| Rob Richardson, President Email Rob |  | Rob is happy to provide the Society with a historical perspective, having served on the Board for nine years, in roles including Secretary, Vice President, and President. Rob also books national and international Blues artists for North Central Florida area concerts, with an eye on showcasing not only the many different styles that exist under the umbrella of Blues, but also to bring the finest talent to the area, acts that area residents would otherwise have to travel to see perform live. |
| Dr Jules Gliesche, Vice President Email Dr Jules |  | Dr. Jules Gliesche is a Senior Lecturer in Linguistics at the University of Florida, specializing in Historical Linguistics. He brings this same interest in history to music, and the result has been his affection for the Blues as well as his desire to preserve and promote the Blues. He started out in life being trained on clarinet, saxophone and bassoon in both classical music & jazz, but discovered early on in life that playing guitar (albeit upside-down and backwards) brought with it certain social benefits that inspired the switch. After failing to catch on in Nashville as the “Weird Al Yankovic of Country Music”, he moved to the Hill Country of Texas and discovered the Blues. As a singer-songwriter-musician, his output to date has produced 3 CDs worth of original material, with a fourth to be completed soon – as well as a reasonably obscure YouTube channel full of music videos of original compositions and covers. Despite these labors of love, neither fame nor fortune have materialized, but the passion for the music remains. His objective with the NCFBS is to develop a self-sustaining community of Blues enthusiasts in this part of the state who enjoy playing, listening to and learning about the Blues. |
| Lothar Weimann, Secretary Email Lothar |  | As a kid of the ’50s, Lothar was infected with the Blues virus while listening to Sonny Terry and Brownie McGee jobbing for a local concert promoter. Lothar was then overrun by the British Blues Movement, J.Mayall’s Bluesbreakers with Clapton, Fleetwood Mac and Chicken Shack, just to name a few, then later on Hendrix and The Allman Brothers, not to forget the then younger artists like SRV and the Fabulous T-Birds. It was a very electrifying influence that created Lothar’s picture of how to understand the Blues as a positive energy. Positive energy guided Lothar through his life as a successful Marketing guy, through changes in relocating from Europe to the U.S. and coming up with the wish to be an active part of the Gainesville music scene and Blues Society. This resulted in taking part in the NCFBS Blues Challenge, which Lothar’s band won, and he went on to represent Gainesville at the IBC 2017 in Memphis, TN. As a member of the NCFBS, Lothar’s desire is help to keep the Blues alive. |
| Alan Yeatter, Secretary Email Alan |  | Alan Yeatter is an award winning musician/songwriter. Performing in genres ranging from Americana to indie rock from the age of 16, in 2006 he returned to his first musical love, the blues, joining the Used Blues Band. After reforming as Root Redemption, the band is still going strong. In 2010 his composition “Palm Reader Blues”was named “Blues Song of the Year” in the 9th Annual Independent Music Awards. He has been a member of the North Central Florida Blues Society since 2006 and has served on the NCFBS board since 2012, acting as treasurer in 2014 and 2015. |
| Vicki Bordeaux, Director |  | I feel music is therapeutic and creates healing. I love music of all kinds and enjoy being involved in the local music scene helping to promote local performers and venues. I enjoy the Blues and became involved with the local Blues community through my musician husband, Paco. I have enjoyed this last year on the board and look forward to serving however I am able to help support the North Central Florida Blues Society. |
