Blues and roots artist John Alex Mason learned fast how to be a one-man band on Memphis’ Beale Street.

Mason was invited by Richard Johnston to come play with him on the streets of Memphis after the two musicians met each other at the Telluride Blues and Brews festival years ago.

There’s a longtime tradition dating back to the 1920s and 1930s of people singing on the streets in the Mississippi Delta for money, Mason said.

Rural people would come into town on a Saturday afternoon to buy their supplies, and then set up to play music in the evening.

“A lot of blues players, that’s how they made their money,” Mason said. “There’d be a bunch of different musicians. The loudest and the best drew the biggest crowd. It’s where the one-man band came about. It really showed me how much noise you can make as one person.”

On that first trip to Memphis, Mason and Johnston took turns performing as one-man bands, including playing drums with their feet while singing and playing the guitar.

Mason had already discovered the joys of street playing before performing on Beale Street.

Nine years ago, Mason traveled around Europe playing music, before moving to South Carolina where he played gigs three times a week around Charleston.

Eventually, he moved back to his native Colorado, where in addition to performing, Mason teaches music to kids.

In 2007, Mason led a group of Colorado Springs high school students on a trip to the Mississippi Delta, Memphis and New Orleans, where the students interacted with musicians and historians. Mason has taught blues guitar camps in Telluride for about six years.

“Students found out where the blues came from and they learned what was going on historically that allowed the blues to flourish in the Mississippi Delta area,” Mason said.

Music has become more passive and less social, Mason said.

“It used to be if you wanted music you had to play music. I love getting students involved and learning to play, whatever age they happen to play,” Mason said.

Mason will perform a benefit concert for KAFM community radio Saturday night at Boomers.

“His music is hard-driving roots and rockin’ blues that is dramatic and captivating and very danceable,” said KAFM Executive Director Ryan Stringfellow.

Mason has performed with B.B. King, James Cotton, John Mayall, Jimmie Vaughn and the Yardbirds, to name a few.

The show will be half one-man band, half solo acoustic, with both original material and covers of some of Mason’s favorite blues artists.

Tickets can be purchased at the door or in advance at KAFM by calling 241-8801, ext. 7.

Reach Sharon Sullivan at ssullivan@gjfreepress.com.