Growing up, Scott Hayes suffered from severe nosebleeds, but he and his parents never understood why. Then, at the age of 18, while at the hospital for surgery, doctors found out that Scott had hemophilia B. Hemophilia B is a blood disorder that prevents clotting. With this condition, even cuts or dental work can result in severe bleeding. KFAI’s LadyJ spoke with Scott about Hemophilia, how the disorder impacts his daily life and his decision to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
Inducted into the 2015 Minnesota Blues Hall of Fame, Jacquie Maddix and her band "Lady J Griot & Her Root Doctors" work Root Wisdom from the Elders Circle. The story of the Blues is the story of a culture's spiritual roots. If you listen closely to the lyrics, you'll hear the recipe (or instructions) for making African tribal religion work for you. Blues producer and composer Willie Dixon grew up in Vicksburg, Mississippi, and heard the stories of ancient African tribal religion from the elders of the Southern community. He learned about ancient African rituals, known as Voodoo in the New World, and incorporated them into his messages of the Blues. In tunes such as Hootchie Cootchie Man, Seventh Son, Evil, Hidden Charms, and I Ain't Superstitious, you can hear the wisdom of the elders reaching out to inform and educate the youngsters of today. Lady J also learned the stories of the African divine feminine from her mother and aunties, who carried the wisdom from Indianola, Mississippi, to the North. On her radio show, Songs of the Soul (formerly Rollin & Tumblin), Lady J keeps the heritage alive, weaving history, ancestral magic, and the spiritual roots of the Blues into a rich tapestry of songs, interviews, and live in-studio performances. As a vocalist and performer, Lady J, widely dubbed the High Priestess of the Blues, has performed at venues across Minnesota and the Midwest, spreading the gospel of the Blues. As a tribal shaman and orator, Lady J Griot tells the history of the Blues lyrics and how this venerable music is a remnant of ancient African spirit worship. Blues is the root sound of R&B, Soul, Funk, and Jazz music, but it too has a root sound. The sound of the Blues is the resonance of the tribal medicine wo/man or witch doctor lowering the barrier between the material world and the world of Spirit. The Blues appeals to many, regardless of age, cultural background, or language, because it bridges the divide between all differences. There's a reason all cultures around the world use the color blue to describe the human soul: because blue is the color of transcendence, blue is the color of healing, blue is the color of the soul, and Blues is the SOUND of the SOUL. View full bio »
