The blues had a baby and they called it rock 'n roll...
-- Muddy Waters
Board of Directors
JAMES CURLEY COOKE, Founder:: has been active in the music
business for 40 years. He is an original member of The Steve Miller
Band, and has recorded on 35 major label albums and toured the
country and Southeast Asia extensively. He currently teaches in
the community college system and privately, and is the founder
of Pacific Northwest Blues in the Schools. He is the recipient
of numerous awards from the Washington Blues Society. Click here to read a recent aritcle
in the Seattle Times
We'd like to welcome our newest board Members...
Mark Von Walter: Vice President Karen Taborn
We will have more info coming soon.
ANNETTE TABORN:Executive Director: Annette has performed
for over 30 years across the U.S. and overseas. Originally from
Michigan, she co-founded the Kalamazoo Valley Blues Association
in 1994, and created a Blues in Schools program there that same
year. She served as the Director of the Kalamazoo Blues Festival
for its first two years. Annette studied Blues in Schools teaching
methods at the University of Mississippi, Oxford and received continuing
education certification from the Southern Studies Teachers Institute
in 1996 and 1997. She worked with the International House of Blues
Foundation's "Blues School House" program in Chicago during
the 2000 school year. In 2003 and 2004 she taught Blues in the Schools
in Los Angeles under the auspices of The Southern California Blues
Society. Annette is in charge of PNBIS Program Development.
CHRISTIAN SWENSON, President: Seattle-based performing artist,
Christian Swenson, is known for his pioneering work in what he calls
"Human Jazz", a global fusion of dance/drama/music for body and
voice. He tours nationally and internationally, and resides happily
in Seattle with his wife, Abigail and two children. More information
about Christian is found at www.humanjazz.com.
JAMES CURLEY COOKE, Secretary::
RON HALL, Treasurer: Ronald Hall is a CPA and entrepreneur
who has been involved with Pacific Northwest Blues in the Schools
from the beginning. Mr. Hall plays the blues and rock & roll
on the guitar, as well as playing piano, and the clarinet in a concert
wind band. He has been a CPA for over 30 years and is also a former
broadcaster who was very involved in the music scene. Ron has lived
in the Northwest all of his life.
JAMES CURLEY COOKE, Founder:: has been active in the music
business for 40 years. He is an original member of The Steve Miller
Band, and has recorded on 35 major label albums and toured the
country and Southeast Asia extensively. He currently teaches in
the community college system and privately, and is the founder
of Pacific Northwest Blues in the Schools. He is the recipient
of numerous awards from the Washington Blues Society. 
ANNETTE TABORN:Executive Director: Annette has performed
for over 30 years across the U.S. and overseas. Originally from
Michigan, she co-founded the Kalamazoo Valley Blues Association
in 1994, and created a Blues in Schools program there that same
year. She served as the Director of the Kalamazoo Blues Festival
for its first two years. Annette studied Blues in Schools teaching
methods at the University of Mississippi, Oxford and received continuing
education certification from the Southern Studies Teachers Institute
in 1996 and 1997. She worked with the International House of Blues
Foundation's "Blues School House" program in Chicago during
the 2000 school year. In 2003 and 2004 she taught Blues in the Schools
in Los Angeles under the auspices of The Southern California Blues
Society. Annette is in charge of PNBIS Program Development. 
CHRISTIAN SWENSON, President: Seattle-based performing artist,
Christian Swenson, is known for his pioneering work in what he calls
"Human Jazz", a global fusion of dance/drama/music for body and
voice. He tours nationally and internationally, and resides happily
in Seattle with his wife, Abigail and two children. More information
about Christian is found at www.humanjazz.com. 
RON HALL, Treasurer: Ronald Hall is a CPA and entrepreneur
who has been involved with Pacific Northwest Blues in the Schools
from the beginning. Mr. Hall plays the blues and rock & roll
on the guitar, as well as playing piano, and the clarinet in a concert
wind band. He has been a CPA for over 30 years and is also a former
broadcaster who was very involved in the music scene. Ron has lived
in the Northwest all of his life. 