BRITAIN’S first blues music archive has been set up by a local retired law lecturer.
Peter Harvie, 62, set up the British Blues Archive with BBC Radio 2 presenter Paul Jones in October and hopes to capture the music, memorabilia and magic created by some of the UK’s finest blues musicians.
Mr Harvie, of Polehill Road in Chingford, took early retirement from his job at the University of Westminster to focus on the project, and told the Guardian he has had a huge response from blues fans in the short time since launching the archive.
He said: “I have loved the blues all my life. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to do this so I decided to take the chance. I’m completely overwhelmed by the number of people wanting to join the archive, it’s incredibly successful.
“I created a Facebook group and the next time I logged in there were 200 people who’d joined it.”
He decided to create the group to preserve the history of British blues from the 1950s to today at a time when some of its pioneers are reaching old age.
He has already interviewed John Mayall and hopes to speak with other greats including Eric Clapton.
Mr Harvie is also collecting memorabilia for the archive which is based at Loughton Library, in Traps Hill, alongside the National Jazz Archive.
It already has thousands of books and magazines and a plectrum from the Sun Studio in America, where Elvis Presley has recorded.
But he also hopes the archive will highlight the talented blues artists based in Waltham Forest.
“We’re documenting local blues played in the pubs and clubs around here because the standard is so high, it’s quite incredible. I play the saxophone but I’m afraid to come on stage after some of the acts that play,” he added.
The archive is launching the Blues Legacy Festival at The Coach and Horses Pub in Leyton High Road, Leyton, on Sunday, November 27.
Tickets to watch the local bands play and jam cost £7 for the day or £2 just for the jam. Players can get in for £1. To book please phone Mr Harvie on 020 8524 8540 or email britbluesarchive@btinternet.com.
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