In 1952 Charles Chaplin was exiled from the U.S. as a result of the House Un-American Activities Committee’s witch hunts, a disturbing period in U.S. history where Cold War tensions fueled fears of widespread Communist subversion. The committee used various charges of communism, communist sympathies and disloyalty to attack a number of politicians and other individuals, many Hollywood personalities. Chaplin was considered dangerously progressive and amoral. It was also revealed that he had never bothered to become a U.S. citizen. When Chaplin and family were departing for a trip to England, Chaplin was informed that he would have to submit to an interview concerning his political views and moral behavior in order to re-enter the U.S. Rather than fight a pending investigation by Immigration Services, Chaplin decided not to return to Hollywood. The Chaplin family, though, needed a new address in Europe. His half-brother Sydney Chaplin, suggested they visit Switzerland. Chaplin was taken by the peace and quiet of the Lake Geneva region, with its stunning lake and countryside, not to mention the attractive tax laws.

The applause was still dying down as 80 year old Joe Willie 'Pinetop' Perkins stepped off the stage at the 1993 Long Beach Blues Festival in Southern California. As someone handed him a cold drink he sauntered over and sat down next to me. 80… and he wasn't even winded. I still gave him a few minutes to settle and replenish his fluids…okay, beer. After shaking a few more hands and joking with friends and admirers, he turned toward me as if to say, alright young man, ask away.

David 'Honeyboy' Edwards has been in fast company for most of his life. His running buddies have included the seminal roots of Delta Blues. Charley Patton, Robert Johnson, Son House, Willie Brown, Tommy McClennan, Tommy Johnson and Robert Petway were just a few of the musicians that Edwards called friends. He's spent a lifetime sharing street corners, working juke houses and rolling the dice with the legends of blues, both past and present.

With apologizes to France, Chile is the most hospitable nation in the world. Actually, I adore the French, but no country tops the warmth and graciousness of the people of Chile. As a clueless gringa, I recall with fondness my first trek to Santiago from Viña del Mar, when I asked a gentleman which train to take. Realizing I was Yankee tourist, he insisted upon paying for my entire transport. I politely protested. The gentleman replied, ‘You are a guest in my country, and it is my wish to host you.’ I recalled the words of Mark Twain, which goes something like: ‘The act of kindness is a language the whole world can understand.’

Waking to the news that Dave Mason had passed set off a flood of memories for me. Fifty years became yesterday recalling my first tour through Asia as a young Navy journalist. One of my very first assignments for Armed Forces Radio in Tokyo was to seek out and interview touring musicians for broadcast to our troops stationed overseas. As luck would have it, Dave Mason was just wrapping up his tour through Japan and after I reached out, he graciously agreed to sit and talk.

One of Chicago's most influential bluesman, Otis Rush would have turned 92 in 2026. His West Side style of Chicago blues had a global impact on an entire generation of guitarists. Clapton, Santana, Michael Bloomfield, Peter Green, Jimmy Page and Stevie Ray Vaughan all considered Rush to be a major influence on their musical journeys. We lost Otis Rush in September of 2018 from the complications of a stroke. He was 84 years old.

No stranger to the Blues Music Awards, John Németh has picked up four more nominations this year.  Categories include Instrumentalist - Harmonica, Instrumentalist - Vocals, Soul Blues Male Artist and John Németh & The Blue Dreamers for Band of the Year.  The ceremonies take place in May this year in Memphis. This conversation was prior to the 38th annual BMA's when we took a deep dive into his influences and musical running buddies. 

"The blues," according to John Hammond, "is the most honest way of looking at life. It's reality but with humor and the deepest feeling. Blues is not like sadness, blues is like…depth. Like the sky is blue, like the ocean is blue, it's forever."

On February 16, 2026, documentarian film director, Frederick Wiseman, passed away. He was 96 years old. His most famous documentary films include Titicut Follies (1967, Hospital (1970), Welfare (1975), and In Jackson Heights (2015). His films were renowned for possessing a dramatic structure despite not using a traditional documentary narrative, plus focusing on social and economic themes.

The 2026 Winter Paralympics (Italian: Milano Cortina 2026 Giochi paralimpici invernali), is an upcoming international winter multi-sport event for athletes with disabilities. This year it is scheduled to take place from March 6 to 15 at sites across Lombardy and Northeast Italy.