Are Blacks giving away the blues? White fans keep the music and its artists going strong

Ebony, Oct, 1990 by Charles Whitaker

PHOTO : White celebrities like actor Dan Aykroyd (above, l.), a longtime blues fan, have used their clout to help artists like Koko Taylor (above, r.) gain national exposure. Grammy winner John Lee Hooker (below) says White rock stars are the ones perpetuating the blues.

PHOTO : Junior Wells (l.) and Buddy Guy (r.) are among the artists/entrepreneurs who are dedicated to preserving the blues tradition. Guy's Chicago nightclub, a hotspot of traditional blues singing and playing, is one of many clubs in the city with a large and loyal White clientele.