Parker Crook

Morning Star Staff

It isn91裸聊视频檛 about the money, it91裸聊视频檚 about the music.

That91裸聊视频檚 the mantra of bluesman Harpdog Brown, who91裸聊视频檚 playing with the Travelin91裸聊视频� Blues Show featuring Sugar Brown at the Prestige Inn Ballroom Saturday.

The dynamic duo met last fall while Harpdog was on tour in Ontario.

91裸聊视频淭his man has truly given me hope that there is a chance that classic blues is alive here in Canada,91裸聊视频� said Harpdog, the Maple Blues Award winner for Harmonica Player of the Year in 2014, 2015, and 2016.

91裸聊视频淕uys like me and Sugar are keeping the torch alive.91裸聊视频�

After meeting, the two bonded over their love of classic blues: music straight from early 91裸聊视频�50s Chicago.

91裸聊视频淭hat was wicked. It was the most natural love affair,91裸聊视频� said Harpdog. 91裸聊视频淚t was encouraging, (and) we91裸聊视频檙e pretty excited about the blues marriage.91裸聊视频�

Sugar, born in Ohio in 1971, is a professor of East Asian Studies at the University of Toronto who grew up playing the blues with the likes of Taildragger, responsible for giving Ken Kawashima his stage name; Dave Myers; and Willie 91裸聊视频淏ig Eyes91裸聊视频� Smith, the late-drummer of Muddy Waters band.

91裸聊视频淪ugar Brown91裸聊视频檚 blues were shaped by playing the small clubs and venues along the west side of Chicago,91裸聊视频� said Harpdog. 91裸聊视频淗e91裸聊视频檚 paid his dues and he91裸聊视频檚 paid his time.

91裸聊视频淗e91裸聊视频檚 educated, but not too educated. If you get too over educated, it becomes jazz.91裸聊视频�

Classic blues comes from passion and emotion, said Harpdog, not about technical prowess.

91裸聊视频淢usic has become a sport 91裸聊视频� it91裸聊视频檚 all tricks, but it91裸聊视频檚 lost its language.91裸聊视频�

So when the two bluesmen played together, it was a natural connection.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 like having the right guy on your stage,91裸聊视频� said Harpdog. 91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 amazed and overwhelmed by the talent.91裸聊视频�

But, because of its focus on passion, Harpdog said blues will never be popular to the degree of top 40.

91裸聊视频淚 don91裸聊视频檛 think anyone gets into the blues to be rich and famous,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 never going to be the flavour of the week. It91裸聊视频檚 not a sprint, it91裸聊视频檚 a marathon. Blues is a lifelong experience.91裸聊视频�

Harpdog stumbled into the world of blues after already being involved in music. He didn91裸聊视频檛 go searching for the blues, it found him.

91裸聊视频淚 can kind of see how I was designed for the circus, and blues was my circus,91裸聊视频� he said.

91裸聊视频淏lues is the thing (where) I really felt like I truly belonged. The blues gave me a purpose in life.91裸聊视频�

Growing up as a foster-child in Edmonton, Harpdog always felt out of place. He was named three times by people he never knew, but only once did the name feel right.

In 1989, when Harpdog was in his late-20s, he played a gig at the famous Mama Gold91裸聊视频檚 in Kitsilano, Vancouver. In the crowd was a group of well-dressed men.

91裸聊视频淎t the end of the night, they were chanting 91裸聊视频榟arp dog, harp dog.91裸聊视频�

He thought about it a few days later, and decided he liked it.

91裸聊视频淚 truly connected to the name. I never felt like I belonged as anything but Harpdog.91裸聊视频�

And after a divorce four years ago, he legally changed his name to Harpdog, known as 91裸聊视频淒og91裸聊视频� for short, because as he says in What91裸聊视频檚 your real name, 91裸聊视频淎fter all, I am the dog of the harp, not the harp of the dog.91裸聊视频�

Harpdog played the Prestige Inn Ballroom last year, loved it, and decided to make it an annual show.

91裸聊视频淚t was pretty damn successful,91裸聊视频� he said.

Despite his love for the blues, it91裸聊视频檚 still a job, and sometimes he has trouble getting out of bed in the afternoon, but he doesn91裸聊视频檛 quit.

91裸聊视频淚 never regret going to work on my way home.

91裸聊视频淧laying live is what it91裸聊视频檚 all about. Like a priest without a congregation, if there91裸聊视频檚 no audience, there91裸聊视频檚 no point.91裸聊视频�

Through playing the blues to live audiences, Harpdog has affected their lives. Hearing about other peoples91裸聊视频� struggles helps them realize their situations aren91裸聊视频檛 so bad, he said.

91裸聊视频淏lues is a practice. It91裸聊视频檚 not something to listen to. It91裸聊视频檚 something to live and to share. It91裸聊视频檚 music that can change a person91裸聊视频檚 life.91裸聊视频�

And that91裸聊视频檚 what keeps Harpdog going.

91裸聊视频淭hose moments are more valuable than money in the bank.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 about the funny, not about the money.91裸聊视频�

Tickets to Harpdog Brown and the Travelin91裸聊视频� Blues Show featuring Sugar Brown are available for $20 at Bourbon St. Bar and Grill, 4411-32nd St., and East Side Liquor Company, 4209-27th St. Doors at 7 p.m. Show at 8 p.m. For more information, visit .