"Con Alma de Blues Magazine" Nº7 English Edition Con Alma de Blues Magazine Nº7 /English Edition | Page 87

sent in the solo/duo category and made a strong
showing advancing to the IBC semi-finals. Hous-
ton was also represented in the Youth Showcase
category by local upstarts who go by the moni-
ker: “Untitled.”
“For decades our city has enjoyed boasting a
rich Blues history that few Houstonians are even
aware of,” said Anni Eason, HBS President. “At
the Houston Blues Society we are proud of our
storied past and strive to educate through music
and youth programs. This year at the Internatio-
nal Blues Challenge Houston’s own The Keeshea
Pratt Band brought home the title.”
This year marks the 34th year that the Interna-
tional Blues Challenge has been held in Memphis,
Tennessee. The finale concluded a week of per-
formances from bands and musicians from affi-
liate blues societies who gathered from around
the globe. The famed event was staged under the
auspices of the Memphis-based nonprofit, The
Blues Foundation.
About Houston Blues Society – As a 501c(3)
non-profit organization, the Houston Blues So-
ciety works on “Keeping The Blues Alive” by ex-
posing audiences to Houston’s heritage in it. One
of the four major blues cities in America, with
deep roots in the art form, it’s witnessed through
our talented musicians and venues throughout
the region. The purpose of HBS is to provide for
the study, research and preservation of the blues
culture unique to Houston and the Texas Gulf
Coast and for the continued development of the
blues tradition. This is achieved through outreach
and promotion of benefits, festivals and fundrai-
sers, in addition to administering youth scholar-
ships and Blues in Schools programs to continue
to nurture a love of blues for future generations.
To learn more, go to http://www.houstonbluessociety.org/