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By Pfc. Monica K. Smith
3rd Combat Aviation Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division
CAMP STRIKER, Iraq – Soldiers at Camp Striker had the opportunity to relax while listening to live blues music at the Striker North Morale Welfare Recreation Center on April 5.
Bluzapalooza, a four-act blues festival starring singer and harmonica player Bobby Rush, entertained Soldiers for more than two hours during an evening show. The show also featured singer and harmonica player Billy Gibson, singer Janiva Magness, and a house band, also called Bluzapalooza.
"I wanted to give back," said Rush. "I wanted to give my time trying to inspire these Soldiers that protect us so well. This is great."
For some Soldiers, Bluzapalooza was their first experience with blues music.
"I really wanted to see a great blues band," said Sgt. 1st Class Frankie Klemm with Company C, 4th Battalion, 3rd Aviation Regiment. "I've never seen a live blues band. I like live music, but usually it's heavy metal. It takes talent to play music and I like to see it."
Others, like Sgt. Dennis Hart with Company A, 4-3 Avn., have a long history with blues music and were eager to enjoy the event.
"I'm a huge blues fan," said Hart. "I grew up with it, I used to play trombone. I went to college playing blues and jazz, so it wasn't much to bring me out."
The show opened with the house band followed by Gibson who worked the crowd by singing and playing his harmonica throughout the aisles of chairs, talking and occasionally dancing with Soldiers. Magness, who won the Blues Music Award for Contemporary Artist of the Year in '06 and '07, performed after Gibson and expressed her thankfulness to servicemembers.
"We wouldn't be here if each one of us individually and as a group didn't have the deepest gratitude for each and every one of you," said Magness.
Rush performed last, taking the stage with his band and two female dancers. Rush, who at 74 years old has created 249 records, said he is proud of the work Soldiers do and is glad to be able to entertain those he has great respect for.
"Thank all of you for what you've done," added Rush. "Thank you for what you're doing and what you will do."
