‘We pledge allegiance All our lives To the magic colors Red, blue, and white But we all must be given The liberty that we defend For with justice not for all men History will repeat again It’s time we learned This world was made for all men’
Guthrie Kennard at Ken & Mary’s Blues Project (October 15, 2013) — Image by kenne
In October of 2013, we were visiting family and friends in the Houston area. The timing was great since we could attend one of Ken & Mary’s Blues Projects in Porter, Texas. The headliners for this event were Guthrie Kennard and Julie Bonk. I just learned that Dallas singer-songwriter Guthrie has cancer and is undergoing radiation. However, it hasn’t stopped him; he’s out on the road doing shows. Guthrie, may the force be with you.
Mike Durbin Talking To Blues Friends (Ken & Mary’s Blues Project, May 2017) — Photo-Artistry by kenne
The Blues Project
They called it a project, a Blues Project, but really, it was a party — a party for family and friends to share happy times, talk about living life, and a love for good old blues music.
Once this party began there would be no stopping it, even when forced undercover of rain, friends laugh and talk about déjà vu the evening had become.
Just sitting on the front porch doing that front porch thing telling stories now embellished by all the good times dancing and singing the night away in the woods off Old Houston Road.
The Blues Project may be over so listen, the night will lead you to the music, the stories told, and smile one more time for each house concert was just a rehearsal for what our tomorrow’s will bring.
— kenne
Kenneth Harris shares the story of how Ken & Mary’s Blues Project came about. (May 20, 2017)
Archie Bell, Ken and Mary Harris (May 20, 2017) Image by kenne
Video by kenne
Hi everybody I’m Archie Bell of the Drells, from Houston, Texas We don’t only sing But we dance just as good as we walk In Houston, we just started a new dance Called the Tighten Up This is the music we tighten up with
First tighten up on the drums Come on now, drummer I want you to tighten it up for me now, oh, yeah Tighten up on that bass now Tighten it up, ha, ha, yeah Now let that guitar fall in Oh, yeah . . . (click here for all the lyrics)
They called it a project, a Blues Project, but really,
it was a party — a party for
family and friends to share
happy times, talk about living life, and a love for good old blues music.
Once this party began there would be no stopping it, even when forced undercover
of rain, friends laugh and
talk about déjà vu the evening had become.
Just sitting on the front porch doing that front porch thing telling stories now embellished by all the good times dancing and singing the night away in the woods off Old Houston Road.
The Blues Project may be over so listen if the night will lead you to the music, the stories told and smile a smile one more time for each Project was just a rehearsal for what our tomorrows will bring.
— kenne
Kenneth Harris shares the story of how Ken & Mary’s Blues Project came about. (May 20, 2017)
Ken & Mary’s Blues Project — The Last Waltz
Computer Art by kenne
Down the east Texas road, there is rain in the wind as the musicians’ setup for an evening of the blues with friends gathering the last time at Ken and Mary’s Blues Project,
the best house concert ever.
In recent years we’ve missed some of the concerts in
the woods having moved
to the desert southwest, then last February, we received word of the “Last Waltz” for the Blues Project — plans were made immediately.
With Coleman cooler,
yard chairs and
cameras in tow we walked over old
bottle caps toward the Blues Project stage, to be greeted with hugs and kisses — Welcome!
Mary announced the food
was ready, and Ken shared some
background on the beginning
of what became the Blues Project.
Not long after the music began, lighting lit up the darkening clouds with thunder adding to
the magical evening.
Other than an occasional drop or two, the music played on until, as if the plug was pulled, the dark sky began to fall. A rain delay was called as the tarps were brought out to covered the equipment.
Using our smartphones we could see radar showing the rain would be lasting for an hour or more. As has happened in the past, the musicians gathered inside to continue an evening of music.
Most of those who remained were inside or on outside porches, knowing the best of the evening was yet to come — jamming the night away on a hot, humid night in the piney woods of east Texas.
It may be the last waltz
for the Blues Project
but that doesn’t mean
the party is over,
the music still plays on
and on, and on — may
we stay forever young.
We’ve got to go, but our friends will stick around.
“A Blast From The Past” Ken & Mary’s Blues Project, December 2003 — Image by kenne
Sadly, several of those playing in this Ken & Mary’s Blues Project house concert are no longer with us — those were the days with some of the best blues ever coming out of east Texas.
Mary Bonk, Guthrie Kennard and George Bearishill on the stage at Ken & Mary’s Blues Project. — Images and video by kenne
People who love live music in a “house concert” format in the greater Houston area are aware of the work Mary and Kenneth Harris have done for the last 20 years. When it comes to house concerts it’s difficult to beat the live events they conduct in the piney woods of east Texas.
Julie Bonk
The headliner for this fall’s event was Guthrie Kennard with Julie Bonk.
Ken and Mary first heard Julie at Camp Stupid at the Kerrville Folk Festival in 2012.
At one point in the evening, Julie did a solo singing one of her songs, “Just Through Loving You.”
Ken & Mary’s Blues Project with Ashton Savoy & The Moe Hansum Band (10/18/02) — Image by kenne
Ken & Mary’s Blues Project (11/16/09) — Photo-Artistry by kenne
Archie Bell, Ken and Mary Harris (May 20, 2017) Image by kenne
Computer Painting by kenne
Ken & Mary’s Blues Project — The Last Waltz
Ken & Mary’s Blues Project (On a humid east Texas night the rain forced everyone to move inside) —
Original Stage at Ken & Mary’s Blues Project (August 2005)
“A Blast From The Past” Ken & Mary’s Blues Project, December 2003 — Image by kenne
East Texas Blues (Ken & Mary’s Blues Project, August 20, 2005) — Image by kenne
George Bearishill, Guthrie Kennard and 
Mary Bonk, Guthrie Kennard and George Bearishill on the stage at Ken & Mary’s Blues Project. — Images and video by kenne
Julie Bonk
Becoming is Superior to Being 