The Moorpark College quad filled with rich, blues music as the Melvin Eddy Band entertained all ages from 5 to 50 on Multicultural Day.

Before beginning their first song, Michael DeLavallade, blues harmonica player as well as backing vocalist, took the audience back in time discussing the background of blues music in the Deep South along with some examples of instruments that came out of that time period and region.

“There was a hand-carved bridge with strings made out of goat skin,” said DeLavallade. “African musicians brought that sound to the American South and they called it the banjo.”

The band’s set began with a 50’s blues song entitled, “Wang Dang Doodle” featuring not only DeLavallade, but Melvin Eddy on blues vocals along with Terry Middlebrooke on bass, Phil Bristow on guitar and William Spoke on drums.

Aaron Jassenoff, 22-year-old history major, felt that they fit in well with Multicultural Day due to it’s deep blues sound.

“It ties in with Multicultural Day because blues is a rich and deeply rooted in the American South and American culture,” said Jassenoff. “It’s inherently American. More American than any other genre or form other than jazz. It’s blues and jazz.”

The Melvin Eddy Blues Band’s performance not only put smiles on the audience’s faces, but dug into the heart of blues music as well.

“Blues is about the facts of life and putting words into song,” said Michael DeLavallade.