Biography

Theo Dasbach, born in The Netherlands in 1949, nicknamed "Boogieman" lives in Memphis, Tennessee. Theo got his first taste of the blues and rock 'n roll at the age of 9. Listening to precious old 78 rpms from his grandfather, he fell in love with American music and taught himself to play on an old piano belonging to his mother. In the sixties, he performed where ever people wanted him to play until his last gig at the Cinestud Film Festival in Amsterdam in 1971.

Making a living in Amsterdam in the early seventies as a Disc-Jockey, he obtained a degree in advertising as well as a law degree. Leaving the music behind, he then worked in various countries during his 25 year career in International Trust Banking.

After his first visit to the USA in 1978, Theo started to collect music memorabilia for his "dream" to create a music museum. Theo founded the first Rock 'n Roll Museum in the Netherlands from 1996 to 2004. In 2005, he moved to Memphis and in 2006 he founded and managed the non-profit Rock & Blues Museum in Clarksdale, MS till its closing in 2019. In 2018 the museum was voted #5 of the 10 Best Attractions in Mississippi by USA TODAY People's Choice Awards.

In 2007, encouraged by blues musicians James "Super Chikan" Johnson and T-Model Ford, he started playing keyboard again. After a demo CD "Rockin' and Bluesin'" he released his first official CD "Dutch Delta Blues" in 2010, followed "Blue Boogie" in 2013 with Little Bobby on guitar and Daddy Rich on harmonica. In 2015 he released his 3rd CD "Got the Blues so Bad" with Brad Webb on guitar and David "Hurricane" Hudson on harmonica.

In addition to private performances, Theo "Boogieman" Dasbach has performed at the annual Juke Joint Festival, the 2nd Street Blues Parties and at the Bluesberry Cafe in Clarksdale, as well as the Memphis Music Festival, the Exit 56 Festival.

In 2018 he received the Juke Joint Festival's "Miss Sarah Award" for his contributions to blues music, Mississippi Tourism and the City of Clarksdale.

Dutch Film Maker Jan Doense made a movie entitled "Cheesehead Blues — Adventures of a Dutchman in the Mississippi Delta" about Theo, his museum and Clarksdale musicians. It was released on DVD in 2015! Theo also participated in Roger Stolle's "Moonshine & Mojo Hands" web series and cooperated with the documentary "America's Blues" and various other international TV shows.

In 2022, after more than 50 years, Theo picked up the paint brushes and started painting again, perfecting his abstract splash art style. His art work has been exhibited in several venues in and around the Memphis area.

Theo is now semi retired, but next to his passion for painting, he still loves to perform when possible and is an annual guest at the Juke Joint Festival in Clarksdale. His CDs and the DVD "Cheesehead Blues" are available directly from him or via the internet.