"It’s very important to preserve the blues, due to its historical role that it plays as a generator of many of the current rhythms and subgenres that have been derived from it, in popular music. It’s much more than just a musical genre and has become a culture throughout the world."

Jose Luis Garcia Fernandez:

Blues a la Carta & The…

"Es importante preservar el blues, por su papel histórico que juega como generador de muchos de los ritmos y subgéneros actuales que se han derivado a partir de él, en la música popular occidental. Es mucho más que solo un género musical y se ha convertido en una cultura a lo largo y ancho del mundo."

José Luis García Fernández:

Blues a la…

“Blues connects with all people who can feel sorrow and joy. The best way to fight off feeling the blues is to listen to the blues. The best blues music combines technique and feel. A person can learn how to play blues licks, just like a person can learn to play classical music from sheet music.”

Jeff Dale: What It Is? Blue Wave…

“Because it is beautiful, timeless sound, that is full of feeling… with a haunting quality that speaks to the spirit. The Bentonia blues is a kind of music that flows through the performer - it thins the veil between dimensions and connects us to something greater than ourselves.”

Ryan Lee Crosby: Blues at the Blue Front…

“I have learned about my heritage and what my dad and Junior were trying to pass on to me by teaching me to play music. Playing the blues means everything to me. It is a part of who I am, where I come from, not to mention it is how I feed my family so it is deeply ingrained in me.”

Garry Burnside: Hill Country Blues Time…

“I have so much respect for those who came before me, and I’ve had a lifelong obsession with both blues and soul… I have so many influences at this point that they all kind of merge together to create my own sound. It’s an amalgamation of so many different influences.“

Yates McKendree:…

“I miss how the musicians were more accessible back in the 70's. You could walk into their dressing room because the door was open and strike up a conversation with Buddy Guy and Jr. Wells. I hope the torch will continue to be passed on for the blues to the younger generation. I have faith in the future generations, I fear that we will not be able to pass this beautiful earth on to the children in a healthy…

"I miss the rawness of the old recordings. I don’t mind hearing mistakes, if the performance delivers the feeling it’s designed to."

Kevin McKendree: The Rock House Roll

Kevin McKendree was born with an inherent, obsessive love of music. He began to play the piano at the age of three. Teaching himself by ear, listening to records by Little…

“Honestly, I think almost all music created in the 20th and now the 21st century has a lot to thank the blues for. It’s hard to find any music that isn’t somehow influenced by blues music.“

Paul Pigat: Cousin Harley Plays the Blues…

"I believe music can heal and educate people. Music can be used for social change and can help break down walls bring people together."

Tom Hambridge: The Real Power of Music

Tom Hambridge is a Four-time Grammy™- winning producer, songwriter, & drummer for his production work on three of blues legend Buddy Guy’s most critically acclaimed…

“As a band we believe the blues genre isn’t doing enough to attract a younger more diverse audience. With these new songs we kept the blues at their core, and expanded it with rock, soul, funk, and an “in your face” sound.”

Piper & The Hard Times:

Let The Good Company…

“The blues is made with soul, love and anger at the same time. And It’s truthful. People identify with something truthful. And of course, it’s so good to listening to!"

Artur Menezes:

Covered All the Shades of Blues 

Based in Los Angeles, Brazilian musician Artur has been touring the US…

“Blues is the root, the blueprint of rock n roll, soul, hip hop, everything. It’s the sound of survival, of struggle, and of truth. Preserving it means keeping those stories alive. I think there are many roles that music plays in today's society; It brings people together from all around the world, brings laughter and joy and is a sturdy friend that you can always lean on.”…

“Music’s role in society is to bring people together through commonality/community, and the way to truly do that (in blues or any other genre), is to get back to basics and tell a solid, relatable story. I often introduce my guitar to the audience as a ‘life story machine,’ and it is. When those stories connect, it’s magic.”

Chris Vincent:…

“I wish people would listen to the lyrics as well as the music. I hope that is awakening now again in these difficult times and perhaps change our view of what is going on in the world, as well as here in the USA.”

Mary Ann Casale: Where I Belong…

"There are so many varieties of music today that I think there is something for everyone. I hope that people who listen to my records understand the importance of living the human experience. Life is short so embrace it all, the good and the bad. Without hard times, we can’t appreciate the good times, so I try to approach music with that same self-reflection and a little humor mixed in. Hopefully that concept is something the listener can connect with. I’ve…

"The balance between technique and soul is an important component of the blues. You have to have technique to execute the performance and you have to have soul for the music to be felt. So, in a strange way you only want to get so proficient on your instrument. Too much technique will take away from the music. Soul comes from experience and the more you have the more soulful your sound will be."…

“However, I prioritize soul – technique is only a tool for expressing emotions and feelings. I don't focus on correctness and consistency; I'm interested in developing and discovering new possibilities for the instrument as my means of expression.”

Krzysztof Toczko (pARTyzant):…

"Music and art are always moving. The artists who created the blues of the past lived very different lives from those today. It is truly mind blowing this awesome music that came out of such hard times, deprivation, struggle, racism, and so on. WOW. One of America's greatest art forms was created by people who were among most overlooked, oppressed, discriminated against and terrorized. I think blues music is so powerful in it's power to transcend,…

"A lot of songs can be inspired by social or current events. I want music to be something that takes the listener back to a familiar place or person, when they hear that song or music again."

Rafe Klein: Cool (Rock n’) Blue(s) Shoes 

Veteran rock ‘n’ rollers with the blues in their hearts, The Name Droppers, have toured the world…