On this edition of Blues Moments in Time, we explore a day where acts of resistance, cultural expression and musical innovation intersected across more than a century of history.

From John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry in 1859 to the iconic silent protest of Tommie Smith and John Carlos at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, October 16 reveals how the pursuit of dignity, justice and human rights has echoed through generations.

Along the way, we celebrate the birth of Delta blues pioneer Big Joe Williams, revisit Little Richard's earliest recordings, explore the enduring brilliance of B.B. King's Blues Is King, and reflect on the legacy of Leonard Chess, whose record label helped bring Chicago's electric blues to the world.

Through music, activism and cultural memory, these stories remind us that the blues has always been more than entertainment. It is a living record of resilience, identity and the human spirit.

Hosted by: Kelvin Huggins

Presented by: The Blues Hotel Collective - your home for EVERYTHING BLUES.

Website: https://www.theblueshotel.com.au/

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©2026 The Blues Hotel Collective.

On this edition of Blues Moments in Time, we explore a date defined by boundaries and the people who refused to accept them. From the 1883 Supreme Court decision that helped open the door to Jim Crow segregation, to the founding of the Black Panther Party in 1966, October 15 reveals how law, politics and everyday life shaped the experiences of Black Americans and the music they created.

Along the way, we celebrate the recordings and legacies of Ma Rainey, Little Richard, Howlin' Wolf, Chuck Berry, Victoria Spivey and Nelly Lutcher. Their stories trace the evolution of the blues from a voice of survival and testimony into the foundation of rhythm & blues, rock and roll, jazz and popular song.

This is a journey through struggle, resistance, innovation and enduring musical legacy, proving that while society imposed boundaries, the blues continually found ways to cross them.

Hosted by: Kelvin Huggins

Presented by: The Blues Hotel Collective - your home for EVERYTHING BLUES.

Website: https://www.theblueshotel.com.au/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theblueshotel

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theblueshotel

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theblueshotel.com.au

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheBluesHotel

©2026 The Blues Hotel Collective.

In this episode of Blues Moments in Time, Kelvin Huggins explores the significant events of October 14 and the powerful role they played in shaping African-American culture, music and social progress.

We begin in 1939 with The Chicago Defender, a newspaper that helped inform and guide Black families during the Great Migration, contributing to the growth of Chicago's Southside communities where acoustic blues evolved into the electrified sound that would influence generations.

From there, we reflect on the historic moment in 1964 when Dr Martin Luther King Jr. was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, bringing international recognition to the struggle for civil rights and equality.

The journey then moves into the recording studio, examining David Bowie's Heroes and producer Tony Visconti's innovative three-microphone technique, a recording approach that captured raw emotion in a way not unlike the expressive power found in classic blues performances.

We also honour the contributions of harmonicist Billy Lester and West Coast rhythm guitarist Frosty Pinson, two musicians whose dedication helped preserve and sustain regional blues traditions.

Hosted by: Kelvin Huggins

Presented by: The Blues Hotel Collective - your home for EVERYTHING BLUES.

Website: https://www.theblueshotel.com.au/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theblueshotel

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theblueshotel

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theblueshotel.com.au

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheBluesHotel

©2026 The Blues Hotel Collective.

In this episode of Blues Moments in Time, we explore the remarkable stories of October 13 and their place within the broader history of African-American achievement and resilience.

We begin in 1792, when the cornerstone of the White House was laid, a historic project built in part through the labour of enslaved African Americans. From there, we examine the determination and ingenuity of inventor Garrett Morgan, who patented an early gas mask design in 1914 despite the barriers of segregation.

The musical journey continues with the birth of legendary pianist Art Tatum in 1909, whose breathtaking technique transformed jazz while keeping the blues at the heart of his music. We also celebrate the birth of gospel pioneer Shirley Caesar in 1938 and reflect on the passing of soul singer General Johnson in 2010, tracing the enduring influence of blues storytelling across generations and genres.

Hosted by: Kelvin Huggins

Presented by: The Blues Hotel Collective - your home for EVERYTHING BLUES.

Website: https://www.theblueshotel.com.au/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theblueshotel

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theblueshotel

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theblueshotel.com.au

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheBluesHotel

©2026 The Blues Hotel Collective.

October 12 sees the powerful connections between civil rights, community action and the evolution of Black American music on October 12.

As the civil rights movement gathered momentum in 1960, organisations like SNCC were demanding change while African American families continued reshaping the nation through the Great Migration. Along the way, rural blues traditions travelled from Southern fields and juke joints to the bright lights of Chicago, evolving into the electrified sound that would influence generations.

We'll celebrate the birth of Southern soul legend Sam Moore and swing-era pioneer Lucky Millinder, while honouring the legacy of Piedmont blues master Pink Anderson. Together, their stories reveal how music, culture and determination helped shape America's future.

Hosted by: Kelvin Huggins

Presented by: The Blues Hotel Collective - your home for EVERYTHING BLUES.

Website: https://www.theblueshotel.com.au/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theblueshotel

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theblueshotel

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theblueshotel.com.au

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheBluesHotel

©2026 The Blues Hotel Collective.

In this episode of Blues Moments in Time, Kelvin Huggins explores the remarkable events of October 11 across six decades of African-American history.

We begin in 1901, when celebrated entertainers Bert Williams and George Walker stepped into Victor Recording Studio, helping place Black voices onto nationally distributed records during an era of widespread exclusion. From there, we travel to Aurora, Illinois, where Curtis Jones and fellow blues musicians gathered at the Leland Hotel in 1937 to create some of the most memorable piano blues recordings of the era, including Drinking and Thinking Blues.

The journey concludes in 1961, when civil rights activists Tom Hayden and Paul Potter were attacked while documenting an anti-segregation march in Mississippi, revealing the realities of political intimidation and racial violence that shaped the world from which the blues emerged.

Along the way, we also examine the importance of historical accuracy, correcting a long-repeated error surrounding Sonny Terry's birth date and highlighting why careful research matters when preserving blues history.

This is a story of humour, resilience, protest, rhythm and memory. A reminder that some of history's most enduring voices were forged under pressure.

Hosted by: Kelvin Huggins

Presented by: The Blues Hotel Collective - your home for EVERYTHING BLUES.

Website: https://www.theblueshotel.com.au/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theblueshotel

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theblueshotel

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theblueshotel.com.au

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheBluesHotel

©2026 The Blues Hotel Collective.

On this edition of Blues Moments in Time, we explore how October 10 connects pivotal moments in African-American political history with the enduring power of blues, soul and jazz.

From the 1871 assassination of voting-rights advocate Octavius Catto, to government surveillance of Dr Martin Luther King Jr., and the founding of the Black Panther Party in 1966, this date reveals a continuing story of struggle, resilience and self-determination.

We'll also celebrate the lives and legacies of Mississippi Joe Callicott, Ivory Joe Hunter and jazz visionary Thelonious Monk, while remembering the passing of soul giant Solomon Burke. Together, their music reminds us that the blues is more than a genre. It's a living record of survival, creativity and hope.

Blues Moments in Time... The history that shaped it all.

Hosted by: Kelvin Huggins

Presented by: The Blues Hotel Collective - your home for EVERYTHING BLUES.

Website: https://www.theblueshotel.com.au/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theblueshotel

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theblueshotel

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theblueshotel.com.au

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheBluesHotel

©2026 The Blues Hotel Collective.

On this edition of Blues Moments in Time, we explore how October 9 connects some of the most powerful stories in African American history, politics and music.

From abolitionist publisher Mary Ann Shadd Cary using the printed word to fight for freedom, to the tragic lynching of Jesse James Payne, we examine the realities that shaped the world from which the blues emerged. We also reflect on milestones in Black political leadership, including W. Wilson Goode's election as Philadelphia's first Black mayor and Barack Obama's Nobel Peace Prize.

Musically, October 9 marks major moments for Ray Charles, whose Hit the Road Jack topped the charts in 1961, and Eddie Cochran, whose Come On Everybody helped carry blues-based rhythm and blues into rock and roll. Along the way, we celebrate the legacies of Elmer Snowden, Johnny Bassett, O.V. Wright, and Cliff Gallup.

Hosted by: Kelvin Huggins

Presented by: The Blues Hotel Collective - your home for EVERYTHING BLUES.

Website: https://www.theblueshotel.com.au/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theblueshotel

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theblueshotel

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theblueshotel.com.au

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheBluesHotel

©2026 The Blues Hotel Collective.