Singing The Blues, A U.S. Envoy Hopes To Boost Ties With Ecuador

Shortly before taking the stage at a bar in Quito, Ecuador's capital, the local band Samay Blues plugs in for a sound check.

Among the audience are a number of Americans. That's because the word is out: U.S. Ambassador Adam Namm will be sitting in on keyboards.

"I'm glad to get out of the office once in a while," Namm tells a patron. "Thanks for coming."

In a region where many left-wing leaders are hostile to the United States, Namm has found a novel way to reach out to his host country.

The top U.S. envoy to Ecuador took his first piano lesson at age five. After joining the U.S.



from Rhode Island Public Radio http://ift.tt/1zwz1Rd