[photo credit: Pasadena Public Library]
“Music is healing, music is freedom, especially blues, because blues came about out of necessity to heal and free African-Americans specifically,” explains Yusef Hopkins-Olaitan, who has performed for over 30 years. “This is how we, African-American people expressed our humanity. It is a way that we freed ourselves in a society where we were not free and it was what healed us.”
Brother Yusef’s performance style blends multiple regional traditions. “Fatback is that southern flavor where they put soft pork and food and give it a specific down home, so to speak, flavor,” he says. “So in essence, that music is basically that level of flavor. And I don’t want to say I necessarily mix a level of different regional genres of Boo, but it’s just kind of more of like a gritty, edgy booze with wind influences a funk and RB and Soul and Rock, which is all part of Afro-American culture.”
The musician, who has lived in the area since 1969, feels connected to the community. “I feel blessed to be able to play for my community, whether it be in Altadena or whether it be in different cities,” he notes.
Brother Yusef has witnessed the profound impact of his music. While performing for preschool teachers in South Carolina, “one lady in the audience literally caught the Holy Ghost. She caught the Holy Spirit… I never brought anyone to that level of emotion by playing my music.”
He emphasizes the connection between blues and gospel: “The difference between blues and gospel historically is Saturday night and Sunday morning. No difference. It’s just the message is still the same healing and freedom.”
“From Blues comes because blues and Gospel, which is basically the same music Saturday night, Sunday morning, from that comes blues, rhythm and blues, rocks, rock and roll, soul music, punk music, all of these are the ways the music has worked,” Yusef explains.
During his time at Downtown Disney, people would approach him saying, “You really made my day. I was having a really bad day, and I came and I heard you and you just changed everything for me.”
“I think it needs to be understood culturally the importance of this music and the importance of the contribution of African-American people to this society,” Yusef emphasizes. “I always like to say, I do not want to play for an ignorant audience. I want my audience to know what they’re listening to.”
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