“After four decades, I had become increasingly disgusted by the greed, the commodification of music, and, perhaps most frustratingly, the excessive political correctness that has gradually found its way into parts of the blues and jazz world.”

AG Weinberger: Sharing His Experiences …

“You can't really teach somebody the feeling and soul of the Blues. You can show them  to find the notes, but you can't give them the feeling.....If the Blues gets a hold of them... the feeling and soul will follow.”

Max Hightower: The Blues Chooses You…

“I believe Blues music fans are a very open and accepting group of people that interpret lots of styles of Blues. I mostly write about relationships and love, however reading the news each day, I was compelled to write a song from the point of view of a person living there.”

Brad Wilson: The Boundless Styles of…

“To me every human is included in "the people" and this includes higher government officials who intentionally create propaganda to sway the citizens. But once the citizens have received the propaganda we are in a new era, due to social media, where the citizens can spread their own take of the propaganda throughout the world. This new era is the main reason why the United States is so divided.”…

“Since I was eight years old, I’ve wanted to make people happy with music. New Orleans music is some of the happiest-sounding music on the planet. You could be singing about a Mardi Gras parade, a butcher shooting down his wife’s lover, or celebrating a departed loved one on their journey to the afterlife—it all sounds joyful. People want to be a part of it, and I want to be in dat number.”…

“ hope that some of the things in my lyrics get through to people. Sometimes I put little pieces of myself in there, so I guess that takes me back to question one: if you listen to my songs, it gives you an insight into the way my crazy brain works. Music is the first form of language we understand. It doesn’t matter what language you speak, you will always understand Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, and Etta James.”…

”The creativity is slow these days, the older players to me play with more passion.”

EJ Mathews: King of Backwoods Boogie

Texas native, and 2017 Living Blues Magazine’s Breakout Artist of the Year, EJ Mathews, schooled in the blues during early childhood by his…

“I love the blues and I've always sung the blues, so it’s a wonderful journey for me. I feel like we have a lot more female blues singers now than we used to. There is a new generation, a new breed of young blues artists coming in, and I feel that the legacy is still holding strong.”

Trudy Lynn: Lady Sings The…

“Yes. I think it is just being in the right place at the right time in my youth that allowed me to hear the great American musical artists of the 1950’s that influenced most of my favorite artists of the 1960’ and 1970’s.”

J.P. Reali: Keep on Blues Truckin’…

“I am not a musicologist, but I feel that blues has contributed similar aspects to Americana as folk and country music, but from its own unique perspective - lyrics emoting relatable daily life, as well as chord progressions and rhythms unique to the style. If Americana is the cook pot, then blues, folk, and country are the holy trinity of the gumbo.”…

“Young people don’t necessarily need to know who Albert Ammons was before they can fall in love with Boogie-Woogie. They just need to hear something that makes them feel something. If the music makes you smile, dance and want to move, it is alive — no matter when it was created.”

Katharina Alber: Let The Good Times Roll…

“Well, people like to label it as blues or gospel, but to me, it’s just the truth. It doesn’t matter what genre it is, as long as it is the truth, because that is what people want to hear. It has to be real.”

Robert Finley: Singing The Truth

Robert…

“Free improvisation is actually a wonderful way to get away from words and academic theory. Since I am employed in an artistic discipline such as music, I am not really required to do research in the traditional theory based manner. I am free to practice, record, perform, and develop my musical expression. Actually being an artist. It’s an enormous privilege that I try to honour.”

Tor…

“The blues is one of humanity's great storytelling traditions. It teaches empathy, connects communities and reminds us that joy and hardship are universal experiences. Preserving theblues isn't about preserving history; it's about preserving a timeless way of telling our stories and connecting people across cultures.”

Dennis ‘Salty’…

“Often times the success of music is dictated by it’s commercial value, and not the art and creation of the music. Soul music has been a vital part of my life so it’s important that my soul gives back to soul music”

Willy Jordan: The Voice of Bay Area Soul

Willy…

“Anyone that has ever listened to blues music knows how important Delmark Records has been to the genre. My earliest introduction to blues music was on The Delmark Record label. Magic Sam, JR. Wells, Jimmy Dawkins.Their Jazz Artists are equally impressive as well.”

Anthony Geraci: Where Were You…

“The Rhythm Room is a historic venue with a great stage, and it’s always exciting to play there. I’ve seen countless heroes on that stage, and it’s an awesome place to perform. It’s very cool to now have that venue as part of our own band’s history.”

Teskey: Live at The Rhythm Room…

“I hope in the future people will still appreciate music recorded by humans that have taken the time to learn to play and instrument, and have some understanding of rhythm, harmony, melody, and lyrics. My fear is that people will settle for an AI generated music substitute and not be able to tell the difference as the technology gets better and better.”…

“We aim to honour the blues masters whose shoulders we stand on, and to help preserve their legacy. At the same time, as we are part of the evolution and expansion of the art form in contemporary blues and blues rock, in our small way we are broadening and diversifying the audiences who come to appreciate blues-based music. Even if they don’t know it yet, everyone needs blues music in their lives eventually, for reflection,…

“Music should be healing. It should bring people together. Lord knows the blues came from real struggles back in the day, things we don't face now. But Lord also knows that the blues can land on anyone. Hard times come from life and the horribly unacceptable things we go through. We all have our story. If you don't have one, you are blessed.”…