This article appeared in the Southland Blues Magazine in October, 2002.

    The Classroom in Northridge, self-styled as the "Valley's Only Blues Roadhouse," is a North San Fernando Valley blues haven. You can hear blues music most nights, everything from local acts to national acts from time to time.

    Mun Gedrick and her husband bought the place, a piano bar at the time, in 1979. It was owned by a retired teacher, thus the "Classroom", a name which has remained. Eddie the bartender came on board from New York in 1985 and has remained to this day. When Mun's husband Bernie died in 1985, she converted the place into a rock n' roll and sometimes country western bar which it stayed for several years until Tim Casey came along in the mid-1990s. Everyone remembers Tim Casey, the great guitar and blues sounds and the great guy. Tim Casey offered to do the booking and host the Jam Night and generally promote the place, and it was during his time at the club that it blossomed into a legitimate blues club. Tim Casey and his band "The Bluescats" made the Thursday Night Jam Night a happening thing until four or five years ago when Tim's job transferred him to the Seattle area where he lives today. By the way, Tim Casey has a web page at www.timcaseybluescats.com. Check it out when you get a chance.

    These days, Jam Night is hosted by the ever popular Blue Baron, (pictured) a great blues guitarist himself, who took over for Country Boy Ruben after the immensely popular Country Boy was killed in an auto accident in May of this year. Country Boy had hosted Jam Night for three or four years prior with Blue Baron as his main guitarist, Stephan Marshall on the drums. Jam Night is ever popular with surprise guests coming in regularly, including Coco Montoya, a regular ten years ago, who still comes in from time to time. Louisiana Guitar Red is there almost every Thursday and plays three or four songs in his own inimitable way. Blue Baron also performs every Tuesday night and gets a good crowd then.

    Jon Hayes, a bankruptcy and entertainment lawyer with the Los Angeles firm of Haight Brown & Bonesteel, his daytime persona, has been doing the booking and promoting the Classroom for about three and a half years now. Jon writes articles regularly for the Southland Blues Magazine (see cover story this month) and Rock City News and can almost always be found at the Classroom on Thursday Nights. During Jon's tenure, the weekend gigs have kept the patrons happy and coming back for more. Jon is always looking for bands to perform during the week.

    In the last three years, headliners include Roy Gaines, The Delgado Brothers, B.B. Chung King, Lynwood Slim, Francesca and the Flames, Bob's Yer Uncle and Deacon Jones. In October, the club was entertained, no cover, by Abu Talib, formerly known as Freddy Robinson, the former guitarist for Little Walter. There was serious old time blues that night. In November, the Stoney Curtis Band is going to cut a live CD. The place will be packed as always when Stoney performs. The following weekend will feature B.B. Chung King with a $5 cover charge and a few weeks later, Saturday, November 17, Finis Tasby will perform with no cover charge. It looks like The Delgado Brothers will come back in December.

    The Classroom is in Northridge, on Tampa Avenue at Roscoe. It has a full bar, big screen t.v., big stage, and lots of seating. The music starts at 9:00pm sharp and goes to 1:30am. To get the calendar and booking information, go to www.jonhayes.net. Recent bands include Peach, Just Dave and the Family, Kimberly Allison, Michael John and the Bottom Line, Moon Dog Blues Band and Gashouse Dave. Stoney Curtis, honored last year as Rock City News' Best Guitarist of 2000, plays every couple of months or so. Local acts are given ample opportunity to perform and hone their craft. There is rarely any cover charge and lots of free parking. Stop by sometime. You will enjoy the show and the fun crowd.