Celebrating The Life Of VBS Co-Founder Dennis Wilmott

On Sunday, June 14th, we received news of the passing of the Vermont Blues Society’s co-founder, Dennis Willmott. VBS was established by Dennis and Marian Willmott, Charlie Frazier and Sandy Combs in 2018.

Today the State of Vermont mourns the passing of a man who dedicated his life to the music he loved. Dennis was instrumental in helping and encouraging so many great Vermont musicians to pursue their passion and love for the Blues. Dennis worked to keep the Blues alive in Vermont for decades. He always encouraged younger players to step right up and join in one of the hundreds of Blues Jam Sessions he organized. 

There is an irreplaceable hole left in the heart of the Vermont Blues scene and we will all miss him.

You can view an LCATV documentary about Dennis here. 

Vermont Blues Society Board of Directors:
Bob Stannard - Chair
Tom Buckley - Vice Chair
Paul McMahon - Treasurer
Louis Erlanger - Secretary
Rebecca Brooklyn
Robin Galbraith
Sal DeFrancesco
Richard Foster

The event was recorded for Greater Northshire Access Television (GNAT-TV) and you can watch it here. 

The Vermont Blues Society sponsored “History Of The Blues and History Of The Harmonica” on April 29 at Manchester Community Library in Manchester, VT.  The event was hosted by Scott Dubois, aka Missiquoi Slim, and VBS president Bob Stannard, and consisted of both music performance and talk.   The talk went into some depth regarding the origins of the blues, its influence on American music, and how it is intertwined with the history of the harmonica, an instrument that was invented in 1821 by a 16 year old German boy.  It is part of a program by the Vermont Blues Society to bring blues education to schools, libraries and other community venues. Missiquoi Slim is a northern Vermonter who plays a variety of instruments, collects rare guitars and musical equipment, and has shared the stage with acts like Dickey Betts, Rod Piazza, Delbert McClinton, and more.  Bob Stannard is also a Vermonter and singer/harmonica player who has fronted his own group for decades and has shared the stage with BB King, James Cotton, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, and more.   

The Corey Harris/Sunny Lowdown show at Next Stage Theater in Putney, VT on 2/28/2026, co-sponsored by the Vermont Blues Society, was a big success.  The audience, seated in a beautiful historic church equipped with a superb sound system,  was treated to solo blues in many forms, and responded with spirited enthusiasm. Sunny Lowdown's set was capped off by a finale with guest harp players Spencer Jarrett and VBS board president Bob Stannard.  Harris regaled the audience with stories about the American South, Africa, and blues history, accompanying his percussive playing with a booming voice that filled the theater.   It was a great night for all who attended, and the Vermont Blues Society intends to co-sponsor more of these types of events in the future. 

L-R:  Sunny Lowdown, Corey Harris, VBS Board President Bob Stannard

L-R: Spencer Jarrett, VBS Board President Bob Stannard, Sunny Lowdown

VBS board president Bob Stannard sat down with Gina Coleman at GNAT TV to talk about her career in the blues, as well as blues singer Ida Cox.  Gina Coleman has been nominated for two Independent Blues Awards. She recorded with Charles Neville of the Neville Brothers and blues singer/guitarist Joe Louis Walker, and has  opened shows for Tab Benoit, John Primer, Albert Cummings and Michael Powers.  

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