La Hora del Blues

Barcelona, 1981

La Hora del Blues Radio Show, festival production, journalistic chronicles, members of the European Blues Union and Friday Blues at the MEAM

In November 1981 a programme called La Hora del Blues began broadcasting on Ràdio PICA, a free and self-managed Barcelona radio station. It was presented and directed by Vicente Zúmel, always with the unquestionable support of his partner Roser Infiesta Valls. Forty-five years later it is not only the oldest blues programme in the country, but has also become the longest-standing organisation in supporting and spreading the genre. From the very first moment the programme became a point of reference for devotees, with its national and international record releases, its reviews of concerts and festivals, and its collaborations with media and international associations devoted to spreading the word about music of African-American roots. The Vicente-Roser pairing has become a transmission belt for contact between musicians, fans and promoters, a role that endures to this day as they ride the waves of the digital universe. Their work has been recognised by various national and international bodies, including the Keeping The Blues Alive Award, which the Memphis Blues Foundation presented to Vicente Zúmel, while Roser Infiesta remains at the helm, now as the fifth president of the SBB and a member of the board of the European Blues Union.