MacLeod's playing landed him sideman gigs with George 'Harmonica' Smith, Big Joe Turner, Pee Wee Crayton, Eddie 'Cleanhead' Vinson, Lowell Fulson and Big Mama Thornton. Under their tutelage, he learned how to thrill and enrapture a crowd.

Over 28 years, 18 studio albums, several live records, compilations, a blues guitar instructional DVD and a live performance DVD, MacLeod has consistently earned raves. His songs have been covered by many artists including Albert King, Albert Collins, Joe Louis Walker and Eva Cassidy. Two of his songs are on Grammy nominated albums by Albert King and Albert Collins. His album "Brand New Eyes" with Fresh a subsidiary of Reference Recordings was released in March of 2011. In every note he performs and records, MacLeod subscribes to the rule-of-thumb learned from country bluesman Ernest Banks who instilled in him to "Never play a note you don't believe", and "Never write or sing about what you don't know about." Like the old masters who taught him, MacLeod's music expresses life and times via an intangible, elusive quality that may simply be a keen sense of what matters most. There is a philosophic and healing side to MacLeod's music and his stories that has helped others overcome the hardships of their lives. 

 

Interview by Michael Limnios

 

When was your first desire to become involved in the blues?

Back in the ’60s when I first heard the music in St. Louis

 

Who were your first idols?

BB King, Albert King, Big Bill Broonzy and Lightning Hopkins

 

Is “blues” a way of life?

It has been for me.

 

Which was the best moment of your career and which was the worst?

You making me laugh now. Best? Been alot of them. One was opening for BB King and then getting a chance to meet him after the show on his bus. Worst? Mmm-hmm? Years ago I didn’t get my pay when I worked the old Parisian Room in LA with my band. I paid my band tho.

"I never wanted to ever copy a musician- learn from them- but I think I’ve always known you got to be yourself with your music."

Is there any similarity between the blues today and the blues of the ‘30s & ’40s?

Well I wasn’t around back then... ( laughs ).  Yep, well there’s some fellas like me who are singer/songwriters/guitar players and you have some darn good bands out there too.

 

Which musician have you ever wanted to be?

I never wanted to ever copy a musician- learn from them- but I think I’ve always known you got to be yourself with your music.

 

What does BLUES mean to you?

It’s a way of life. It helped me overcome some troubles in my childhood and eventually helped me find a good way of looking at life.

 

Do you think the younger generations are interested in the blues?

Sometimes I don’t and then I start to meet young musicians who are very interested in the music. So if they start playing blues or infusing blues in their music this music will live on.

 

What do you learn about yourself from music?

Well, I guess you learn what is really deep inside of you

 

How would you describe your contact to people when you are on stage?

I’m old school like that. I like to entertain and reach out to the folks. I got that from the older blues guys I worked with when I was coming up.

"It’s (Blues) a way of life. It helped me overcome some troubles in my childhood and eventually helped me find a good way of looking at life."

Which is the most interesting period in your life and why?

Right now, cause it’s right now.

 

Why do you play the blues?

Because I love it and I love doing it.

 

What is the difference between acoustic and electric blues?

Well the obvious reason of course. As far as guitar players, I’d say that the acoustic players fingerpick alot more because they don’t have a band backing them up.

 

What experiences in your life make you a GOOD musician?

Well, being able to translate your life experience to music honestly and lots of practice.

 

What was the last record you bought?

Duke Ellington - Live at Newport

 

How was your recording hours with all your guests?

With guests like the ones I’ve had........ a ball!

 

What do you consider the world’s biggest problem of the world?

War.

 

What would you ask Skip James?

How’d you come across that tuning?

 

What mistake of music you want to correct?

People not playing with feeling.

 

You have traveling all around the world. What are your conclusions?

I like the people in the world...... the leaders? Well, I think we got to work on some of those folks.

 

Who are the followers of this tradition of the blues that you represent?

I see both young and old at my concerts.

 

Which of historical blues personalities would you like to meet?

Big Bill Broonzy and Tampa Red.

 

Do you remember something funny from studio with George 'Harmonica' Smith?

Goodness yes. We did a tune that George called ‘Sunbird’. It was about the space shuttle. During the song George blew a huge amount of air into the mic and damn near knocked Austin the engineer of his seat. Austin said,

“George what was that!? “ George replied “That was the masonic boom.” He meant to say the sonic boom.”

 

Have you recorded your new CD using a more old fashioned sound because you believe that there are no new paths of sound?

Naw, that’s just the way I do it. Go in and play.

 

To which person do you want to send one from your songs?

In the past I’ve sent songs to record companies and such. Eva Cassidy did Nightbird because she happened to hear it on the radio.

How was your relationship with Pee Wee Crayton?

Great. He was the godfather of my son Jesse.

"I like the people in the world...... the leaders? Well, I think we got to work on some of those folks."

How do you describe your sound and your progress?

My sound is me and my progress is where me has taken me.

 

Do you believe MUSIC takes subject from LIFE?

Absolutely.

 

Do you have a favorite blues song?

Way too many to mention just one.

 

Tell me about your meeting with Big Mama Thornton

Well, she was pretty tough you know, but she liked me. She came up to me after the first set I played with her and asked me, ‘You like me?’ I said ‘Yeah Mama, I like you.’ ( I was a little nervous there you understand )

She asked,‘What you like about me!? ‘ I said the first thing that came to my mind, I said, ‘Your eyes’ .

She said, ‘You like my what?’. I repeated ‘Your eyes’.

She turned to George Smith and said

“George do you know what lil Dubb said?, He said he likes Mama’s eyes!” George said incredulously, “He do?” I could do no wrong with Big Mama after that.

 

Do you know why the sound of the reso-phonic guitar is connected to the blues?

I think because they were louder then the regular guitar and the blues musicians in the 30’s were playing acoustically in juke joints and they needed to be heard.

 

How do you get inspiration for your songs?

From my life.

 

Who musicians and songwriters have influenced you most as a songwriter?

There’s alot. And they come from different places. Folks like Doc Watson, Jerry Butler, Jerry Reed, Jimmy McGriff, Kenny Burrell, Nina Simone, Tampa Red, Louis Jordan, Willie Dixon, that’s just a few.

 

Who were your mentors in travelling blues?

George Harmonica Smith was a great one. He always said travel light. And being in the Navy for four years gave me a good idea of how to fold and roll you know...

 

How did you feel when artists like Albert Collins & Albert King, chose your songs?

Great and honored.

 

Who are some of your favorite blues musician of today?

Man, there’s a bunch of them. I’d hate to mention a just a few.

 

How has the music business changed over the years since you first started in music?

Let’s see - Recording has changed quite a bit. And iTunes and the whole digital thing has changed the way people buy music.

 

What about as far as getting a song to an artist, how has that changed?

Not much I think except that a lot of artists are writing their own material now a days.

 

What advice would you give to aspiring musicians thinking of pursuing a career in the craft?

You’re gonna get headaches and heartaches in anything you do in this life, so the way I see it,  you might as well do what you like.

 

What do you feel is the key to your success as a musician?

Boy I don’t know, I guess that folks like what I do and I was lucky enough to learn from some of the best.

 

Doug MacLeod's Official website