.
I couldn't tell if paul was pro-jo or anti-jo so find it interesting that people are writing as if he is anti-jo. but perhaps he was used by the anti-jo side as they knew he would have something to say. it looks like paul has hos that are defending him. wtf?
also, bruce hibbs has nothign to do with this board. if you are a past president, give the current board professional consideration and respect. when your term is over it's over and unless you have alzheimers, someone needs to tell you that you are no longer president.
little jo needs to produce the records. just because you don't like that crazy michelon is screaming for it, you need to put them somewhere. you do come off as if you only promote trampled under foot and samantha fish and levee town. from what i can tell, none of them need a blues society to do what they do. so you could do better by promoting the up and coming or the older adult bands who want to carry on the blues tradition and not travel around the country as a headliner.
also, not paying the bands at the festival was not good. you do owe the society of musicians an apology for that. it's okay if it is free but at least let them know up front before hand.
the board president can protect the organization and the board by having each of them sign a privacy form. there's nothing wrong with that considering how so much has been said online by so many over the same crap for so long.
The kcbs is a crock and if you pay for a membership knowing what you have read here and on facebook, then you might as well wipe your butt with dollar bills. don't complain when your money gets flushed down the toilet.
enough of this crying, whining and pissy attitude at the end of the day, i like micki (michelon) and janet stephens who have been my friends for a long time. but micki, stop the madness.
Funny that the only pro-Joe comments on here are from his "Ho's" Hey more power to you if you don't mind being degrated. I think the term HO is classless not to mention stero-type racisist. Just show's you what kind of supporters he has if they like being referred to as his prostitutes. By the way, we are all allowed to have an opinion on these topics, and last I checked I personally do not belong or want to belong to any of these groups mentioned here.
Everyone on the board of the KCBS is a volunteer, including the president.
After all this bad blood and ill will and bad press and having his name dragged thru the mud, I can't for the life of me understand why he still wants the position. The unpaid volunteer president of a non-profit organization that's goal is to supposedly support a dying artform should not have the power to be such a polarizing figure. Why on Earth would a sane person not wash their hands of this mess?
after reading this, I don't think jo's ho's were saying that paul robert greenlease said anything bad about jo. but if a reporter asks a question, then why say anything at all? after you get quoted then people will interpret under the context that the article was written. what it sounds like is someone who is anti-jo writing postings like this just to make it seem like it is jo's camp. be careful who you accuse of making comments when you really don't know. everyone is talking about it and everyone grows balls of steel when posting anonymously on pitch but come on over to facebook and openly post your responses no matter who you support or dislike.
I used to be a member but quit after Bruce Hibbs resigned. This Joe Sherrick person running the KCBS is a two-bit musician with a blow-hard attitude. He has Napleon, short mans syndrome. After the Emporium shuttered (the real Emporium not the one that followed) it was end of a nice era of blues in this town. Knuckleheads has tried to pick up the slack but it is a poor second. It never has had the atmosphere that old GE had. But Knucklheads attracted a different audience of blues people and I think that marked the beginning of the downward trend for KCBS. The very poor attempt for a blues festival was marred by poor promotion and high ticket prices. Not paying the bands was a major faux pax. You have to pay the talent. I think the high ticket prices were meant to keep the local people of the KCK neighborhood out. I know there are plenty of blues bars in town but BB's Lawnside is one of the last of its type in town. Things have not been the same since the original GE closed and The Club Paradox burned down and John Wilson died. The old people are dying and the younger ones are being mislead.
The article is correct. Dawayne Gilley was always up front and open about KCK St. Festival expenses. Everyone who worked on that festival knew what a scramble to get funding was every year. The economy helped kill that festival. But, the musicians came first, we're treated well, and were always paid.
I think that joes_ho is just jealous of Paul to write what he did here. I have known Paul for over a decade and never heard him bad-mouth anyone. I spoke with him months ago about the BS current situation and what he told me matches the article quote. You asked why he would say something...uh hello, he was asked the question. I don't see where he has been two sided on this.
PAUL ROBERT GREENLEASE IS AN OKAY BASS PLAYER WHO HAS MADE NEGATIVE COMMENTS ABOUT EVERY MUSICIAN WHO HAS WORKED WITH HIM OR HIRED HIM TO PLAY FOR HIM. HE JUST FINDS SOMETHING WRONG WITH EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING.
SURE, HE'S A GREAT GUY WHEN HOSTING A JAM. HE TALKS LOUD AND WORKS THE ROOM TO GET TO KNOW EVERYONE. HE EVEN SAYS HE'S A CHRISTIAN.
BUT I FIND IT INTERESTING THAT HE SAYS THAT HE IS ABOVE THE HIGH SCHOOL DRAMA YET SAID SOMETHING TO BE INCLUDED IN THIS STORY. IF YOU ARE ABOVE THE DRAMA, THEN YOU WOULDN'T SAY ANYTHING AT ALL. FINALLY, I THINK HE JUST WANTED SOME OF THE ATTENTION AS HE IS AN ATTENTION-SEEKER.
I BET YOU ANYTHING, HE IS CALLING BOTH SIDES AND SAYING WHATEVER THEY WANT TO HEAR TO HAVE THEM BELIEVE HE IS SUPPORTIVE AND YES, ABOVE THE DRAMA. SMH.
This article is a continuation of the Facebook group page. Michelon Baron appears to have mental issues. And it's sad to see that Cassandra Houze is saying this stuff considering that she "acted" as if she was neutral and willing to work with all board members. I am not sure why anyone is concerned about Joe and Judy serving together considering that Michelon and Cassandra are Mother and Daughter and both ran for the board and LOST together. Now had they won, would the personal relationship STILL be an issue? Karen Baum should not still be upset considering that her boyfriend, Tom Tipton is on the board. He also plays in her band. Karen ran for the board alongside her man so why is she upset?
Janet Stephens (also known as Janet Ann) is on Facebook saying that she doesn't even know how her name got reported considering that she was never actually interviewed by the Pitch. Then Michelon came on and said that it was because the writer was at at the election and heard her speech. But she said that during her short speech, she never said anything about either side and feels to have been misquoted. (Well darling, you have said A LOT on Facebook and very much quilty by association).
Alexander Harrison is a 19 year old who has no respect for the current president nor the board. He was subordinate and listed a non-paying band on the cover of the newsletter. So I am confused by the writer of this story by saying that Joe fired him but then Alexander supposedly quit? All I know is that he came onto the same non-KCBS group and wrote some stuff that stirred the pot and then said he was going to sue over this and that and the other. And so my question is that why didn't he just sue rather than come on Facebook? If you are about it just be about it and sue. Otherwise, stop behaving so unprofessionally. I am sure his mother/lawyer is very proud of him.
As far as I can tell this is a small group of musicians. They don't hold a festival (never quite figured out why no more Blues and Jazz Fest but alright). They don't seem to take in any money outside of dues and whatever money is at the MMF.
When people get this crazy over a club, it is usually over money. So either there is some sort of graft going on going forward (perhaps KC blues gets a culture subsidy?) or there was embezzlement in the past.
No way there is this much bile over what is essentially a trade organization of a few dozen musicians and a few dozen like minded fans.
The Kansas City Blues Preservation Service {KCBPS} has Integrity, Honor, and Repect for The Legacy of Passed On Musicians and Entertainers.We Also collect and distibute Instruments for Individuals instead of schools that close and the student loses the instrument.We feel that All Resources for Promoting and Preserving The Heritage of Kansas City Blues , such as Big Joe Turner, Provine"Little Hatch", L.C. "Speedy" Huggins, Leon"Mr.Blues"Estelle, Annetta"Cotton Candy"Washington, Sonny Kenner, Lawrence Wright, King Alex, Adam Page, Robert Nicholas Schnebelen, Charles "Bojohns KC"Johnson, Carl"Flash"Washington ect. to name a few Should Be Supported!!!p.s. although we are not apart of The kansas City Blues Society(KCBS)we hope to be able to share the assion for Keeping The Blues Alive!!!
The Kansas City Blues Preservation Service {KCBPS} has Integrity, Honor, and Repect for The Legacy of Passed On Musicians and Entertainers.We Also collect and distibute Instruments for Individuals instead of schools that close and the student loses the instrument.We feel that All Resources for Promoting and Preserving The Heritage of Kansas City Blues , such as Big Joe Turner, Provine"Little Hatch", L.C. "Speedy" Huggins,(We are in the process of providing Speedy Huggins a headstone similar to the one In Memory Of Produced. Leon"Mr.Blues"Estelle, Annetta"Cotton Candy"Washington, Sonny Kenner, Lawrence Wright, King Alex, Adam Page, Robert Nicholas Schnebelen, Charles "Bojohns KC"Johnson, Carl"Flash"Washington ect. to name a few Should Be Supported!!!p.s. although we are not apart of The kansas City Blues Society(KCBS)we hope to be able to share the passion for Keeping The Blues Alive!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!In Memory Of benefit fundraiser Honoring Bojohns Johnson will be held March 24th 11am-11pm at Trouser Mouse 410 route 7 highway, Blue Springs, Missouri 64014. Donations can also be sent to The Kansas City Blues Preservation Service 501c non proft via Mazuma Credit Union and paypal
Quite the bias statement. Consider the source.
Some comments are accurate and some show that people are totally speaking out of their asses. I know the inside skinny and this is it. There are three sides to every story and the truth will come out very soon. Joe has done everything by the book. The dollars have been accounted for. The only funny business has come from the previous 10-15 people who used to control the KCBS and now are on the outside looking in. They are so disgruntled that they have created their own page, the KCBS response group, to try to smear the KCBS and Joe Sherrick with rumor and innuendo. They have spent the last year+, unsuccessfully, to regain control. Your article is so far from the truth... I don't know how they got you to print this but you must be a good buddy to someone. THEY USED YOU. Thanks for the press though. Stay tuned for the truth and then some.
The article is correct in describing the shambles that was allegedly the last AGM of KCBS. it was not according to not for profit rules. The Board election was a comedy of errors. Many were not asked for evidence of membership. There were, and are, no Annual Accounts presented in spite of regular repeated requests. The KCBS Board did not present its Annual report to members. There was no pre-published agenda. The Board did not present detailed ideas for budget and use of its income from membership fees etc. request for this proper information is sadly met with belittling vitriol and secrecy ie the Board confidentiality agreement. Alone that is a breech of not for profit protocol. Only when KCBS data is provided is there a chance that harmony may prevail. With present social media, the KC Blues will carry on - regardless. Hallelujah.
It's obvious that this organization is a croc. The musician's in this town have nothing positive to say about it. Seems to me that the only comments here that support it are being written by the elected panel, and not entirely sure they are not being posted by the "president" himself. If they don't want this drama, then get it together. Inform the public properly, keep minutes of your meetings, publish the booklet in a timley manner and try to create more than one event for every two years. Also pay your musician's who play that event. Either bill it as a fundraiser and be upfront with them or find another way to make revenue. Try being open to these comments and see why you are failing, and accept offers of help to get things going. I know many of these people who were fired and they are more than capable. Many did the task they were asked and were canned only because their opinon did not match the "president". He is not the whole here. Blues lovers are a diverse group with strong opinions (which should be). Those running things needs to realize they are not speaking for the musicians whom they base this organizaion on.
Whats the point in paying to promote a show in the KCBN? It only reaches the few people who are members, and from reading all this they obviously don't care unless it meets their agenda. I tried to find a copy to see if it was worth advertising the music store and searched L.S. and Indy. Still have not located a venue who offers the Blues New's newsletter. By the way, the group charges way too much to post an event seeing that one must write their own article, and by the time the newsletter gets out it is usually past the event. What was that $50.00 for? I wasn't even offered a copy check or any e-mail returned to say it was accepeted. BAD BUISNESS ETHICS! F.Y.I. You don't need to pay the B.S. to get KKFI to help promote either. Pitch offers free spots for events, so don't get all high and mighty there Tired of the Drama.
Sorry to hear of all this drama. Similar situation went down with a Blues Society in my area, grudges still held almost a decade later. Seems to me there is genuine passion there, and sometimes when people feel strongly actions and words come out harsher than perhaps intended. KC is truly one of the hot spots in the Blues, with some of the hottest Blues bands - hard working bands that deserve a support system that works in harmony instead of discord. Wishing you all the best. Sky
I think Trampled Under foot, Samantha Fish, and Levee Town are some of the best young KC talent to have come along over the past 10 years. Several other groups have come along very well in recent years who actually know something about the blues. I am a fan of Cadillac Flambe, Dog House Daddies, Dan Bliss, Ernest James, Lonesome Hank, Lee McBee, Mama Ray, Blues Notions, Mike Elrod, Shinetop, and Scottyboy Daniels and many others. I love all of our remaining heritage acts like Millage Gilbert, Linda Shell, Bill Carter, Richard Townsend, Eugene Smiley, Frank "Iron Jaw" Oakley, and Everette DeVan.
I love Kansas City's 130 year contribution to blues and jazz heritage. I would love to see KC support its music the way it deserves. I wish I knew the answer to get everyone rowing the same direction for the KC blues scene cause.
I have no skeletons hiding in my closet. I have nothing to hide. I am a music activist. I have given my heart and soul to promote the advancement of the blues in KC and around the world. Every project I have ever worked on always had music first in mind. I have never taken or stolen a single dollar for my efforts. I always hope that I do not spend to much money in something that I support. I believe in great music and musician causes. If anyone believes that I am a crook and loves to see my name in this type of print/press/media please give me a call. Please be sure to call around town for my references with musicians, club owners, and fans alike. I welcome your thoughts and insights.
I would love to see the KCBS supporting the blues in a positive fun way.
Dawayne Gilley
Kansas city
816-728-5694
KC has two of the top "blues" acts in the nation & internationally in Trampled Under Foot and Samantha Fish (don't hate, check their '13 tourdates) and this is the best the KCBS can do for press outside of their monthly "newsletter"??? F'n embarrassment. No wonder so many newcomers never give the present-day genre a chance.
Re: “The endless drama of the Kansas City Blues Society”
The KCBS should honor and respect their past presidents, board members, and editors. Without their previous efforts the organization would not exist today.
All of the petty personal fights are a shame. The current leadership looks very suspect from my outsiders point of view. I am really disappointed watching the blues being drug through the mud in this way. It seems a real shame that someone from the KCBS current board did not wish to go on record with the Pitch. Common ground could have avoided this giant mess. Long live the Chairman of the Board Little Hatch!