Blues Moments in Time - October 31: The 31st Note: How the Blues Haunts Time

Join Kelvin Huggins as he dives deep into the tangled roots and resonant echoes of October 31st in blues history.

From the birth of Kansas City’s sly and swinging Julia Lee in 1902 to the electric legacy of Johnny Moeller, born in 1970, this episode reveals how Halloween has become more than just a night of ghosts and grooves—it’s a milestone in blues history, artistry, and ambition.

We trace the genre’s unbroken line through pivotal moments: Victoria Spivey’s fearless recordings, the seismic spark between Johnny Johnson and Chuck Berry, and the quiet power of Bobby Parker’s guitar lick that echoed through The Beatles. Along the way, we uncover the blues’ fingerprints on Broadway, Motown, MTV, and beyond—often uncredited, always undeniable.

But this isn’t just a history lesson. Kelvin spotlights today’s global blues voices—from Belfast to Melbourne, London to Louisiana—proving the blues is no relic. It’s a living, borderless force that “keeps moving, keeps breathing, keeps telling its truth.”

Whether you’re lighting a candle for the ancestors or racing the Blues Music Awards deadline, October 31st is more than a date—it’s a rhythm, a reckoning, a reminder that the blues never dies. It just changes keys.

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.