“Poetry and music are the lifeblood of human beings, and a society without those is inhuman. I assume that poetry and music are examples of free expression, and in that respect are the canary in a coal mine. If they’re diminishing or being extinguished it’s a sign the country is filling with the lethal gases of authoritarianism.”

Steven Gray: Counterculture To…

“The most important thing: is to create the poetry and music for your own self-development, to make life worth living for you, to inspire others that life is worth living for them - and to earn a living from it if you can. If you can't, do it anyway and do something else to make a…

“Music is life, and folk/roots/blues music gives us some of the most profound, soulful, and beautiful expressions of life.”

Brian Campbell:

Let’s Talk about the Planet in Fire…

"Jazz was my generation’s original inspiration. It was American classical music and the backdrop to the Beat Generation. Psychedelic rock soon became the definitive music of my generation. The psychedelic dance palaces like Chet Helm’s Avalon Ballroom, Bill Graham’s Fillmore Auditorium, Straight Theater and more obscure venues like California Hall and Western Front were imitated all over the world."…

"The world is a melting pot of love, hate, joy, sadness, and everything in between.  I chose the path of enlightenment, a long, winding road with many forks and no shortcuts."

A.D. Winans: San Francisco Blues

A.D. Winans is a native San Francisco award winning poet and writer. He is the author of sixty books and chapbooks of poetry and prose,…

"With the abundance of everything fighting against it, it’s difficult to get beyond personal revolution. But I believe it’s still possible. In my own lifetime, we’ve seen remarkable shifts in societal attitudes and values, reflecting the power of grassroots movements and individual enlightenment. It seems the government, the systems, are much behind the individual minds. They say that AI will change everything. I’m interested to see…

"Don't overthink. Don't try to imagine what the viewer, listener, or reader understands. Keep it pure. Don't dismiss the irrational. If you understand your own work entirely it is probably not very good - and always woo the muse of the odd!"

M.A. Littler: Creative Force Blues

M.A. Littler, a German/South African writer and filmmaker has written…

"His poetry was an extension of his life and his philosophy: Live life to the fullest, be real about your feelings, express yourself honestly, and do not compromise your art!"

Stuart Z. Perkoff: An Archetypal Beat Poet

Stuart Z. Perkoff (July 29, 1930 – June 24, 1974) was an American poet, painter, collage artist and a central figure of the Venice…

"Open mindedness, hard work and dedication to your craft, gratitude, humility and confidence. It’s all about the hang, and being in the present moment. Taking time to talk with the people you meet. Whether you’re at home practicing, traveling at all hours of the night or on the stage."

Scottie Miller: Words, Notes, and Music

Carnival…

"Emotional intelligence work was key to whether I was living life well as a human being, in respect to specifically doing no harm to others, or to myself. So, from my perspective, a “life well lived” isn’t a matter of amassing wealth, fame, notoriety, power, 40 acres and a mule, a carbon-negative energy producing self-driving car or smart home, or having a few shelves, an entire library, devoted to your archives. A life well lived is one paying down…

"Keep dreaming the big dreams, but don't forget to take out the garbage."

George Wallace: A Rebel With A Cause

George Wallace is writer in residence at the Walt Whitman Birthplace, author of two dozen chapbooks of poems, editor of Poetrybay and associate editor of Great Weather For Media. A New York City poet, he travels throughout…

"I think music has a greater impact than poetry because you cannot dance to a poem, I have tried. Not that many people care about or read poetry, which is why the small press exists. With the Internet anyone can start a magazine, digital or Print On Demand. Music puts a couple together in a romantic embrace. At poetry readings, most people just want to read their shit and hit the road. Someday maybe things will get better."…

"You’ve got to understand a culture quickly to get what you want or need. The earth is in a terrible fix. Water to drink is a Huge issue. There are saints and assholes everywhere."

Andy Clausen:

The Blues Stories of the Beat President

Andy Clausen was born Andre Laloux in a Belgian bomb…

"It can give a troubled heart words of solace, and if one is attentive, a way to give voice to one’s feelings.  It can become a journey of friendships, appreciation of great skill in one of the oldest arts, and if one is persistent, perhaps to be humble and kind.  No wants on this poet’s part—float your boat with poem down the stream, and be content with wherever it goes."

David Cope: Big Scream…

"Know yourself. Yes. It's the same thing. Be yourself, knowing yourself, ultimately. And then what is that? What does that mean? You know that, and you think it is simple. Well, it is not that simple, but it's the most powerful and potent, that's what we're here to do, to be absolutely ourselves. And by being ourselves, we come to know the world."

Joy Harjo: Muscogee…

"I learned to be open to the chance, it made me want to “follow my inner moonlight”, express my feelings without being afraid and live my life to the fullest. Of course, “On the Road” brought in the forefront the technique of Bob prosody… More importantly, it taught me the meaning of friendship and it instructed me to try to listen to the music of the words, always underlying though seemingly latent, just like the music of the…

"I’ve learned that all perspectives are definitely not equal, that culture is the quality of life. Love and respect are most important, the sin of pride is the most dangerous, common courtesy is a given. To love and be loved is all. I’ve never personally had anything to complain about besides social conditions. I’ve learned it’s too easy to be weak and decisiveness is key. Class struggle and solidarity show the way to a better world. I’ve learned that…

"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…

"I think good writing helps make people feel there are other people in the universe with the same worries, loves or concerns."

Mike James: Americanized Ghazals

Mike James is the author of twelve poetry collections. His most recent books include: First-Hand Accounts from Made-Up Places (Stubborn Mule, 2018), Crows in the Jukebox (Bottom Dog, 2017),…

"The Nuyorican Movement has enlightened other poetic and artistic movements with the raw truths of life lived in urban landscapes; whether real or imagined."

Nancy Mercado: The Passion of Nuyorican Poetry

The recipient of an American Book Award for Lifetime Achievement and named among the Frederick Douglass 200 on the anniversary of Douglass'…