LITERATURE + LECTURES

The Jung Center of Houston presents The Soul of Houston: Blues Stories.  Following our successful spring conference, this free lecture series, hosted by Houston author Roger Wood, continues to explore the hidden, unexplored soul of our community by focusing on the music and fascinating life stories of three Houston blues legends.

Discover how the blues has endured and evolved in Houston, and how it continues to speak powerfully to the human condition, in this free series hosted by music historian and author Roger Wood and three veteran Houston blues artists.

The roots of the blues run deep here. Over three evenings, we will encounter the distinctive Houston blues tradition through the experiences of its vital artists. Each evening, Wood will address selected elements of the blues—from the role of particular instruments to songwriting to key facets of regional history and more —in collaboration with a special guest. Introductory lecture will be followed with interview and discussion, supported as well by samples of sound recordings and other media. Via the stories shared each night by a distinguished artist, this series will offer not only up-close profiles of some accomplished individuals but also larger insights into the soul of Houston, past and present.

Roger Wood, PhD, is the author of two award-winning books, Texas Zydeco (2006) and Down In Houston: Bayou City Blues (2003), and a contributing writer to numerous anthologies, encyclopedia, and periodicals. A professor of English at Houston Community College Central, he also serves on the Board of Directors of the National Council for the Traditional Arts.

Three Wednesdays:
Oct. 14: Texas Johnny Brown (pictured)
Oct. 21: Trudy Lynn
Oct. 28: I.J. Gosey  Diunna Greenleaf
(Artists subject to change)