Respected music writer Santelli (a regular contributor to Rolling Stone, among other publications) would deserve this award for his contributions to Blues literature alone (The Big Book of Blues, The Best of the Blues: The 101 Essential Albums, and the recent American Roots Music companion book). But Santelli has spread the word on the Blues in others way too, first as a professor at Rutgers and later as director of education and public programs at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. And now as director of Seattle’s Experience Music Project, he is at the head of an organization whose entire focus is educating and exciting kids about America’s music.
