WHO WE ARE
A beacon of cultural preservation, historical research, and community awareness, Jack Dappa Blues Heritage Preservation Foundation (JDBHPF) is dedicated to the documentation, archiving, and celebration of African American Traditional Music and the Black Experience.
Founded in 2011 and officially recognized as a 501(c)(3) Private Operating Foundation on December 14, 2016, JDBHPF was born from the vision of Lamont Jack Pearley and Denise Pearley, who recognized the urgent need to raise cultural and ethnic awareness of African American Traditional Music and its profound influence on American history. Through meticulous research and educational programming, the foundation traces the roots of what we define as Blues People (Black American) Tribal Music—a profound cultural expression shaped by Black American, Afro-Indigenous, and the melanated diaspora’s shared histories, traditions, and lived experiences.
Our Roots & Our Legacy
Meet The Pearley Family
Jack Dappa Blues Preservation Heritage Foundation Board of Directors
At the heart of the Jack Dappa Blues Heritage Preservation Foundation is the unwavering dedication of the Pearley family. The board of directors comprises the family members who make the final operation decisions for the organization:
Lamont Jack Pearley, Denise Pearley, Lamont Pearley Junior, and Samara N. Pearley.
As founders and stewards of the organization, the Pearleys have committed themselves to preserving, celebrating, and passing on the rich cultural traditions of African American folk and Blues heritage. Guided by a deep sense of purpose and a shared vision, the family makes every operational and creative decision, ensuring that the Foundation remains true to its mission and rooted in authenticity.
Their work is more than an organization — it is a legacy in motion, carefully built and sustained through their passion for the music, the stories, and the people who shaped this history. With each program, performance, and publication, the Pearley family continues to honor the past while laying the groundwork for future generations to understand and embrace the enduring power of the Blues.
Jack Dappa Blues Media Initiatives
Where Tradition Lives, History Speaks, and Culture Thrives
Jack Dappa Blues Heritage Preservation Foundation is a beacon for preserving and celebrating the rich cultural legacy of African American traditional music and the Black experience. Founded in 2011 by Lamont Jack Pearley and Denise Pearley from a vision to raise awareness of African American music’s deep roots and its profound influence on American history and culture.
At the core of our work is the documentation and celebration of what we call Blues People (Black American) Tribal Music — a powerful cultural expression shaped by Black American, Afro-Indigenous, and diasporic histories, traditions, and lived experiences. Through research, education, and media, we trace the journey of this music from spirituals and field hollers to the electric sounds that continue to inspire today.
Our Jack Dappa Blues Media Initiatives include public broadcasts, films, podcasts, and our seasonal African American Folklorist magazine. These platforms create vital spaces where community stories, scholarship, and folklore converge—bridging academic study and lived experience to foster a richer, more inclusive understanding of Black heritage.
Grounded in the disciplines of folklore, ethnomusicology, and cultural soundscape studies, our storytelling and programming preserve not only the music but also the voices, environments, and histories that shape it. Our extensive archives capture oral histories and sonic landscapes, honoring the full spectrum of Black cultural memory.
Our Mission
The Blues and Black Spirituals, born from this soil, are not just music but testimony—embodying the struggles, triumphs, and enduring spirit of African American people. At Jack Dappa Blues, we commit to preserving, amplifying, and celebrating these musical expressions as living, breathing legacies rooted in history and the land that shaped them. We recognize the unbroken lineage of folklore, oral histories, and communal memory, and we pledge to continue this stewardship with respect, integrity, and purpose by:
- Supporting communities in sustaining their cultural and artistic traditions
- Encouraging documentation and preservation of family and communal histories
- Promoting the learning and performance of Blues and traditional musics
- Educating the public about the living history and legacy of Blues People’s music
- Highlighting pivotal historical moments and lesser-known African American trailblazers
Our Impact
Jack Dappa Blues challenges narrow views that reduce Black music to mere background noise of struggle. Instead, we reveal it as a living, evolving narrative — a testament to resilience, creativity, and cultural influence that continues to shape America’s story.
Through research, storytelling, and community engagement, we uplift Black voices—past and present—ensuring African American folklore, music, and history remain vibrant parts of our shared heritage with listeners who are often left out of mainstream narratives and educational curricula.
recent work
We The Blues People Workshop
This exciting new series celebrates the history, culture, and performance of the Blues, bringing together community, education, and live music.
A big thank you to Don, Frank, and the Elmore family for rocking with us and making this inaugural workshop such a success. The evening wrapped up the way the Blues was meant to be experienced — with a heartfelt, soul‑stirring performance.
Stay tuned for more workshops to come as we continue to preserve and share the legacy of the Blues, one note at a time.
Passionate And Experienced
Meet our Advisory Board
Get to know the talented individuals guiding Jack Dappa Blues Preservation Heritage Foundation
Ryan Dearbone
Native of Hopkinsville, KY and a 2001 graduate of Christian County High School. He’s a 2005 and 2014 Western Kentucky University (WKU) graduate with a Bachelors in Broadcasting and a Masters in Corporate & Organizational Communication. Today, he is podcast host of “Church With No Walls”.
Nick Spitzer
Nick Spitzer is an anthropologist, folklorist, media producer and professor at Tulane University focused in American vernacular culture. His whole life has been spent documenting, broadcasting, and writing about American folklore often neglected by critics, scholars, and government.
Marquise Knox
Born St. Louis, Mo, Marquise hails from a musical family deeply rooted in the Blues. For Marquise, Blues is his heritage and way of life. He spent his early years in St. Louis mentoring under the late great Blues legend, National Endowment of the Arts Heritage Fellow and Grammy Award winner Henry James Townsend.
Dr. Elisha Oliver
Elisha R. Oliver, PhD, is an anthropologist, folklorist, and arts leader dedicated to preserving living traditions and advancing cultural equity. She serves as Executive Director of Texas Folklife and teaches Women’s & Gender Studies at UNT. Her research explores women’s health, storytelling, and community lifeways across African American, Indigenous, and rural communities.
Dr. Langston Collin Wilkins
Dr. Wilkins is an Assistant Professor of Folklore and African American Studies at the University of Wisconsin–Madison whose work focuses on African American folklife and music, urban folklore, car culture, and public folklore, and he earned his PhD from Indiana University (2016), has published widely, authored Everybody Inherits the Hood (University of Illinois Press, 2023), previously directed the Center for Washington Cultural Traditions (2019–2022), and serves on the American Folklore Society executive board.
Scott Barretta
Alongside work with Living Blues and the blues radio show Highway 61, Barretta co-created the Mississippi Blues Trail, co-produced Shake ’Em on Down: The Blues According to Fred McDowell and has written exhibits for the Indianola B.B. King and Cleveland Grammy Museums.
SUPPORT THE BLUES LEGACY
The spirit of the Blues lives through stories, songs, and shared history — and it thrives because of people like you. Your support helps Jack Dappa Blues Heritage Preservation Foundation preserve this powerful cultural legacy, fund our educational programs, and amplify voices that deserve to be heard.
Join us on this journey. Whether through a donation or by connecting with us to learn how you can contribute, your involvement keeps the Blues train moving forward — honoring the past while shaping the future.