Bluesman wails at Hopi High

Hopi students turned into fans when Tommy dukes played at the Hopi High School. [Photo by Stan Bindell/Independent]

By Stan Bindell
For the Independent

Blues musician Tommy Dukes is sandwiched by Hopi High School students Carolyn Taylor and Stacy Koinva. [Photo by Stan Bindell/Independent]

POLACCA, ARIZ. — Native Americans like their traditional music. Some like country and Native American teenagers often go for hip hop or heavy metal.

But how do Native Americans respond to the blues? Tommy Dukes, one of the top blues musicians in Arizona, wasn't sure, but he appeared to pass the test April 27 when he performed at Hopi Jr/Sr High School. More than 700 students packed into the auditorium for the end of the day concert.

The other members of the band are Jimmy Mack, bass; Tom McMillan, keys; and Jeff Porturica, drums.

"They liked it, but they need to get up and move a little bit more," he said about the teenagers. "It was real good once they got into the clapping."

The students were bouncing to the beat, some were dancing and many were clapping their hands at the stage. A few even got on stage and danced to the tunes.

Carolyn Taylor, a junior at Hopi High, said the music was different than other music and new to most of the students.

"I liked the beat because I could dance to it. He also got people up dancing. I also liked the words. The song about him wanting a skinny tall lady was funny," she said.

Dukes was born in Mississippi, but moved to Winslow as a teenager and started playing in bands when he was 15.

"I learned the blues on the south side of Winslow, but I learned to play the blues by listening to records," he said.

The first blues musician that he idolized was Jimmy Reid, but he learned to love the music of Albert King, BB King and Little Milton. He eventually toured with Blues Boy Willie and played with Tyrone Davis, Buddy Ace and Jay Land among others.

"I play the blues every chance I get," he said about the music he loves.

Dukes said the blues is for everybody."The blues is like when your old man doesn't come home at night, you go to the bar and see him with another," he said. "You play the blues to get rid of the blues,but you also play the blues to get the blues."

Dukes recalls listening to Wolfman Jack after pulling over on the side of the road in Flagstaff.

"Wolfman Jack was playing a song about whose making love to your old lady while your making love to somebody else. I just pointed by '57 Oldsmobille to California so I could see where my lady was at," hesaid.

For more information, about the band log on to:

tommydukesblues.com