A bit about our good friend Dr. Janice Johnston, one of the hardest working Blues ladies you'll ever want to meet. And, if you do meet her, you'll find one of the most unpretentious gals anywhere. She wears about a dozen hats and the one most relevant to our world is the HART Fund, which she shares and has a boundless passion for. Read on.
The annual Valentine's Day Blues Celebration is Saturday night. Check out the lineup. All of these players donate their time to help raise funds for the HART Fund. This is a biggie y'all. BE THERE!!
Little slow on Friday the 14th. Guess everyone is home scarfing chocolate covered strawberries.
Until then have a hug-filled week!!
Sincerely,
Jim Crawford - PBS
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 Dr. J
In addition to having world-class musicians in our midst in the Valley of the Sun, we also have some very dedicated behind-the-scenes supporters of our beloved Blues genre. One very prominent and very active member of this group is Dr. Janice Johnston, a Canadian born Valley transplant who is totally immersed in the music and making sure those who play it are recognized properly by being a board member of the Blues Foundation in Memphis. She is also chairperson of the HART Fund which provides financial assistance for medical and funeral expenses to Blues musicians who might not be otherwise have access to funds. During the course of her tenure with the HART Fund, Janice and her able-bodied cohort, Ann Lee-Lippert, have been instrumental in raising thousands of dollars to fund the program. "I got into the Blues when I was 14," Janice says. "I used to steal my older sister's Blues albums and listen to them over and over. This was back in the '80s when my friends were into Madonna and The Police. We'd go to parties and here I'd come with my little bag of Blues CDs. They thought I was crazy. Then I wanted to know more. I wanted to know who is this Chester Burnett, this Willie Dixon. Dr. Johnston is co-founder and Medical Director of Redirect Health. She oversees all medical operations as well as the patient experience, spearheading efforts to enhance quality care while improving administrative efficiencies. "I did my undergraduate work at the University of Toronto and got my master's degree in developmental neuro-science there as well. We studied brains, cut on brains," Janice said. "After I did my residency I started looking at practicing in the U.S. because of proposed changes by the Canadian government which would require new doctors to practice in very remote places. I came to Phoenix on vacation and it was like a whole other world. There are mountain and cactus and it's beautiful. It is way different than Toronto. "In 1995, when I finally decided to make the move I got off the plane and thought I'd lost my mind," she said. "All my family still lives in Canada. I miss them and try to get back there about twice a year. I was homesick for the first two years I was here but it gets easier over time." In addition to leading medical operations, Janice leads an active family practice and cares for patients of Redirect Health as well as Arrowhead Health Centers, a comprehensive and integrated network of Patient Centered Medical Homes (NCQA Level 3) and surgery centers that she co-founded with her husband, Dr. David Berg, who is also a co-founder of Redirect Health. Janice and Dave opened Arrowhead in 1997 after relocating to Phoenix from Toronto, Canada, with the hope of realizing a new vision for healthcare - one that put the patient first, housed numerous practices and specialties under one roof, and eliminated administrative inefficiencies that drive up costs. Over the next two decades, their vision was realized, and they continued to identify opportunities to provide high quality care that also was affordable and convenient. The business, technological and clinical efficiencies that Janice and Dave developed enabled them to save hundreds of thousands of dollars in employee healthcare costs per year - money they were able to reinvest to grow Arrowhead. This was particularly useful during the Great Recession when many other businesses struggled. Recognizing the value of this unique care model and the potential benefit to entrepreneurial businesses nationwide, they co-founded Redirect Health in 2013 so other companies could experience the same benefits. The business, technological and clinical efficiencies that Janice and Dave developed enabled them to save hundreds of thousands of dollars in employee healthcare costs per year - money they were able to reinvest to grow Arrowhead. This was particularly useful during the Great Recession when many other businesses struggled. Recognizing the value of this unique care model and the potential benefit to entrepreneurial businesses nationwide, they co-founded Redirect Health in 2013 so other companies could experience the same benefits. Today, Janice is integral to the operations of both companies, continually advancing strategies to improve member service and ensure positive patient outcomes. She mentors staff and medical students at the facilities, helping others understand and operate within the patient-centered healthcare model that she has driven in recent years. Janice earned a BSc in Physics and Biology, an MS in Developmental Neuroscience and her MD from the University of Toronto. In 2016, Az Business magazine named her among Arizona's "Most Influential Women Business Leaders". An avid blues music fan, Janice has found a way to blend her artistic and professional passions. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Blues Foundation in Memphis, Tennessee, where she oversees the Foundation's HART Fund that helps blues musicians and their families with medical and funeral expenses, and she provides free health screenings for musicians at blues events. Additionally, she is part of the MusicCares provider network through the Grammy Foundation, which helps musicians with medical and living expenses. HART Fund hosts several proactive health screening events around the country including at the Blues Music Awards, International Blues Challenge, Americana Fest, Folk Alliance, Chicago Blues Fest, Big Blues Bender and with blues affiliates. Recently Janice joined the board of Phoenix Blues Society and has proved a perfect fit. Her expertise in social media and its nuances has been a huge boost to our visibility. And, to top off her year, Janice was honored with a Keeping the Blues Alive award at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis. A well-deserved testament to her dedication to the music and the people who make it.
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| Out & About
Tuesday, February 11 Wednesday, February 12 Hans Olson, 7 p.m., Time Out Lounge, Tempe Chuck Hall, 6 p.m., Corrado's, Carefree Thursday, February 13 Dennis Jones, 8 p.m., Rhythm Room, Phoenix Mike Eldred, 6 p.m., Mountain Shadows Resort, Paradise Valley Eric Ramsey Hosts OPEN MIC, 6 p.m., Fatso's Pizza, Phoenix Hans Olson EVERY THURSDAY, 6 p.m., Handlebar, Apache Junction Arizona Blues Project, 8 p.m., Harold's, Cave Creek Friday, February 14 Big Pete Pearson(Free Show), 3 p.m., Heritage Square, Phoenix
Sugar Thieves, 6 p.m., Hyatt @ Gainey Ranch, Scottsdale Blues Review Band, 10 a.m., Wigwam Festival, Litchfield Blues Review Band, 8 p.m., Jersey D's, Chandler Innocent Joe, 7 p.m., Desert Eagle Brewing, Mesa Saturday, February 15 HART Fund Valentine's Day Fundraiser, 7 p.m., Rhythm Room, Phoenix Rocket 88s, 6 p.m., Rip's, Phoenix Cadillac Assembly Line, 8 p.m., Fibber Magee's, Chandler Innocent Joe & The Hostile Witnesses, 7 p.m., Rags, Youngtown Hoodoo Casters, 9 p.m., Southwest Cajun Festival, Chandler Sugar Thieves, 3 p.m., Southwest Cajun Festival, Chandler Sugar Thieves Duo, 7 p.m., Spokes on Southern, Tempe Blues Review Band, 10 a.m., Wigwam Festival, Litchfield JC & The Rockers, 2 p.m., River Bottom Bar, Florence Outback Blues Band, 5 p.m., KOA, Salome Sunday, February 16 Big Daddy D & The Dynamites, 5 p.m., 10-12 Lounge, Clarkdale Blues Review Band, 10 a.m., Wigwam Festival, Litchfield True Flavor Blues, NOON , Copper Star, Phoenix Monday, February 17
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| Jams
Rocket 88s JAM (OFF THIS WEEK), 4 p.m., Chopper John's, Phoenix
Bourbon Jack's JAM w/Kody Herring, 6 p.m., Chandler
The Scott O'Neal Band JAM every other Sunday, The Windsock, Prescott MONDAY
Bam Bam & Badness Open JAM, 9 p.m., Char's, Phoenix
Weatherford Hotel JAM, 6:30 p.m., Flagstaff
TUESDAY
OPEN JAM Hosted by Jilly Bean & The Flipside Blues Band, 7 p.m., Steel Horse Saloon, Phoenix
JAM Sir Harrison, 9 p.m., Char's, Phoenix
Gypsy's Bluesday Night JAM, 7 p.m. Pho Cao, Tempe
Tailgaters JAM, 7 p.m., Glendale
WEDNESDAY Rocket 88s, JAM, 6 p.m., The Last Stop (Old Hideaway West), Phoenix
Tool Shed JAM Party, 6 p.m. Gabby's, Mesa
JAM @ The Bench, Hosted by BluZone, 7 p.m., The Bench, Tempe
THURSDAY Tool Shed JAM Party, 7 p.m., Steel Horse Saloon, Phoenix Jolie's Place JAM w/Adrenaline, 9 p.m., Chandler
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| GOT BLUES? If you are a Blues musician, a group, or a club that features Blues music, and would like to be listed, please send your info to info@phoenixblues.org and we'll be happy to list your event in our weekly Out & About section of the newsletter
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Moved? Changed email addresses? Please let us know of any changes in your address, email, or phone number so we can keep you informed about the Blues community in Arizona. Email us at: info@phoenixblues.org or write to: Phoenix Blues Society P.O. Box 36874 Phoenix, Arizona 85067 |
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