In his early 60’s my father, who had lived most of his adult life working as a lorry driver driving the length and breadth of Great Britain, discovered the blues.
The blues of the deep south, people like Robert Johnson, John Lee Hooker (below), BB King and Muddy Waters.
Having spent most of his life working shifts and keeping a house above our heads, particularly after being widowed the day after his 43rd birthday, his social life was somewhat limited to the odd works night-out, and once a week snooker club.
The blues changed all of that.
He would spend life late into his 70’s going to blues gigs in obscure parts of Liverpool, to festivals in Cumbria, Lancashire, the north-east of England, north Wales and much further south in Exeter in Devon, despite for many of those years suffering with rheumatoid arthritis.
He made many friends through his love of the blues, and he would document them through another of his great passions, photography. I recall him speaking with gleeful enthusiasm about a then largely unknown Imelda May after seeing her perform at the Colne Rhythm and Blues Festival, and predicting a great future. Imelda has gone on to work with Bono, Jeff Beck, Jools Holland, Smokey Robinson, and Noel Gallagher whilst picking up numerous prestigious awards.
His enthusiasm and passion were infectious, and ran alongside his first musical love, jazz. Although not drawn to jazz, I feel deeply grateful now that with Dad I saw live in concert true jazz legends like Dizzy Gillespie, Stephane Grappelli, Dave Brubeck and Oscar Peterson.
When my father went to that great blues gig in the sky in 2018, many of the friends he picked along the way where there to see him off.
It’s testament not only to the life-enhancing power of music, but also to the defiance to not give in and settle for armchairs and daytime TV. When passion still burns brightly for something that makes you feel alive, relevant and excited it can make the later years so rich and vibrant.
I was reminded of this when I was travelling home from seeing my family in Cumbria on Christmas Day. A long journey was made easier and quicker and more downright enjoyable by being in the company of three men pushing 80 years old.
Three Hackney Diamonds you will undoubtably recognise, who began their own long, long musical journey loving the blues, put a smile on my face that lasted for the length of their age-defying new album.
Take preconceptions on how you should behave as the years advance and throw them to the wind. Do what makes you happy, what makes you excited, and don’t listen to any voice that tells you otherwise.
SONGS AND SCRIPTS AND DUNKING BISCUITS 
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