"The joining of music and poetry influences the way information is received and perceived. A good musical riff will call the words up; an electric poetic phrase is music to the heart."

Pamela Twining: Dancer Of Rhymes…

"Blues music grew out of suffering, from chain gangs, slavery and cotton picking, so what you learn from it is how to express your feelings, especially those of suffering and pain."

Terry Cottam: World Music Trip…

"Blues is part of mankind’s everyday struggle, a part of life, like breathing."

Hard Luck Hopson: Breathin' Blues

Hard Luck Hopson was born May 25, 1960 in Reckless Disregard, Mississippi. He…

"Blues sunk into my heart and soul. Just as I had heard it the first time, Blues is the mirror of life, sometimes sweet, sometimes joyful at times desperate."

Herbie Goins: Soul of Joy, Heart of Music…

"The blues can be bittersweet; a mix of sadness, longing, and happy memories too, all at the same time."

Cindy Cashdollar: Slide On The Roots

Austin-based Dobro and steel…

"The blues is about giving voice to emotions through music and connecting with others."

Ilana Katz Katz: The Blues Of Underground

Musician, Author, and painter Ilana Katz Katz casts a…

"I sure do hope that there would be a greater appreciation for the blues. Especially amongst young people. I fear that this may not be the case."

Mark Telesca: Feels good, Doing Right

Mark Telesca…

"The blues I suppose means raw emotion to me, and I find that I can express myself through playing blues roots and blues based music."

Ben Poole: Rockin' The Blues

Twenty-five year old Ben…

"Music and poetry can affect your senses tremendously. They can both bring back memories and vivid memories at that. They can transport you into your own thoughts where your senses come alive and further open your mind."

Jake St. John: Roads…

"To me the blues is the foundational music of just about all modern contemporary music today. It’s the original “world” music."

Mike Osborn: Everything Flows

Michael W. Osborn was born in Illinois and…

"...in the future we hope people will come up with their very own version of music, regardless of whether it sells or not."

The Picturebooks: The Blues Is Dead, ...All Hail The Blues!

It’s not surprising…

"As any of us from New Orleans will tell you, it is our freedom of expression and joie de vivre that makes us unique."

Brint Anderson: The Saints' Riffs

More than forty years have passed since Brint…

"I think the Blues have a healing property."

Georgie Bonds: Riding With The Blues

Georgie “The Blacksmith” Bonds orn and raised in the Germantown section of Philadelphia, Georgie Bonds did not grow up…

"The blues teaches you about life, and how to tell a story. Blues songs are really short tales that are passed on from storyteller to storyteller."

Tino Gross: Howlin' Funky Pleasant

Martin (Tino) Gross…

"No matter how I’m feeling physically, mentally or otherwise, the instant I begin to play I immediately feel better. The blues is my drug of choice and I’m hopelessly addicted to it."

Low Society: Rebellious Blues & Roll…

"I feel very sorry for most of the young girls I see out there these days as I feel the wheel has gone backwards."

Elizabeth Barraclough: One Love, One Heart, One World, One Music

Elizabeth Barraclough is…

"All human induced suffering would end. Those individuals would recognize the patterns that create suffering for what they are."

Bruce Riley: Behold And See...And Beyond

Chicago-based artist…