Lonesome Blue...
 
is the solo music ministry of Bob "Blue" Ludwig from Rochester, NY. As a member of the Gospel Blues band "Light Blue" for the past seven years and in solo form for over 20 years, Blue has shared his unique presentation of the gospel at Prisons (Attica, Butler, Livingston, Orleans), Jails (Monroe County/City of Rochester, Wayne County, Monroe Correctional Facility), Homeless shelters (Open Door Mission), Churches (Numerous) Bike Runs and Bike Blessings. He is being led to expand that ministry to include more of the above and Veterans Hospitals.

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Why the Blues?

 You may be asking “why the blues?” Isn’t Christianity supposed to be all happy and positive? Or, “what place does blues music have with faith in Jesus Christ?”

 First of all, I just love the blues. Listening to it, grooving to it, playing it and singing it.  While it’s not the only genre I play, if it’s not straight up blues, it’s probably bluesy.

 Secondly and most importantly, I like to keep it real with my audience and hit them where they’re at.

 Jesus said “In this world you will have the blues, but lighten up, I have overcome the world.” (New Biker Version) What I do by the grace of God is reach down to where people are feeling the music and then pull them up with the message of the Gospel.  

 You want a sugarcoated message, look elsewhere. Life can be hard, but God is good. That’s the power of combining the blues with the Gospel, the blues acknowledges the problem and the Gospel is the solution!

 


 

Eddie’s Story

I came lugging equipment in one night for ministry at the Open Door Mission in Rochester, NY with Light Blue and this big guy says in his gruffest and most intimidating voice "What are you doing here?"

 I said, "We're here to play the blues" to which he instantly responded "Mississippi Muddy Waters!" I said we're gonna do a song Muddy Waters made popular called "Hoochie Coochie Man" but we've changed the lyrics to promote the Innocent and we call it 'The Great I Am.'" He said "You tell 'em it's for Eddie!"

 So during the set I introduced the song and said "this one's for my man Eddie." We got done with the set and there stood Eddie with tears streaming down his cheeks. He said, "You got to me!" I asked him to tell me about it and he said "I've been livin' on the streets for 20 years and no one and nothing has been able to touch my heart - it's as hard as stone. But you got to me tonight." He looked me very intently in the eye and shook my hand and said "it's been YEARS since I've looked somebody in the eye and this ain't easy for me, but I WANT WHAT YOU'VE GOT!"           

 Eddie gave his life to the Lord Jesus that night and there was a joyous celebration. I asked if he had a Bible and he said "not one of my own." We had a nice gently used leather bound Bible that had been donated to the Prison Ministry and he asked us all to sign it. We dedicated that Bible to a new man that night. 

 My hope is to keep delivering The Message in that unique style: the blues; and touch people right where they're at ("In this world you will have the blues") and then give them the hope of the Gospel (“but lighten up, I have overcome the world.")