George says that if the S.B.S. didn't actually save his life, it certainly has enabled him to enjoy it a great deal more. "I was alone in the music wilderness, (literally) lugging around Blues LP's, some of which I've had since Nixon was president." Not only is George able to be an active Blues fan again, but he's also met a great bunch people, many of whom are now close friends. "I felt that after all the Society has meant to me, it was time to repay with some sweat equity." After serving several terms as Membership Director, George turned that important post over to Barry. After serving another term as V/P he's taken on the Presidents roll. He's still Volunteer Director, too. You wouldn't necessarily know it from reading his Updates, but he takes his duties seriously. His current goal is to try to learn all the President's duties! George's famous quote "Where else can you find such good friends for $15?"

Tom has been a member of the SBS for more than four years and an active volunteer for the last year or so. Wanting to do more for the society and the music he has enjoyed for so long, he decided to run for the board. “I really started to listen to the blues when I began playing the guitar. Up until then I was a rock-n-roller, but wanted to get to the ‘roots’ of it all. So I started listening to people like Buddy Guy, B.B. King, Albert Collins and T-Bone Walker, to name a few, and I was hooked. While Chicago blues is the style I enjoy the most, I will go just about anywhere to hear some good blues. I hope to use my position on the board to help spread the Gospel of this genre that was the inspiration for so many forms of music today.” Tom’s favorite quote is from Eric Clapton; “I started playing the blues because I thought it would be easy. I was wrong.”

JoAnn is a breath of fresh air! (And as you get to know her you’ll find that she’s just as nice as she seems at first meeting.) As our new treasurer, it’s her job to keep all the odd scraps of paper we give her in some semblance of order..and she can. She’s an accountant, and on top of that she's well-suited to dealing all of us “grumpy old men”. When you see her introduce yourselves.

Marv has spent his adult life in both radio and education. Hes a life-long music fan, and looks forward to being involved in the "biz" in a hands on way. As you get to know Marv, you'll find his enthusiasm is contageous.

I relocated to Tampa from San Diego September 1993. After settling in Brandon, my question was “Where’s the live music entertainment around here?” San Diego had its share of fine jazz, fusion, island, pop, and R&B artists. Any night of the week, I could find musicians practicing their crafts downtown in the Gas Lamp District. People pointed me towards Ybor City. I was able to visit the Blues Ship, Jazz Cellar and Café Creole in my early search. We know of their demise as years passed. I ventured out to The Fox on one Westshore Blvd. and the Green Iguana on the other end. One day in 1998, the skies parted. A friend told me about the Suncoast Blues Society. Since that sage clued me into SBS active schedule, “My live musician fix has been satisfied”. Since June ’04, we even have Smoking Dog Blues Club in Riverview to frequent 5 nights a week for our local “blues” fix. I look forward to the annual established events like working a tap on the “Bud” truck at Vinoy Park Blues Festival, getting rustic Dave’s Lounge Jook Joint series, the August Beach Party, and many events at Skipper’s Smokehouse. I welcome my invitation to serve as Director of Grants and Scholarships. Having been a member of the SBS Scholarship committee since its inception, throw in my knowledge of grants, and an active member of many Hillsborough County School District committees provides a good basis for my position. I have discussed opportunities of continuing to spread the good news about our “local Blues Story” to not yet reached population. I look forward to working with the Board and all of you.

Barry grew up in the same area of Maine as D.W. Gill. He moved to Pinellas County from the frozen north in the fall of 1981. Searching around for some good blues in the area in 2004, he discovered the Beach Bash and liked what he heard. By the time the Beach Bash rolled around in 2005, he joined SBS and started volunteering at events where he has since met many wonderful blues lovers. As Membership Director, he hopes to meet all of you and bring many more blues lovers to the party.