Blue Since ’62 : Music veteran Finis Tasby is unfazed by newcomers.

Even after a 30-plus-year career, blues man Finis Tasby can’t explain the recent resurgence in popularity of the 12-bar form.

“There’s just an explosion of the blues now,” Tasby said. And with that popularity, many blues novices are quickly putting out records to cash in. But Tasby, who released his debut album only two years ago, doesn’t resent these Johnny-come-latelies.

“It really doesn’t upset me,” Tasby said. “A lot of people have records and CDs, but to tell you the truth, I wouldn’t buy them.”

Nobody can call Tasby, who’s playing at Smokin’ Johnnie’s on Friday night, a newcomer.

The Dallas native has been playing the blues since 1962. Over the next 10 years, he worked with many blues greats, including Lowell Fulson, Albert Collins, Freddie King, Z.Z. Hill, Joe Simon and Clarence Carter, touring through Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Kansas.

In 1973 Tasby moved to Los Angeles, where he continued working as songwriter and bass player, collaborating with performers such as John Lee Hooker, Elvin Bishop, B.B. King, Percy Mayfield and Big Mama Thornton.

Tasby’s debut album, “People Don’t Care,” was released in 1995 to favorable reviews. The long-awaited album featured special guests Fulson, Bishop, former Rolling Stone Mick Taylor, Vernon Reid and Ricky Collins.

“We tried to mix it up,” Tasby said. “Some blues, some R & B, and even a zydeco/Cajun-type thing, but most stations play the blues stuff.”

Three songs from the album were included in the soundtrack of the 1995 film “The Babysitter,” starring Alicia Silverstone and George Segal. Tasby is preparing to go back into the studio to record his second CD within the next few weeks. And after that’s done, he hopes to be hitting the road to promote the new album.

“I’m a road dog, I like travelin’,” Tasby said. “My goal is to get out and travel and just play.”

These days, Tasby usually just sings and fronts his band, bringing along a sax player, keyboardist, bassist, drummer, guitarist and a conga player. He’s been gigging all around the area, from Santa Monica and Redondo Beach to the Valley and South Central. After living in L.A. for many years, Tasby moved to Palmdale a few years ago.

“I came out to play at the Desert Inn in Lancaster and I fell in love with the place,” Tasby said. “You don’t have to be as afraid as in Los Angeles.”

* Finis Tasby plays Friday night at Smokin’ Johnnie’s, 11720 Ventura Blvd., Studio City, [818] 760-6631. No cover.

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Handy Winners: The W.C. Handy Award winners were announced last week and several are familiar to Valley blues club patrons.

The late William Clarke, who gigged frequently at B.B. King’s, the Classroom and Smokin’ Johnnie’s, posthumously won three awards: best blues harmonica player; best contemporary blues album: “The Hard Way”; and blues song of the year: “Fishing Blues.”

Guitarist Debbie Davies, who stopped by B.B. King’s in April, won for best contemporary female blues artist, while Rory Block, who visited the Universal City club last year, won for best traditional female blues artist.

The awards, named for blues pioneer W.C. Handy, are given out by the Blues Foundation, headquartered in Memphis. Other winners included Luther Allison, Bobby “Blue” Bland, James Cotton and Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown.