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Episode 44

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Published on:

19th Dec 2025

Blues Moments in Time — December 19: Sorrow, Celebration & the Circle of Sound

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Join Kelvin Huggins as he dives deep into the tangled roots and resonant echoes of December 19th in blues history.

December 19th sits at a crossroads in blues and rock history — a single date where the music’s deepest contrasts collide. It’s a day of beginnings, marked by the births of two transformative forces: Professor Longhair, the New Orleans piano wizard whose rhythmic inventions shaped an entire city’s sound, and Alvin Lee, the British rock‑blues firebrand who pushed guitar speed and intensity into new territory.

But woven into that same date are some of the genre’s most poignant farewells. Blind Lemon Jefferson, one of the first national stars of the blues, died under mysterious circumstances on December 19th. Chicago blues cornerstone Jimmy Rogers and gospel‑blues patriarch Roebuck “Pops” Staples also passed on this day, leaving behind legacies that continue to anchor the music’s emotional and spiritual core.

And as if to underline the blues’ eternal cycle, December 19th has also hosted unforgettable live moments — from Fleetwood Mac’s breakthrough U.S. performance to explosive AC/DC shows in Australia, and a legendary on‑stage meeting between The Rolling Stones and John Lee Hooker, hailed as “the ultimate blues meeting.”

This episode explores a date where joy and loss, innovation and remembrance, all converge. December 19th reminds us that the blues is not just a genre — it’s a living rhythm of sorrow and celebration, forever turning.

Hosted by: Kelvin Huggins

Presented by: The Blues Hotel Collective

Listen Tomorrow for: Another Blues Moment in Time

Keep the blues alive.

© 2025 The Blues Hotel Collective.

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About the Podcast

Blues Moments in Time...
The History That Shaped it All.
Blues Moments in Time takes you back to the crossroads where history happened. We're talking about those electric nights in Chicago studios, those dusty Delta afternoons, those chance encounters that changed everything.

This is where you'll hear about the day Muddy Waters plugged in and shook the world, the session where Robert Johnson laid down his legacy, the moment B.B. King named his guitar Lucille. These aren't just dates and facts—they're the living, breathing stories of how the blues became the blues.

Each moment is a snapshot: the artists, the circumstances, the magic that happened when talent met opportunity. Sometimes it's triumph, sometimes it's tragedy, but it's always real. Because the blues has always been about truth, and these moments tell that truth better than anything else.

Whether it's a legendary recording session, a groundbreaking performance, or a personal turning point that shaped an artist's sound, Blues Moments in Time brings you there. You'll feel the room, hear the backstory, and understand why that particular moment still matters today.

This is blues history you can feel—one moment at a time.

Blues Moments in Time is a production of The Blues Hotel Collective
© 2026 The Blues Hotel Collective - All rights reserved.
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About your host

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Kelvin Huggins

The Blues Hotel Collective is an independent blues media platform dedicated to preserving, promoting, and celebrating blues culture. While we are based in Perth, Western Australia, our "hotel" is a metaphorical space—a welcoming hub where artists, fans, and historians can "check in" to connect, share stories, and immerse themselves in the rich tapestry of the blues. Our mission is simple: to give the blues a bigger voice – through authentic storytelling, in-depth interviews, and passionate music discovery.