D.C. Bellamy, a Kansas City bluesman with an 'extra something special,' dies at 74

"D.C. Bellamy, a popular band leader on Kansas City blues stages, grew up in Chicago listening to his half-brother, Curtis Mayfield, rehearse with the Impressions in their living room. Bellamy's own songs were recorded by stars such as Coco Montoya and Otis Clay, and he toured with the Chi-Lites, the Staple Singers, Bob Seger and others.
D.C. Bellamy, a popular Kansas City bluesman whose sound originated in his native Chicago, died on Nov. 3. He was 74.

When he wasn’t touring internationally, Bellamy drew crowds to B.B.’s Lawnside BBQ, the Grand Emporium, Club Paradox and festivals including the Kansas City Kansas Street Blues Festival, where his stellar musicianship, broad smile and onstage banter delighted audiences. His songs were recorded by artists such as Coco Montoya, Otis Clay, Jimmy Burns, Bobby Jonz and several Chicago soul groups.

The blues are always personal, Bellamy told me in 2006.

“It meant something to people,” he said. “They were not just saying something just to say some words. They were trying to tell you what they were going through.”

He loved it that every song told a story".