In 1980, five visionaries, Roger Naber, Lindsay Shannon, Teddy Dibble, Steve Shoemaker, and the late William ‘Stretch’ Osment, came together to create the Kansas City Blues Society (KCBS).
Their guiding purpose was to increase the awareness of and better promotion of Blues music in the Kansas City area, create an environment in which national Blues music touring acts would perform in Kansas City, and invest a greater effort into preserving this original American musical heritage.
When the Blues Foundation initiated their “Bricks for the Blues” fundraising effort to support their scholarship programs, the current KCBS Board of Directors voted to purchase one as a lasting gift to honor these five visionaries. These bricks are placed on the front of the Blues Foundation and Blues Hall of Fame buildings.
The next time you visit Memphis, Tennessee, stop by the Blues Foundation at 421 South Main Street, and find that brick!