"I do think music is a direct reflection of what’s going on in the world yesterday, today, and tomorrow. I also believe with a powerful song you can sway the direction of a culture, but few have ever done that."

Hector Anchondo: All Directions Blues

Hector Anchondo doesn’t just play the blues— he lives and breathes the blues. At 16-years-old, the…

"I believe the music we play at it’s best makes people feel good, want to get up and move, and is an honest, no frills expression of the human experience."

Richard Laitaile: In A Roomful Of Blues

Richard Laitaile (tenor & alto sax) joined Roomful of Blues in 1970 and was there at the beginning of what has become the most legendary…

"Music is the closest we get to the Divine. I would like music to bring people together, make them happy, compassionate and alert."

Foko Bouklis: Heaven vs Hell 

Foko (Fokion) Bouklis is a guitarist and composer currently living and working in Thessaloniki, Greece. Back in 1981, Foko moved to the US to study at Berklee College of…

"Blues music has made me see the world more realistic. Even though different places have different cultures, we go thru some of the same situations and have some of the same problems."

Andrew ‘Jr.Boy’ Jones: A True Bluesman

Andrew ‘Jr. Boy’ Jones was raised in Dallas, Texas, by his mother Gladys, who was a single parent after divorcing her husband…

"Writers try hard to put into words what musicians express through their voices and instruments – a lot of them wish they could play, and since they can't they try to get close to the power of music with their words."

Al Basile: Words, Music & Rhy(th)ms

Al Basile grew up in a park in Haverhill, Massachusetts. He graduated from Phillips Academy…

"This music is healing and can bring people together. There is way too much divisiveness happening today. We can come together under music, and celebrate all the things we have in common – being decent human beings. I want them to get happy, feel free, get healed, feel amorous, dance and let go! Music should allow you to freak out without being judged. Come to a show and sing LOUDLY!  I’ll sing with you!"…

"Music has had a tremendous impact on social awareness and pop culture. Two cases in point when I was growing up: Bob Dylan had a huge impact on raising awareness during the turbulent 60s that still resonates today. The Beatles changed the way young men looked worldwide. I believe music should inspire, uplift, invoke depth of feelings, and at times bring joy to peoples' hearts."

Gregg Martinez: Bayou…

"As far as Society and Culture with Rock, Blues and related styles I think the past provides perspective. You had the blues originating from the south, out of human suffering, poverty and oppression and it almost became a language that spread because it resonated with anyone who ever felt pain like that. Or any pain at all for that matter."

Jeremy Edge: Rock n' Blues…

"I want my music to impact people emotionally, I want to get into their soul, I want to be in their heart and in their emotions, I want to connect with them physically and emotionally, I want them to be a part of my show and feel like they are close with the band. I want to connect with them like they know us personally."

Jeff Fetterman: Southern Son…

"I think that Blues is essentially American music created by Afro-American descendants by means of expression, solace and escape from terrible conditions of slavery and segregation suffered by the hands of European and North-Americans white people. These conditions have changed in a very good measure and the music as a way of expression It don’t have much relation with those conditions."

Javier…