Deacon Bluz
"Master of the Blues"
Meet the Bluesologist
Deaconbluz and the Holysmoke Band is one of the few remaining Blues bands in the southeast who play traditional Blues dance music. The band, composed of professional musicians, has been performing since 1997 under the direction of Clark “deacon bluz” White, (B.A., M.A., Ph.D.). An organic public intellectual bluesologist, he is currently directing Blues Chattanooga: Center for Blues Studies. He is one of the producers of the annual grassroots community-based “Blues in the Knob” sponsored by the Orchard Knob Neighborhood Watch Association.
Lifelong Teacher
He has taught at Michigan State University, Temple University, Northeastern University, Brown University, and Morehouse College (his alma mater Class of 1971). He was also a Visiting Scholar at the WEB DuBois Center for African American Studies at Harvard University and the Delta Cultural and Research Center at Mississippi Valley State University. Dr. White is a nationally known and in-demand speaker, consultant, Blues artist, and Blues music educator who teaches “Blues in the Schools” programs and consults with schools, museums, colleges-universities, senior citizen programs, recreation/cultural centers, and arts organizations.
National Involvement
He has also produced the “deaconbluz radio show” which was broadcast over National Public Radio affiliated stations. He has been a consultant to the National Jazz Service Organization, the Pew Foundation, the Delta Blues Museum, the Chattanooga African American Museum, the Afro-American Museum of Philadelphia, the High Museum of Atlanta, The Mckenzie Foundation, Community Impact of Chattanooga/Lyndhurst Foundation, Riverbend Festival, House of Hope and the Jewish Cultural Center of Chattanooga.
Deacon Bluz & the Holy Smoke Band performing at the Bessie Smith Strut in 2015
CLIENTS
Blues in the Schools
The “Blues in the Schools” program was designed for the general public, K-12, college and university, recreation centers, summer camps, senior citizens activity time, adult basic education, and Blues Edutainment for the “at-risk” populations. The “Blues in the Schools” program could be designed to meet a school’s curriculum requirements and resources. The program was also available when the band was on tour.