The name Paul Filipowicz conjures a number of ready responses in the mind of this writer, viz Veteran bluesman, long-time and well-travelled road warrior, unique guitar stylist, immensely entertaining singer and band leader, and all around gracious and friendly guy. Filipowicz was born in Chicago in 1950, and in his youth was drawn to blues music he heard on local radio. He began his own musical journey playing blues on harmonica, eventually expanding his repertoire to playing guitar and rack harmonica, which he employed busking on the streets for tips. By this time he was enamored with the music he heard from African American blues artists such as Otis Rush, Buddy Guy, Magic Sam, Freddie King, Jimmy Dawkins, Hound Dog Taylor and their ilk who were popularizing the sub-genre West Side Chicago sound. Filipowicz points to two ways in which his playing evolved from Westsiders who influenced him, and which have become ingrained in his playing – playing finger-style, i.e., without a pick, and his style of phrasing. One can still hear in Filipowicz’s playing (and singing) the driven, frenetic, slashing and intense kinds of renderings which were impressed upon his fertile mind and considerable, burgeoning talent those years ago in West and South-side Chicago clubs.
Influenced yes, but Paul Filipowicz is a clone or imitator of no other artist, apparent in his take-no-prisoners style. Filipowicz has explained that his goal for his performance is, “…. to leave no one standing.” Advised in his youth to develop his own sound and style by Mighty Joe Young, his striving for his own sound is apparent in his artistry, singing and playing, and as well in his prolific song writing. He has written over 70 original songs which, leavened with carefully chosen covers, have graced his impressive discography of ten recorded albums, dating back to the nineteen nineties. Moreover, Filipowicz shows no sign of staunching the flow of his recorded product. His latest, a 2022 release entitled Pier 43, has garnered laudatory reviews and rightly so as it features well-crafted songs, fine playing and singing performances as front man, excellent side-men, and top-notch production values.
BILLY FLYNN
Guitarist/Vocalist
Billy Flynn has a long and storied history playing Chicago blues. At age 14, he met Jimmy Dawkins in Green Bay, Wisconsin, while sitting outside a blues club and listening through the back door. Five years later, Dawkins invited Billy to hit the road in 1975, working with The Southside Blues All-Stars and its ensemble cast including: Eddie Shaw, Hubert Sumlin, Jimmy Dawkins, and Junior Wells. His discography includes over 70 recordings on Sony, Delmark, Alligator, Blind Pig, MC, Electro-Fi, Earwig, Severn, The Sirens, Big Eye, Random Chance, Ichiban, and Easy Baby labels. His 2017 Delmark recording, Lonesome Highway, was recently re-released and was #1 on AirPlay charts. His live performance and recording history includes: Jimmy Dawkins, Otis Rush, Deitra Farr, Billy Boy Arnold, Willie Smith, Kenny Smith, Pinetop Perkins, Willie Kent, Kim Wilson, Barrelhouse Chuck, James Wheeler, Bob Stroger, The Cash Box Kings, Chicago Blues A Living History Band, Bob Corritore, Demetria Taylor, Mud Morganfield, and more.
He’s a 6-time Grammy nominated musician and winner of 2 Grammys–including one for his guitar work on Beyonce’s 2009 R&B Song Of The Year, At Last. Flynn’s work was featured as the guitar sounds of Muddy Waters and Chuck Berry throughout the Grammy nominated soundtrack of the movie Cadillac Records. Billy was a backing guitarist for the Howling For Hubert (Sumlin) Tribute at the Apollo Theater, supporting Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, Elvis Costello, Kim Wilson, Billy Gibbons, and Steve Jordan.
He’s performed at the world’s greatest blues fests, including the Chicago Blues Fest, King Biscuit Fest, San Francisco Blues Fest, Lucerne Blues Festival (Switzerland), Montreux Jazz Festival (Switzerland), Cognac’s Blues Passion (France), Eutin (Germany), Notodden (Norway), and Bellinzona (Italy). Billy is an inductee of the Wisconsin Music Association’s Hall of Fame and a member of the Chicago Blues Hall Of Fame. Billy kicked off the Tribute to Otis Rush at the 2016 Chicago Blues Fest, which highlighted 30 musicians paying homage in an all-star tribute. Known as a musician’s musician, he is a multi-instrumentalist known for his innovative and unexpected solos steeped in history yet expressing today’s blues and beyond.
THE UP & UNDER PUB/MIKE KOSTAL
From the mid 1980’s until the early 2000’s The Up & Under Pub located at 1216 E. Brady Street was the undisputed Blues Capital of Milwaukee. The walls were covered with autographed photos, posters and handbills of the stars that played there. Jimmy Rogers guitar was hung proudly in a display case over the stage.
During those year’s owner Mike Kostal booked all the top Local, Regional and National acts of the day. It was the home of the legendary Complainers Sunday Jam session featuring Milwaukee’s Blues Guru Stokes. Terry Frank played there, Harvey Scales & The Seven Sound performed there to packed houses. Paul Black & The Flip Kings tore the place up. Those raucous Thursday nights with the then up and coming Blues Disciples. And who can forget Friday nights with The Jim Liban Combo and Jim’s legendary bar walking routine.
The list of bands that played there is endless. If you were a fan it was The place to be, If you were in a band playing the Up & Under meant that you made it, it was The place to play.
Mike Kostal also had the vision and a good ear and booked some fantastic National Touring acts like Jimmy Rogers, Otis Rush, Taildragger, Jimmy Burns, Honeyboy Edwards, William Clarke, James Harman, the wig wearing wacky H-Bomb Ferguson, Jimmy Dawkins, Willie Kent & Bonnie Lee, Zydeco star Lynn August & His Hot August Knight’s, The Crawl, Anson & The Rockets with Sam Meyers. Who can forget Luther Allison’s 3 1/2hour show, no breaks. Luther and the band were drenched with sweat. At 2am Mike turned down the lights and locked the door. Luther would have played all night except for the fact that Kostal literally pulled the plug and shut off the power.
In the early 2000’s Kostal sold the bar. The new owners vowed to carry on the Blues tradition in some way but as time marched on the clubs booking policy changed and the Blues was all but forgotten. The owners the sold the club to a chain called Nashville North. However, there was one last hurrah, the day before the Up & Under closed The Wilson Family Band held one last night of Blues with guests Big Al Dorn and Barefoot Jimmy Schwarz.
The Up & Under will go down in history as one of the greatest music venues in the state of Wisconsin.
PAPA CHARLIE JACKSON (Guitar/Banjo/Ukulele/Vocals)
William Henry “Papa Charlie” Jackson was born on November 10th 1887 in New Orleans Louisiana, not too much is known about his early life. He began his career in minstrel and medicine shows down south. Jackson soon moved north to Chicago where he could be found playing on Maxwell Street in the 20’s and 30’s.
In 1924 Papa Charlie recorded the first of his many first hits for the Paramount record label “Airy Man Blues” and “Papa’s Lawdy Lawdy Blues”. Jackson’s biggest hit was “Salty Dog Blues” recorded in 1925. Other hits included “Shake That Thing” and “Your Baby Ain’t Sweet Like Mine”.
In 1929 he got the chance to record with his idol, Blind Blake, the title of that release was “Papa Charlie and Blind Blake Talk About It”. Jackson also accompanied Ma Rainey, Ida Cox and Hattie McDaniel on record. In addition, for recording for Paramount Papa Charlie recorded for Okeh Records with Big Bill Broonzy. Papa Charlie Jackson died in Chicago on May 7th 1938.
RICK JAEGER
A blues and jazz legend on the Wisconsin music scene for decades, percussionist Richard Jaeger could swing the coolest, rock the hardest and groove like no one else. He had the baddest shuffle on the planet, recalled Paul Sucherman, a keyboard player who performed with Jaeger.
Born on Sept. 11, 1947, in San Diego, Jaeger acquired a love for drumming at an early age when he received a drum set. “Ricks eyes got as big as silver dollars” recalled Evelyn Jaeger, his mother. His father, Richard said.” That boy just never got away from those drums for the rest of his life.”
Playing for school and local bands, Jaegers musical talent led him to perform with locally and nationally with renowned recording artists. He recorded, toured, and shared stages and buses with such musicians as Sam McCue, Jim Liban, Steve Cohen, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Crosby, Stills and Nash, Dave Mason, the Pointer Sisters, the BoDeans, Jimi Hendrix and The Grateful Dead. During that time, he earned several gold and platinum records. He put them in a box and gave them to his mom.
TRACY NELSON
To say Tracy Nelson has been PART of several different eras of blues is not fully accurate - because in reality, she’s been at the forefront in LEADING the transitions from era to era.
As a teenager in Madison in the early 1960s, she was bridging the acoustic blues of the pioneers with the emerging folk blues revival - documented on her debut LP “Deep Are These Roots,” featuring Charlie Musselwhite – a recording released in 1965. Soon, she was California and at the forefront of her own band, Mother Earth – a name drawing upon a song by the underappreciated Memphis Slim – with a style that bought appreciation and interpretation of country and gospel music to the audiences of San Francisco in the late
1960s. Then, when she and the band moved to Nashville, they embraced elements of neighboring Muscle Shoals and Memphis to form the vanguard of soulful blues rock. By the mid-1970s, she’d extended her influences to New Orleans – as heard on her self-titled Atlantic LP, where she worked with arranger Allan Toussaint. That album features a song of hers that has become a Tracy Nelson anthem – “Down So Low.” That LP also features her Grammy-nominated duet with Willie Nelson, “After the Fire Is Gone.”
Cut to the 1980s, she again was a leader – along with Marcia Ball and others – in a potent sisterhood of assertive female blues voices regularly performing in and/or hailing from Austin. That came to full force in 1998 as Tracy, Marcia, and Irma Thomas united in a Gulf Coast rhythm & blues chorus on the Grammy-nominated “SING IT!” – an absolute essential release.
Since 2000, Nelson has continued to revisit her inspirations – from New Orleans, Austin, and Memphis to early country blues. In 2023, after a dozen-year hiatus, she returned in force with her 20 th album – “Life Don’t Miss Nobody” – an intricate, powerful testament to endurance through personal adversity. It, too, earned a Grammy nomination. Going through her discography reveals an absolute Who’s Who of the top composers, instrumentalists, vocalists, and producers of the past seven decades. But what has remained steadfast for Nelson needs to be heard – her amazing voice – warm, soulful, selectively powerful, fluid in phrasing and always perfectly tailored for the songs she performs and the musical company she graces.
So it is with this far-too-abridged overview of a magnificent career that the Wisconsin Blues Music Hall of Fame presented TRACY NELSON with her induction certificate at the La Fete de Marquette Festival on Sunday, July 13, 2025, in gratitude and recognition of her lifelong musical journey that started in Madison.
JON PARIS
(Guitar/Bass/Drums/Harmonica/Vocals)
Jon Paris was born and raised in Milwaukee Wisconsin. In the 60’s Jon played in numerous garage bands. While still in his teens he developed a life-long friendship with Waukesha native guitar legend Les Paul. At this same time Paris was seeing such Blues legends as Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Big Walter Horton, Johnny Young, Big Joe Williams and Magic Sam at The Avante’ Garde.
Jon moved to New York when he was in his early 20’sand remained there for the rest of his life. It was in New York that Jon began a long association with Johnny Winter with whom he would appear on five of Winter’s recordings. Over the course of his career he also appeared on recorded with Bob Dylan, twice, rockabilly legend Robert Gordon, Soul man Mack rice and fellow Wisconsinite James Solberg.
Jon performed with a diverse who’s who of American music such as Les Paul, Chuck Berry, Hubert Sumlin, John Lee hooker, Jim Liban, Big jay McNeely and Roscoe Gordon and Johnny Winter just to name a few. Paris toured with Bo Diddley, Johnny Winter, Mick Taylor, Chris Speeding and Robert Gordon & Link Wray.
TOM RADAI
Musician, Bandleader, Writer, Booking Agent, Producer, Promoter, Founder/CEO/President of The Wisconsin Blues Society. Tom Radai wore all of these hats, at the same time.
Radai fell in love with the Blues when he was a teenager. Tom was a driving force on The Wisconsin Blues Scene for over 50 years. In 1966 he started The Blues Management Group. He represented and booked such Blues legends as John Brim, Otis and Lucillle Spann, Johnny Littlejohn, Eddie Taylor Sr., Phillip Walker, Sam Lay and Jimmy Rogers as well as younger generation players like William Clarke and Eddie Taylor Jr.
Tom booked shows at venues like Century Hall, The Up & Under Pub, Shank Hall as well as venues throughout the state such as The Crystal Corner in Madison and The Grand Opera House in Oshkosh.
Tom founded The Wisconsin Blues Society and used the organization to not only promote the Blues but to also serve as a tool to promote his shows and artists. The Wisconsin Blues Society was the longest running Blues organization in the state. The WBS newsletter “Tell It Like It Is” served as a bible of sorts for Blues fans around the state.
Tom Radi ruled with an iron fist, you either liked Tom or you didn’t, regardless Tom was respected by musicians and his peers in the industry. Tom won numerous W.C. Handy Awards for best agent/manger/promoter.
SATIN DOLL/SATIN DOLL LOUNGE
The Satin Doll is of great importance. Primarily a Jazz Club, they did also book local Blues, Soul and R&B bands. More importantly it was the place where all the performers would come to relax and enjoy the down- home atmosphere after their shows downtown.
Basie, B.B. Jackie Wilson, Ella, Etta Dizzy, Redd Foxx, Little Milton and Ellington just to name a few all hung out there. Story goes that The Duke wrote his hit Satin Doll about her. Satin Doll was a beautiful lady inside and out. She started out as a dancer before she became a club owner. She bought the building, financed by the Balistreri Family, they hung out there sometimes too.
When Satin Doll passed the building was sold and the new owners initially did some music, but soon they were out of business and the building fell into disarray.
JIMI SCHUTTE
Drummer Jimi Schutte has been performing for over 55 years. Jimi is a consummate professional and a master of his instrument. Acclaimed by critics and fans and revered by his peers, Jimi has worked with a virtual who’s who of the Blues including Lighting Hopkins, Charlie Musselwhite Big Smokey Smothers, Billy Flynn and Nora Jean Wallace just to name a few. Jimi has toured with Jimmy Dawkins, Luther Allison, Lonnie Brooks, Rockin” Johnny Burgin, Jim Liban and Big Bob & The Ballroom Blitz.
Jimi has appeared on recordings by The American Blues Festival All-Stars, Luther Allison, Lonnie Brooks, Jim Liban, Lester “Mad Dog” Davenport and Nora Jean Wallace as well as appearing on the International Award winning, critically acclaimed Jimmy Dawkins recording “Hot Wire 81”.
Jimi was been a vital part of The Wisconsin Blues Scene and remains a vital part of the scene through his work with his American Blues Series bringing to Milwaukee audience’s real deal Blues musicians such as Jimmy Burns, Smiling Bobby, Bob Stroger, Tom Holland and Stephen Hull.
In addition Schutte was a master web designer and an instructor at MATC. He was also an amateur photographer who has taken some fantastic photos during his years on the road.
KERMIT STOKES
Vocals/Guitar/Harmonica
Kermit Stokes was born and raised in Carthage Mississippi. Most of his early music experiences were in the church. When he was a youngster he received a 10¢ harmonica as a Christmas gift and shortly after he was playing harmonica. A few years later he began playing guitar.
In the early 50’s Stokes migrated North following his childhood friends Clyde and Herbie Brooks to Milwaukee Wisconsin. They began hanging out at The Playboy Lounge on the city’s Northside absorbing the scene and listening to musicians like Johnny Brown, Charles Robinson and Mighty Joe Young. Soon they began sitting in and honing their skills. All while working day jobs.
Over the course of his career Stokes performed as a member of Gene & The Soul Gang, The Misfits, Leroy Airmaster, The Complainers, The Raw
Rockers and The House Rockin’ Blues Revue. In addition, Stokes has shared the stage with Mary Davis, Lee Gates, Milwaukee Slim, Jim Liban, Billy Flynn, A C Reed, Mighty Joe Young and The Blues Disciples who served as his backing band in the latter stage of his career, as well as a host of others.
Stokes also lead his own band The Old Blues Boys, which at one time featured Clyde and Herbie Brooks and Bob Mueller for decades.
Stokes performed at such venues as Gene’s Lounge, Boobies, The Turning Point, Wes’s on the Northside before branching out and performing all over the city at places such as Murray Tap, Hooligans, Sweet Water, The Tamarack, The Up & Under Pub, The Tumble Inn and Mamie’s. Mamies was Stokes home base for the last 30 years of his career.
He also appeared at events like Summerfest, The ARC Blues Fest, The Homeless Blues Fest, Shermanfest, Juneteenth Day Celebration, Garfield Ave Jazz & Blues Fest and The CPCU Blues Fest. Stokes also appeared at The Chicago Blues Festival as part of an All-Star show with Jim Liban, Milwaukee Slim and The Blues Disciples. Stokes appeared on recordings by Leroy Airmaster, The Raw Rockers and Jim Liban.
The only recording under his own name is a rare collector’s CD on which he is backed by The Blues Disciples and Jim Liban. The CD was specifically recorded to coincide with his Chicago Blues Festival appearance.
Stokes approached the music with style and class. His vocals could range from deep and husky to a sweet falsetto. As a guitarist he was a master of Blues, Soul, R&B and Funk styles. Stinging slide or succinct B.B. King inspired string bending.
Stokes was known as a human juke box. He knew hundreds of songs from all genres .
From Lighting Hopkins to Muddy Waters, B.B. King, Tyrone Davis, Temptations and Merle Haggard. He loved doing ‘The Twist”, getting people out of their seats and dancing. Stokes could play it all.
John Barajas Blues Ambassadors
JOHN BARAJAS
John Barajas was a humanitarian. He was a kind man. The theme of John’s life was being kind and helping people—family, friends, and total strangers. In the summer he carried bottled water and snacks; in the winter he carried hats, gloves, and scarves in his vehicle and handed them out to needy people he encountered on his travels.
John worked for the Wisconsin Department of Corrections, where he served as a supervisor for over 25 years. During this time, one of his accomplishments was bringing blues music to inmates at various correctional facilities, including a concert at Waupun where he coaxed Jim Liban and Short Stuff to wear prison garb when they performed.
John was an avid angler and a boating enthusiast. He was a proud Harley rider. His other passion was his love for blues music and the people who make that music.
John served on the Willie Dixon Blues Heaven Board of Directors for 20 years. He served two terms on the Board of Directors for the Wisconsin Blues Music Hall of Fame.
John was a regular at Boobies in Milwaukee, where he had an honorary seat at the bar, as well as at Lee’s Unleaded Blues in Chicago, where he had an honorary seat with a gold mini plaque embedded in the bar with his name on it.
John was a generous supporter of numerous events, festivals, benefits, and shows. Through these endeavors he met and befriended people like Bobby Rush, Otis Clay, Denise LaSalle, Tyrone Davis, Johnnie Taylor, Johnny Drummer, and the entire Scott family—Pat, Buddy, Howard, Walter, and Hollywood.
DON AND KAREN BOWEN
Karen Bowen has spent decades shaping the Midwest blues and live-music scene through her passionate work as a booker, organizer, and longtime supporter of the artists she loves. She began by booking bands at The Elks Club, The Eagles Club, 2nd Street Revue, the Fond du Lac Yacht Club, the Fond du Lac Jazz Festival, and countless private events. Her journey in music took a defining turn the night she attended the very first Fond du Lac Jazz Festival—headlined by Dizzy Gillespie—and met the jazz legend himself. Inspired, she volunteered for years to bring blues to the festival. Six years later, she earned her place on the entertainment committee and booked her first act: the great Jimmy Rogers.
Jimmy became an instant friend, inviting Karen and Don to his home the very next weekend to meet his family, and later welcoming them as guests at his shows in Chicago and California. At Buddy Guy’s Legends, he even told her he recognized her from another lifetime as a blues singer—a moment she never forgot. Karen went on to book Jr. Wells the following year, followed by Jody Williams and Phil Guy.
Her work expanded into local clubs, where she booked respected artists including the Alex Wilson Band, Perry Weber & The Devilles, Robert Allen, Jim Liban, The Cash Box Kings, Jimmy D. Lane, James Wheeler, and Milwaukee Slim.
In 2012, after the city announced plans to close the beloved Taylor Park swimming pool, Karen and Don stepped forward with a mission: honor Don’s late brother Bob and save the pool by raising funds through blues concerts. In just three months, they organized a sold-out 400-seat event featuring Bob Stroger, James Wheeler, Allen Kirk, and Jim Liban. The following years featured John Primer, then Billy Flynn with Barrelhouse Chuck, Bob Stroger, Steve Dougherty, and Westside Andy.
Karen and Don immersed themselves deeply in the blues community, attending the Chicago Blues Festival for 24 straight years—so often that Buddy Guy once asked when they had moved to Chicago. They made pilgrimages to King Biscuit, Memphis in May, the Blues Music Awards, and the International Blues Challenge. They brought Bob Stroger to King Biscuit for the first time—securing him six gigs in Memphis and the festival—and accompanied legends like Hubert Sumlin to performances and film premieres, including The Howlin’ Wolf Story at the Siskel & Ebert Film Center. They also helped coordinate Pinetop Perkins’ 88th birthday celebration.
Their travels took them to hundreds of festivals nationwide, from Long Beach to the Lincoln Center in New York, where Karen played a key role in coordinating logistics for 36 top blues musicians performing two nights of shows and a Tower Records signing event. They treasured time spent with Sam Lay and were honored when he shared his personal home movies from his decades in the blues. Though she never booked Willie “Big Eyes” Smith, Karen counts him as an important part of their blues life and a dear friend.
Don photographed festivals across the country—from Chicago and Long Beach to King Biscuit and San Francisco—and his images were featured in Big City Rhythm & Blues magazine.
Together, Karen and Don Bowen built a life centered around music, friendship, and the blues community they cherished—leaving a lasting impact on artists, festivals, and fans across the country.
MIKE LOWE AND BETH SCHULTZ
Mike Loew and Beth Schultz have been avid Blues fans and supporters for decades. They are respected and well liked by fans and musicians. Mike posses a deep wealth of musical knowledge. Mike is walking encyclopedia of all things Blues, R&B, Soul and Roots music. He has valuable knowledge and information in regards to the Milwaukee Blues scene. The places and the people. Mike has been a valuable asset to the HOF. Mike and Beth serve as a clearing house for valuable information on gigs and events in the Milwaukee area. Mike and Beth are also foodies, they know all the best places to dine and all the best deals and discounts.
Mike and Beth's opinions are highly respected by people in The Milwaukee Blues community.
Rev. 12/7/25