It is not every day that a musician is honored by the State of Oregon recognizing a lifetime of dedication and achievement, but the State Senate did just that for bluesman Curtis Salgado in February. It is something that fans and musicians already knew about Curtis and now has been officially noted, that Curtis Salgado is a State Treasure.
77th OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY–2014 Regular Session
Senate Concurrent Resolution 205
Sponsored by Senator WINTERS; Senators BAERTSCHIGER JR, BOQUIST, CLOSE, DEVLIN, EDWARDS, FERRIOLI, GIROD, HANSELL, JOHNSON, KNOPP, KRUSE, MONROE, OLSEN, STEINER, HAYWARD, THOMSEN, WHITSETT, Representatives BERGER, BUCKLEY, MCLANE, NATHANSON, PARRISH, RICHARDSON, WEIDNER, WILLIAMSON (Presession filed.)
SUMMARY
The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject to consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor’s brief statement of the essential features of the measure as introduced.
Honors visionary Oregon musician Curtis Salgado.
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Whereas Curtis Salgado is a visionary Oregon musician who has inspired generations of blues fans through stunning vocals, passionate song writing, soulful harmonica playing and the example he set in overcoming personal tragedy; and
Whereas Curtis Salgado grew up in Eugene, Oregon, where he played in his first professional shows at age 16 and was already making a name for himself in Eugene’s music scene by age 18; and
Whereas Curtis Salgado started an annual Eugene blues festival; and
Whereas Curtis Salgado’s high-intensity performances and acclaimed albums uniquely combine aspects of blues, soul and R&B; and
Whereas Curtis Salgado has helped bring prominence to Oregon’s music scene since the 1960s by collaborating, touring and performing with such artists as Robert Cray, the Steve Miller Band, Santana, Bonnie Raitt and many more; and
Whereas Curtis Salgado has performed throughout Oregon, the Pacific Northwest and the world, including at the Waterfront Blues Festival in Portland, the San Francisco Blues Festival, the Chicago Blues Festival, the Beale Street Music Festival in Memphis, the Tampa Bay Blues Festival, Mile High Blues in Denver, Waterfront Blues in Toronto, the Phuket International Blues Rock Festival in Thailand and the Blues Alive Festival in Poland; and
Whereas Curtis Salgado was an inspiration for the Saturday Night Live sketch and major motion picture The Blues Brothers and the best-selling record album Briefcase Full of Blues; and
Whereas Curtis Salgado has received numerous awards, including the 2010, 2012 and 2013 Soul Blues Male Artist of the Year, the 2013 B. B. King Entertainer of the Year and the 2013 Soul Blues Album of the Year for his record Soul Shot; and
Whereas Curtis Salgado has been inducted into the Oregon Music Hall of Fame; and
Whereas Curtis Salgado brought national attention to the challenge many artists face in accessing affordable health care; and
Whereas Curtis Salgado exemplifies the Oregon spirit of steadfast determination by overcoming both liver and lung cancers; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Legislative Assembly of the State of Oregon: That we, the members of the Seventy-seventh Legislative Assembly, honor Curtis Salgado for his visionary music, shining example and service to the people of this state.
I’d be lying to you if I said that I didn’t enjoy my recent trip to Memphis to assist with The Blues Foundation once again at the Blues Music Awards. I arrived Wednesday morning around 9:00 am and Deputy Director (and one of my closest friends) Joe Whitmer had me working as soon as I stepped foot through the office door. And it didn’t end until the awards show ended late Thursday night (or should I say Friday morning). But I loved every minute.