Officers

Musician and music lover, Ray joined our board in 2017.  He was our Membership AND Merchandise Chairman, no small task, and one he embraced with gusto.   His photos from music events are found  throughout this site as he was never without a camera and he always found a way to capture the moment.  HAs a guitarist himself, his enthusiasm and knowledge of the instrument made him one of the most interesting people to sit down and have a conversation with.  
Ray was a generous spirit, with a great sense of humor, an intelligent wit, and a team player.    He wrote some great music reviews, they are sprinkled throughout our newsletters over the past two years.  If you were looking for a good show to attend, all you had to do was ask Ray what he had tickets for.  You were guaranteed to hear outstanding guitarists in every genre.  

. We lost Ray to pancreatic cancer in April 2019 and we continue to miss his presence.  

Ray's generosity extended to donating our 2019 raffle guitar.  The Candy Apple Red Fender Squier Strat is a beauty, and it was from his personal collection.  Feel free to purchase a raffle ticket from our online store: you could win it for yourself.  It is collecting autographs from blues artists all year long, and some of the names now include Robert Cray, Samantha Fish, Ana Popovic, CoCo Montoya and Tinsley Ellis, to name a few.  

One of the longest running members on the Board, Nick  Polyzos has been with us since our early days.  

When he wasn't enjoying music, he was traveling, with many adventures with family, or you would find him on the lake with one of his best friends fishing, rafting or boating. 

He was dedicated to Charlotte Blues Society and as a Board Member at Large, we  called him "The Keeper of the Big Bang"  Nick made sure our Drum & Cymbals are available for every Blues Sunday event, helped to work the door on our Blues Sundays, and was one of the first to volunteer for outside events, whether it was Taste of Charlotte, or our merch/membership table at Blues shows around town.  He was also our official time-keeper for our Blues Challenge every year. 

His smiling face was always visible and Nick lived with gusto and was doing what he loved up until the last.  

We will miss him.

   Remembering Bill Buck 

(Feb. 28, 1960 – June 17, 2022)

Bill Buck, co-founder of the Charlotte Blues Society. He passed on Friday, June 17, 2022 at his Charlotte apartment.

Bill was a veteran, a father, a teacher, and a musician. In the early '90s, he was a   member of the band, Tone Deaf James & the Bedrockers, traveling throughout the "chitlin circuit" including appearances at the King Biscuit Blues Festival in Helena, Arkansas. In addition, they would be the   back-up band for individual guest artists at CBS meetings. In more recent years, he played with Nita B & Her Soiree and as a duo with Nita performing jazz. Bill also taught bass and jazz guitar. He was frequently seen on the Double Door stage playing bass during CBS jams. 

Proceeds from the Memorial Jam held on July 31, 2022 went to fund a “brick-for-the-blues” at the Blues Hall of Fame to honor Bill.

The Brick reads:

"Bill Buck founder

Charlotte Blues

Society a generous 

genius educator 

Robin Rogers was not just a gifted blues singer, songwriter and  harp player, she was passionate about spreading the word about Charlotte Blues Society and the Blues Foundation.
Her love of the music and outgoing personality on and off stage was legendary.  Her passion was kinetic and it carried over into her involvement with Women in The Blues and many charities.

She won the first Best Self-Produced CD during the IBC in 2002, was signed to Blind Pig Records, where her last album "Back in the Fire" debuted on the Billboard Blues album Charts in the Top 3.
Robin lost her battle with cancer in 2010, only days after she was told she was nominated for Best Female Contemporary Blues Artist award.  Her husband and band partner Tony  Rogers fulfilled his promise to go to Memphis the following May for the Awards ceremony.  
Tony was accompanied by a  huge contingency from CBS for moral support.  The CBS loyalty to Robin never waivered.  At the ceremony, the room erupted in cheers when the envelope was opened and her name was read.   Robin was not just a favorite with fans, she was loved by her peers and had  gained their respect over the years.

A recipient of multiple Blues Blast Music Awards,  Robin was an ambassador of the blues to the end.
Her legacy continues to inspire performers young and old.

Her absence on the stage and within the blues community is distinctly felt.

Robin was one of a kind, a precious light in the music world who continues to glow in all who knew or heard her.

An 8"x 8" brick in front of the Blues Hall of Fame in Memphis TN has her name on it, donated by members of Charlotte Blues Society. 

We love you Robin Rogers,  Unconditionally.  

A more enthusiastic audience member and CBS Member could not have been found anywhere.

Marie Rink was at every event, and laughter followed her onto the dance floor, where she spread smiles throughout the room. 

Marie's spirit was infectious.  She loved to see everyone enjoying themselves, and when one music event was over, it was not uncommon for her to grab a few people and encourage them to join her at another performance just down the road.

Marie was the epitome of the phrase "young at heart" , exuding boundless energy that was fully charged by music.
We were blessed by her presence in our group.  We strongly believe those who dance, laugh and make the most of each moment, may have been lucky enough to stand or dance with  Marie at least once and a bit of her vibrant personality rubbed off.

We lost Marie in 2016, but her spirit lives on.