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Episode 47

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Published on:

16th Feb 2026

Blues Moments in Time - February 16: The Unwritten Library of the Blues

February 16 reveals the blues as a record of survival—a music born from laws designed to silence Black voices and sustained by generations who turned lived experience into song. In this episode of Blues Moments in Time, we trace the impact of Missouri’s 1847 literacy ban, the rise of oral tradition, and Frederick Douglass’s leadership at the Freedman’s Bank, whose collapse echoed the broken promises that shaped so many blues themes.

We explore Bessie Smith’s 1923 recording that saved Columbia Records, Fleetwood Mac’s 1968 debut that proved the blues had become a global language, and the legacies of Bill Doggett, Otis Blackwell, and Brownie McGhee—artists who carried the music from greasy organ grooves to rock and roll swagger to the pure “wood and wire” of Piedmont blues. February 16 stands as a reminder that the blues is both a survival tool and a universal truth.

Hosted by: Kelvin Huggins

Presented by: The Blues Hotel Collective - your home for EVERYTHING BLUES.

Website: https://www.theblueshotel.com.au/

Keep the blues alive.

© 2026 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.