“The core quality I found in blues music is honesty. Blues doesn’t hide pain, struggle, joy, or triumph it tells the truth about life. I was drawn to how blues artists could take difficult experiences and turn them into something powerful and beautiful. That authenticity made me want to study the music, perform it, and help keep it alive for future generations.”…

“Many youngsters in the program often connect the blues to the genres they already listen to such as rap, pop and rock music. Blues is the root of all of those genres, and because of that, the younger generations are increasingly interested in learning blues music. So, no. I am not an exception now, although I did feel that way for many years growing up.”

Amin &…

“I suppose the immediacy of rock 'n' roll shapes what I do visually. Also, the inherent humanity and humour of it is a factor. There's a lot of humour in those old records - not necessarily laugh out loud stuff, but it's there, often just in the instrumentation.”

Kaiser George: The Blues Had a Baby and They Named It Rock &…

“Blues is the heart and soul of Music in America. It’s the source of it all. Country, Reggae, rock ‘n’ roll, rhythm and blues, hip-hop, soul, gospel, all have their roots in the blues. It is quite literally the source.”

Jason Gay: Mahalo, Use The Blues

Jason Gay is an accomplished American saxophonist,…

“Gospel and blues are both genres that speak to emotions and faith. Both have powerful rhythms and messages. They pour out from the deep of the soul and they sing to the world. We all feel both at different times along our paths … sometimes both at once.”

Sandy Carroll:…

“I miss not having a “middle ground” where musicians have time to really hone material. It seems like there just isn’t a place in the business for this type of organic development. The pace of everything has gotten ridiculously fast and faster.“

Greg Piccolo:…

“Be open minded and listen to lots of different styles of music and artists to gain inspiration. Try to figure out their concepts and approaches to understand what you are hearing. If there is a particular approach that speaks to you, try to apply it to your own playing with your own spin.”

Jane Getter:…

“Blues music reflects an individual's life experience. You can hear the depth of a person's soul when a true blues singer sings.”

Dave Thomas: British Blues Bridge 

Singer-songwriter, guitarist, and lifelong bluesman Dave Thomas stands as a…

“Blues is our music, our culture, our history. It has immense value and needs to be cared for. It's our treasure.”

David French: New York Blues Landscape 

David "Doc" French is an acclaimed American…

“The counterculture is exactly what the word implies—it’s about not blindly conforming to the strict rules and regulations of traditional society. Life isn't just about growing up, getting a standard job, getting married, and having babies. There is so much more to human existence than that, and the counterculture directly speaks to that freedom. At its core, it’s best summarized by those classic lyrics:…