Bobby Rush and me

Owning the 100 Men Hall has offered me a wild ride in this life. I’ve met so many people, made so many friends, and every day has been different from the day before or the day after. And there have been highlights. So many highlights. One was the day Bobby Rush came to the Hall to play a Blues Brunch and stole my heart.

Here was a superstar, an icon, the King of the Chitlin’ Circuit, and he came to play the 100 Men Hall. Bobby told me right then and there, and also in subsequent text messages, that he believes in what we are doing at the Hall.

We interviewed him in Studio DBA, our new podcast and recording studio, and those interviews will live on the 100 Men Hall’s website.

Yesterday, I happened to be taking a moment – a much needed break – I was sitting in a bubble bath in a hotel and watching the videos (Part 1 and Part 2) of Bobby in Studio DBA and marveling at him and his kindness and greatness. And right when I was in this tub, Bobby Rush himself text me from Switzerland where he is touring. He had read my blog post yesterday, and he responded with this text that I will memorialize and hang on the wall so I can see it every day:

I just love your spirit about life and take on people in this world, thank you for being you and taking the 100 Men Club over. Without you, it probably would have been gone by now, regardless of what people say about you, what they think about you, I want to thank you personally for taking it over and preserving a place like this. You invite everyone, all people to come regardless of their race, creed, or color. I hope I can be a help to you to keep the place going and make it even bigger and better than it is – now my name is Bobby Rush, much love and good luck. God bless, keep the faith, keep the hope alive and keep the place alive, so we all have a place to come and enjoy a reminisce on the days gone by, thanks to you the 100 Men is now up and running. My name is Bobby Rush, the blues man, and I started off playing places like this me, BB King, Howlin’ Wolf, and people like myself – these places like this club were the only places we had to play, so I’m glad to see someone like yourself come along and keep the name of the place where most of the old blues singers in places like this played. Remember, we had fun back in the day, it makes me feel good to see one of the oldest places around, still existing, to God be the glory, I really thank Him, for you to have come along, saving this historical place.

I hope I can come back again and perform for you and the peoples to help you in anyway I can.

Bobby Rush 

[Thank you for reading my blog; I love hearing from you; I’d appreciate your responding here rather than on social media because then I can revisit your comments.]