My heart is sad and glad at the same time. My friend Denise LaSalle left for Blues heaven after dealing with illness for a long time. I'm sad because I can't talk to her right now but glad that she's now leading the choir in Heaven.
Denise LaSalle - The name sounds like royalty, French royalty, definitely Mississippi royalty. As Queen of the Blues, her name will forever be mentioned amongst the other queens of Black music like: Aretha, Etta, Koko, Big Mama, Ella, Sarah and now Denise.
I have loved Denise for a long time. As a young man, I was hooked as a fan when she came out with, "Trapped By A Thing Called Love" in 1972. Her style was rare, for there weren't many Black women who were the singer, the songwriter and the producer of their own music projects. She was making hits in the 70s that she was still performing in this decade. Though it wasn't her objective, Denise was a pioneer music business woman, who through her example, showed a lot of artists how to be better business people.
While getting to spend a little time with Denise after the Awards Show, she confessed to me that
the Jus' Blues Music Award was the very first award she had ever received from anyone. And for that she was very humbled and honored.
Since that time, she has been the recipient of many accolades, however, she has said her most coveted and personal honor was her Jus' Blues Music Awards.
Denise was one of our legends who was always in the house at the JBMA Conference. She seemed to really appreciate that Jus' Blues nurtures the soul of the Blues cultural heritage through arts education, philanthropy and special events, while protecting the legacy of the originators - the Black music originators of this very special art form called the Blues. She became my friend; always kind, offering me encouragement and giving me advice and love. She became a big sister to Jus' Blues as she would offer her generous support with donations and her wisdom of the music business.
Denise always did things with excellence. In 2009, the JBMA agreed to honor the legacy of Denise by presenting a special award in her namesake, the Jus' Blues Music Denise LaSalle Recording of Excellence Award. Denise also was an advisor on the JBMA Selection Committee for the Jus' Blues Music Awards. She was very proud of that Award and helped us choose the right artist who deserved to be recognized in that category. Since the inception of that award, several artists have been honored with it like: Otis Clay, Ann Peeples, Queen Ann Hines, Jesse James, Garland Green Marth High, Barbara Carr and Karen Wolfe to name a few.
Everybody loved Denise as she has been an influence to many artists. From being in the music business for over 6 decades, making hit records, performing and touring around the world, and paying her dues while kicking the door wide open for many other artists to get their chance to be heard, Denise became the Mother of the Southern Soul music genre.
She was always the Queen of the Blues in the southern states, however, Denise became the industrie's all around Queen of the Blues upon the death of Koko Taylor. Though the mantle must be passed on again, there will never be another like Denise LaSalle.
I know that Denise loved her husband James aka Wolfe very much, they were Husband & Wife, business partners in endeavors like; the Blues Legend Café, radio station owners, a production company, a record label and they planned to open the Denise LaSalle Blues Academy of Performing Arts in Jackson, MS.
On behalf of me, my family, the Jus' Blues Music Foundation and fans everywhere, we feel your pain and offer our sincere condolences. The void of Denise no longer being around to pick up the phone has all of our hearts heavy.
Though we all will miss her, we have God to thank for sharing his angel Denise with the world. She's definitely singing "Hallelujah" now!
Jus' Blues will continue to do what we do in making sure the beautiful legacy of the music and contributions of the legendary Denise LaSalle will never, ever be forgotten. She is still and always will be the Queen! Rest in heaven, my Queen.
Charles Mitchell
CEO
Jus' Blues Music Foundation, Inc.
