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Last year it was announced that the University of Gloucestershire was to acquire a major part of the Paul Oliver Collection of African American Music.

This extensive collection of books, papers, recordings, visual material, and other artifacts represents an enormously valuable resource in teaching and research as Paul Oliver is one of the world's leading authorities on the Blues.

But why Gloucestershire?

In this documentary, BBC Gloucestershire's John Hellings explores that very question, learning with every step why our county really does love the blues.

Listen to the documentary here:

Michael Roach

Presenter/Producer: John Hellings

Guests in the documentary include:

• Dr Paul Oliver, blues expert.
• Michael Roach, blues singer from Washington, now living in Cheltenham.
• Richard Dennery, Gloucester city centre manager and the man behind the Gloucester International Rhythm and Blues Festival.

BBC Radio Gloucestershire will also be broadcasting the documentary on Monday 28 May, between 3pm and 4pm.

About Paul Oliver

Among his many publications are the award-winning Blues Fell This Morning, The Story of the Blues, and Blues Off the Record.

John Hellings

His work, which began in the 1950's, includes interviews, fieldwork, and research in recording and printed sources tracing the origins and development of African American music and culture from the time of slavery through to the Twentieth Century.

Paul also met with and corresponded with figures such as Richard Wright and Langston Hughes, as well as numerous blues legends.

The Paul Oliver Collection

The collection will prove to be an invaluable resource for students and researchers working in American and African American History, African American Literature, American Studies, Cultural Studies, Music and Popular Music Studies, Anthropology, and Transatlantic Studies.

It is anticipated that the material will gradually become available for use by researchers early in 2007.