"My travels have confirmed to me that music brings people together in ways that politics, culture or religion never can. I was in Austin, Texas in the early 70s when Willie Nelson brought the hippies and rednecks together. It was amazing. And I was blown away when I first went to Italy to find people who understood no English were huge Townes Van Zandt fans.  As long as music can continue to lead the way to our similarities as opposed to our differences…

"I just hope the generations of the future don’t forget the genre. There is a lot of great younger players climbing up the ranks. Hopefully they keep the blues tradition alive. I would like to see schools have more music classes and teach the kids about the culture of the blues. Today’s society tends to be too busy and fast paced. I miss the simpler times."

Lone Star Mojo: From Heart and…

"I miss the old musicians. They'll be no more Albert Collins or Freddie King. My hope for the future is to stay healthy and keep pushing."

Jim Suhler: Texas Scratch, Lone Star Blues

Jim…

"I think in general young people are looking for something to feed their spirit, with all the technology that we lean on, I think more, and more people are just looking for something real to hold onto. What could be better than the blues? So, it's actually a good time for BLUES and I'm very optimistic that it will. It will keep growing and new audience."

Sue Foley:…

"I think it's very important to have a healthy mix of technique and feeling. I feel like rock guitar leans more towards technical proficiency and blues tends to focus more on feeling and less technique. The problem with either approach is that too much technical proficiency can often start to sound a little too mathematical or academic and relying completely on feeling and ignoring technique can often sound boring and can be too stale or…

"The blues to me is a primal spirit of the human emotion."

Willie J Laws: Too Much Real Blues Deal 

Texas guitar slinger, songwriter and vocalist Willie J Laws creates music that is a soulful mixture of South Texas Blues/Funk, classic R&B, Country, Rock & Roll. William James Laws Jr. has over 30 years of performing experience and has…

"Roots music reminds listeners of the pleasure of hearing traditional instruments played by real musicians. Roots music gives the listener a sense of place."

Al Staehely: Somewhere in West Texas

Al Staehely's roots in the Austin music scene combined with his experience writing and collaborating with artists in Los Angeles (most notably as front…

"I know it sounds cliché, but clichés exist because of the truth they define. Music IS the universal language because I have experienced music connecting people who don't understand the language of the lyrics. I have learned through music that we are all one and it can unite us, so I believe in the power of music."

Rocky Athas: Rockin' The Blues…

"I think the lines that connect the legacy of Blues with Soul and continue to Garage and Psychedelic are a common need for self expression and experimentation."

Freddie Steady Krc: Texasologist Ph.D

Austin Music Awards Hall-of-Famer Freddie Steady Krc comes by his name honestly. This multitalented renaissance Texan has plied his musical wares…

"Blues music is about humanity. This music helps us get through the highs, the lows, the joy and the pain. I believe we need good blues music like we need good Healthcare."

Larry Lampkin: Funky Blues Man

Larry Lampkin is an American blues musician from Fort Worth, Texas. He is a passionate singer and unique guitarist who writes and performs songs…

"I think it is too hard for a human to understand who they are. Maybe somebody outside of them can look at you and maybe they understand who you are. But I think it’s very hard for us to have that kind of perspective ourselves. So, he had it right because that would be the way that you can express it, for example in my case blues music does reveal who I am, even to me."

Angela Strehli: The…

"My hopes is that a blues musician will be heroic as a player and a person and the money guys will back him all the way. Blues has resurgences. We just need a hero. My fear is that I won’t be able to pay my mortgage this month."

Michael Rubin: I’ll Worry If I Wanna

Michael Rubin was conceived in Memphis in 1969. He went to Woodstock in the womb,…

"When people hear our music, I want there to be a bit of a shock factor, but still have a familiar sound to it. Obviously, this music won't be everyone's cup of tea. That's to be expected when making a new band. As far as impact goes, it does vary in my opinion. For some people music is a necessity, and for some it's not as much."

Xanthan: Succubus Swing…

"I think every generation has a voice that’s expressed through the music, culturally as well and we’ve been through a lot. I’m glad to see, at least some recognition of humanity and the feeling that, you know, I would like to see all of this, nationalism, to me it’s one planet."

Edgar Winter: A Philosopher of Music…

"Music can bridge all barriers…race, socio-economic, political…it can be as simple as people forgetting their problems and differences for 90 minutes to enacting actual long term change. Let it move you, and a lot of other things will fall into place."

Mighty Mike Schermer: Just Gettin’ Good!

Mighty Mike Schermer was a fixture on the…

"I feel like we have a ministry of distraction. If I can provide people a few moments of joy or move folks out on the dance floor, then I have performed a great service as a worship minister. People go out to see live music performance to forget about their troubles and enjoy life and I am pleased to be a part of that."

Rev. Nathon Dees: Texas Outlaw Blues…

"I think that the music is expression for the people and there’s always some kind of a big trend going on, but I think the blues will always be around like jazz and like people that want to play music on their instruments live and I don’t see any problem with it stopping. I think it’s going to keep going and keep going and there’ll always be new people to pick it up and run with it. I think it’s just going to keep going no matter what the fancy trends are…

"It's the universal language. I absolutely HHHAATTEEE seeing "hate" groups use music to promote hate. Music is meant to heal, bring happiness and keep us on the right course."

Wesley Pruitt: Gypsy Soul, Blues Heart

For 20 years, Wesley Pruitt Band has delivered the ups and downs and the ins and outs of love and life, all neatly wrapped in…

"I hope that music and the many images I have will resonate with people from all walks of life, encourage them, cause folks to think about what they see and hopefully have a lasting positive impact that helps them view then climb new horizons."

Watt Casey, Jr.: My Guitar Is a Camera

Watt M. Casey Jr. is a professional photographer and cattlemen…

"I miss the impulsivity, the “live” energy, the attention to detail, the ability to choke interesting and different sounds out of analog instruments, and the childlike nature that we used to have about musical curiosity and the freedom that came with the Blues, Jazz, and other truly American musical art forms. My hope for the future is that the Blues will thrive in ways that is yet to be seen…that it will be magnified to the fullness of glory and that I…