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Since its inception, the ABP offices were located at Bond’s home, assisted by volunteers and occasionally part-time paid workers. This continued as the ABP embraced its new, non-profit status and as the blues camp program outgrew the small premises at the Boys and Girls Club. The ABP partnered with
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By 2000, McCracken was no longer working with the project and Bond, working with
University of Alabama law professor, blues fan and storyteller Dr. Steven Hobbs, started the process of building a board of directors and turning the ABP into a non-profit organization. The ABP was incorporated in 2001
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and increased support from local businesses and individuals. To help fund activities, an annual fund raiser was held in
Tuscaloosa. By 2013, the Summer Blues Camp was in its 16th season. The ABP also runs "Advanced Band", an after-school band for middle and high-school students.
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Tuscaloosa organizations to find suitable premises for their programs, especially
Covenant Presbyterian and First United Methodist Church of Tuscaloosa. At the same time, the organization’s budget expanded with grants from the
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The ABP was founded in 1995 as an unincorporated business by two
Tuscaloosa-based blues musicians, Debbie Bond and Michael McCracken. Their first project was to produce a CD titled
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award from the
President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities given to outstanding after-school programs that teach at-risk students through the arts. Other awards include the
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In 1998, the ABP established its first blues education program in
Tuscaloosa County. This was an after-school program that provided hands-on music training to underserved
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In 2011, Bond and
Asherson retired from the ABP to pursue full-time music careers. Currently the ABP is headed by Executive Director Ashley R. Wheat.
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The ABP has gained international recognition and accolades from many national arts educators. In 2003, the ABP received the prestigious presidential
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aged 8–18. Initially, the ABP partnered with the
Kentuck Arts Association and later with the Boys and Girls Club of Tuscaloosa.
298:"RISING BLUES STARS BATTLE IT OUT IN MEMPHIS THIS FEBRUARY AT THE BLUES FOUNDATION'S 33rd ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL BLUES CHALLENGE"
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The ABP’s education programs and advocacy have received considerable media attention, including coverage in
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23:(ABP) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to preserve and promote the heritage of
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238:"Alabama Blues Project in 16th year of Summer Blues Camp for future musicians"
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79:'s Keeping the Blues Alive award, and two Druid Arts awards.
323:"The Arts & Humanities Council of Tuscaloosa, Alabama"
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and was officially granted non-profit status in 2002.
265:"Alabama Blues Project searching for teen vocalists"
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458:Non-profit organizations based in Alabama
348:"Visible World video production company"
399:"Alabama Blues Project has new leaders"
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209:"Fundraiser benefits blues education"
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128:, and the Robert Clem documentary
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296:McKay, Robin (30 November 2016).
273:. 17 January 2014. Archived from
152:Fuqua, Chris (24 November 2011).
16:American non-profit organization
65:National Endowment for the Arts
236:Howell, Coti (10 April 2013).
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27:music in the US state of
188:Encyclopedia of Alabama
130:Alabama Blackbelt Blues
352:Visibleworldfilms.com
270:Montgomery Advertiser
184:"Cleo "Big Bo" McGee"
21:Alabama Blues Project
126:Feel Like Goin’ Home
453:Blues organizations
373:"How They Got Over"
277:on 22 February 2014
243:The Birmingham News
217:. 25 September 2009
154:"Alabama Musicians"
48:“at-risk” students
377:Onestatefilms.com
158:Birmingham Weekly
118:Down in the Woods
41:Moody Swamp Blues
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357:11 February
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114:Willie King
104:John Sayles
442:Categories
397:Gary Cos.
139:References
94:AAA Travel
92:magazine,
302:Blues.org
106:’ movie
90:NEA Arts
35:History
29:Alabama
410:9 June
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221:7 July
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120:, the
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359:2014
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