For Immediate Release: January 2024
Blues Kid of the Year 2024
Blues Kids Foundation, Allstate, Rotary One Chicago, Knotty Luxe Arts Foundation, and D’Addario Foundation are proud to announce that Kayden Marquez is the winner of the 10th Annual Blues Kid of the Year Contest. This honor includes a roundtrip ticket for Kayden and one of his guardians to Fernando Jones’ 14th Annual Blues Camp International on the campus of Columbia College Chicago. Blues Camp will run from Sunday, July 7 thru Friday, July 12, 2024.
Blues Kid of the Year 2010 Ray Goren (Guitar)
Blues Kid of the Year 2011 Savannah "Wilde" Sanchez (Bassist)
Blues Kid of the Year 2012 William “ Mo Betta” Ledbetter (Multi-instrumentalist)
Blues Kid of the Year 2013 Logan Layman (Bassist and Vocalist)
Blues Kid of the Year 2014 Brandon Niederauer (Guitarist)
Blues Kids of the Year 2015 Brandon Petifort (Drums),
Elijah Johnson (Vocals) and Carson Mac (Guitar)
Blues Kid of the Year 2016 David Lee (Guitarist)
Blues Kid of the Year 2017 Garrison Boykin (Guitarist)
Blues Kid of the Year 2021 Dylan "Boogie Boy" James Shaw (Piano)
Blues Kid of the Year 2022. Kayden Marquez (Guitar)
Blues Kid of the Year 2023. Jayden Fargoso (Peer Leadership/Vocals)
Fernando Jones’ Blues Camp International is designed to be a fun-filled week of Blues immersion through the lens of ensemble instruction, public performances, and field study trips. At no cost, here, your Blues Kid will learn about and perform America’s “root” music in a structured program with like-minded others under the tutelage of highly qualified and internationally traveled instructors. Blues Camp has been successfully established on college campuses and at performing arts centers throughout America, Asia, The Caribbean, and Europe.
We use Kennedy Center ArtsEdge Standards and practice the art of learning, playing and performing the Blues by-ear. Placement is for beginner, intermediate and advanced level vocalists and instrumentalist ages 12 to 18. All instruments/instrumentalists are welcome in this program. Blues Kids who attend may be local, national, and international.
Blues Kids Foundation is an IRS recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization. We were established to preserve, perform, and promote the Blues among America's youth, parents, and educators under the tutelage of highly qualified instructors. Our focus is on education, literacy, social emotional learning, and music as a second language.
For more information call us at (779) BluesMe.
• • •
Entry Fee:
It's free.
Contestants must live in North America and be between eleven (11) and fifteen (15) years old by July 4, 2023. Proof of age may be requested at any time during the process. Contestants can enter, under parental/legal guardian supervision, by singing and/or playing any instrument(s) accompanied by one of the original backing tracks from the “BKOTY Contest” song pool. Be creative and have fun.
Eligibility:
Blues Kids who’ve yet to attended Blues Camp before.
Who Can’t Enter:
Blues Kids who have attended any of Fernando Jones’ Blues Camps before.
Winner Gets:
Transportation that may include either two (2) roundtrip plane tickets on Southwest Airlines (or a comparable airline) or Amtrak or Greyhound for the winner and their parent/legal guardian to Fernando Jones’ 13th Annual Blues Camp International at Columbia College Chicago; swag from D’Addario, Shure, Jim Dunlop and more plus six (6) nights of lodging accommodations at the Best Western Grant Park across the street from The Music Center at Columbia College Chicago where Blues Camp is hosted.
2023 Deadline Dates:
Submit entries between Wednesday, February 1st and Monday, June 19th at 11:59P CST; on Wednesday, June 21st, the winner will be announced on our social media page(s) by noon.
Steps:
Step 1: Listen, learn and perform "Chicago's (Got Everything You Need)".
The audio file to perform with is below.
> Choose the instrumental track or vocal track with vocals.
> Lyrics are included below for "Chicago (Has Got Everything You Need)".
Step 2: Video record your Blues Kid's performance:
> Singing or playing along with the track of their choice.
For example, if you are a singer, sing along with the instrumental track. You don't have to necessarily riff or use melismas (runs). You can sing it straight with feeling.
If you are a playing an instrument, play along with the full track. You don't have to solo if you don't want to. Simply play rhythm, fills and/or chords. Do your best and have fun.
Step 3. Upload your your Blues Kid's video to YouTube.com:
> Label the video: Fernando Jones' Blues Camp 2022
> "Chicago (Has Got Everything You Need)" performed by
(Your Blues Kid's first name only), age, hometown.
> Check the "Public" box before "publishing" the video.
Step 4. Copy the link:
Contest
Contest
David Lee: 2016 Blues Kid of the Year
Garrison Boykin 2017 Blues Kid of the Year
Blues Kid Of The Year Contest 2021
Allstate and Rotary Chicago Present Blues Kids Foundation’s
10th Annual Blues Kid of the Year Contest
Chicago (Has Got Everything You Need)
A Tribute to My Hometown
Performed by Fernando Jones
Written, arranged and produced by Fernando Jones
Bluefunkjazroll Music, BMI | BluesNewz@aol.com
Chicago's got everything you need. (Repeat)
We've got a Great Lake and gold plated streets.
We've got hot dogs and championship teams.
We've got Soul food and championship teams.
We're the “City that Works” with a skyline that's mean.
(Breakdown)
We've got theaters / and / movie shows.
For a couple of bucks / go where you want to go.
I said, ‘Chicago's got everything you need.’
We've got a Great Lake and gold plated streets.
C-h-i / C-h-i / c-a-g-o / c-a-g-o. (Repeat)
Chicago has got everything you need.
Chicago has got everything you need.
Whenever I need a reason, a reason to smile. (Repeat)
I go window shopping on the Magnificent Mile.
Chicago's always got something new. (Repeat)
Chicago welcomes you.