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Greg Johnson
For the past 14-plus
years, Greg “Slim
Lively” Johnson has
been president of
the Cascade Blues
Association, one of
the oldest (founded
in 1986) and largest
affiliated blues societies.
He’s also the
principal writer and staff photographer of
the society’s newsletter, and the co-author
of the book Blues on Beale Street: Memoirs
of the International Blues Challenge. He
lives in Portland, Oregon, and helps touring
artists who come through the Pacific
Northwest find venues within the region,
often assisting with housing and equipment
needs. He has booked such acts as Hubert
Sumlin, Paul Oscher, Phillip Walker, Robert
Jr. Lockwood, and many past IBC participants.
He is always willing to offer fundraising
assistance within his region as well.
But that’s not all; Johnson has been an IBC
volunteer since 2003, and in recent years
has been Joe Whitmer’s right-hand man at
both the IBC and the BMAs. He currently
manages the Club 152 stage at the IBC,
and he’s the backstage manager for the
Blues Music Awards, working from before
the show begins until long after it’s over. H
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KEEPING THE BLUES ALIVE 91