Celebrating the Life of John Cephas

[Keven]

As many of you know, the Piedmont blues legend John Cephas passed away on March 4. John was a fixture at our Port Townsend Country Blues Festivals since their inception in 1993.

John touched us all, and we want to offer up this space for people to share memories, photos, videos, and personal impressions of John and his legacy.

[Keven]

We've created a Flickr set of photos of John from recent years at Centrum. We'll be adding photos here as we get them online.

[Keven]

Here's a video of John teaching at Centrum.

[Keven]

There's a great collection of memories of John also forming over on Weenie Campbell.

[Oldwailer]

I never had the chance to meet him or even to see him in person, but I love the music he has left us. I had hoped that I would make it to Fort Worden to one of his workshops, but I never did--I will miss him even more in October when I get to the Piedmont Blues workshop. . .

RIP John--you have left us all with something to aspire to!

[Terrapin Tim Volem]

"John Cephas, In Memorium"

All those summers at the Fort
sharing the music with Phil and with us,
the hundreds of us touched
in one way or another
by his grace and his dignity.

Distillation of the Piedmont blues,
ringing rhythmic strings
and always the easy voice,
the matter of fact expression
of the stories he'd tell
embellished by Phil's harp.

"Don't have to be loud,"
Chuck Berry once said,
speaking for himself,
and it's become apparent,
for John as well,
who played the blues
that were way beyond sorrow.

- Terrapin Tim

[Gary Newkirk]

These are pictures I took of John at the 2007 Doheny Blues Festival. Got to know John following this concert and had the chance to spend a few days with him at NAMM 2008. What a gentleman, hard to imagine meeting a nicer person. Farewell John, you will be missed.

Gary

[Jack Olmsted]

John Cephas and Phil Wiggins - Richmond Blues

Video is courtesy of Houseparty Productions, Takoma Park, Maryland. (1989)

[CALVIN B. STREETS]

Calvin B. Streets, Louisiana Red and John Cephas
Calvin B. Streets, Louisiana Red, Terry Bean and John Cephas
Both photos backstage in the hanger circa 2005 between shows
Louisiana Red holding court, always teaching, always talking the blues
and that is Gaye in the background

[Reisa Stone]

John was not only a great musician and teacher. He really knew how to tell a joke and how to laugh at one. I am sad to hear of his passing. My condolences to his family and friends.

[jeff 'cadillac" aker]

the first time i ever had a conversation with John was in the restroom in the cafeteria building at Centrum.What struck me the most was how personable he was.I asked him about his home and where he was headed after Port Townsend, and he gladly filled me in.
He was the best teacher I've ever had.He was always patient, and always prepared.And that man could play! I've never heard anybody play and sing Skip James' songs like that, except Skip himself. He was one of a kind and I feel very lucky
to have known him.I'll always remember him with that cap on and that jacket, and carrying his guitar case with a smile on his face. Thanks John! Jeff"Cadillac" Aker