Whitehall

It’s a little hard to see, but in the top left corner of the picture of the signs is one that is pretty unique.

It’s for the Killer Blues Headstone Project – an organization that provides headstones for blues musicians lying in unmarked graves.

Seriously, that’s what they have done for the last 25 years.

Founder Steve Salter, who’s “day job” is working as the Mayor of Whitehall (the first elected Mayor I might add, but that’s a whole new story) is an avid blues fan.

In 1997 he set off for New Orleans for the Jazz and Heritage Festival. On the way he stopped in a cemetery in Chicago to pay his respects to some artists.

Steve was shocked to see there were very sparse or, in some cases,  no headstones. After doing some legwork he found that a number of prominent blues musicians didn’t have a headstone either.

So he did something about it.  Through his efforts, 145 headstones have been placed since 2009 when The Killer Blues Headstone Project launched as a non-profit! But there are many more to go.

I had the chance to speak with Steve, and he said while all of the headstones he helps place are special and meaningful, the marker for pianist Otis Spann was very special as it was the one that got the proverbial ball rolling.

There is still a lot of work to be done. When I asked Steve which headstone he was most determined to place he responded without hesitation Little Junior Parker.

Steve has said it can sometimes take 5 or more years to do all of the research, fundraising and legwork to get a headstone placed – and in one case it took 10 years!

If you are interested in helping Steve and the Killer Blues Headstone project, you can donate here.

When I asked about the city of Whitehall, the Mayor said that he tells people that he and Leslie, his wife of 49 years, are “living the dream in paradise.”

Some other kinda’ related stuff:
Killer Blues Project site

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