"The Blues originated from the Black Community and described Black People’s hard times mainly due to racial discrimination. As a result, the Blues had – by default – a big impact to human rights as it motivated people, societies and authorities to adapt deterrent legislation. As a music idiom, the Blues had a vibe strong enough to inspire and be the base for modern music which is massively accepted and dominates audiences for 60 – 70 years now. Thus, the…

"Art and Culture are organically related with the progress of a certain society or a people. It’s not irrelevant that cultural progress goes hand in hand with social progress. When dealing with the culture of peoples, you are actually dealing with a peoples’ history."

Konstantinos Roumeliotis: Art of Living

Konstantinos Roumeliotis was born in the…

"Music is such a powerful language which transcends all communication barriers. If used correctly it can influence vast amounts of people by delivering the message you want. You have to be careful in what you imply because the result might not be what you intended. Many have been irresponsible in their choice of message, and many have been spot on. I personally want my music to uplift and or impart the truth as it is and help raise the consciousness of the…

"The music in the past was soulful, it was made from the heart. Nowadays, the focus is on commercial music and economic profit. I fear that technology will replace the great artists of the past, people who only played an instrument for fun and achieved amazing things. I worry that there will never be a new Louis Armstrong or Meade Lux Lewis again."

Wax & Boogie: Let The Good Times…

"For me, Blues music is my therapy. It keeps me sane in this sometime-y crazy world. The word BLUES is associated with being blue, depressed, sad, or not happy. Blues music is the total opposite. The music in blues makes you wanna dance, party, or sometimes makes you wanna get closer to your partner, make you laugh, make you cry from emotional songs, or cry out of pure joy. I would love it if blues affect all people in this way."…

"I prefer to focus on the great music of today and just learn from the past. My fears for the future are that there is so little monetary reward for artists that many give it up."

Eric Corne: Positive Vibrations of Sonic

Founder and President of Forty Below Records based in Los Angeles, Canadian Eric Corne is an award winning producer/engineer and…

"Music is life!! it’s entertainment sure, it’s always religion, meditation, lifeblood. Songs are living breathing entities, artists that are lucky enough and have their antennae out and collect songs get to share them to the world to do with them as they feel freely to do. It can power movements, replace tense conversations, bring people together from opposite socio and political backgrounds to dance it out anonymously in clubs and…

"Americans are proud of being American. Blues music originated in America. Blues music is the mother of nearly all the “popular” music we have today. So, let’s recognize this and hold the blues up to its’ rightful place as one of the greatest American creations."

Tim Gartland: Nothing But The Truth

Harmonica player/songwriter/singer Tim…

"I think it’s fair to say at least from my perspective most blues guys & gals' politics lean to the left. Blues emanates from black culture who struggled & suffered in America where there was a lot of racial tension."

Peter Veteska: Blues Train Running

After a long hiatus from the music scene, lead guitar man and vocalist Peter Veteska…

"What I miss most from the music of the past is the sound of actual live musicians playing together without the aid of modern technology. You can always tell when music has been generated from a computer and no matter how much you try it's impossible to replicate the sound of great musicians."

Steve Bingham: Soul Rhythm Groove

Steve Bingham is an…

"The best music should reflect the culture as well as move it forward in a positive direction. I want the act of sharing our music to "move" people physically and emotionally. If we can touch the audience, get them grooving and give them a positive experience that they remember or has affected or inspired them in some way we will have done our job."

Waterstreet Blues Band: Talkin'…

"That art depicts life. And sometimes. Art. Dip it. Art. Stimulates life. And sometimes. Art is life. It's like the relationship between lakes and the ocean. And the moon in the sky."

Marlon Hoffman: Rootsy-Rock Americana

Marlon Hoffman is a multi-faceted, Southern California-based, singer/songwriter keeping the music alive with his…

"I miss the legacy, the staying power. Jimi Hendrix, Otis Redding, Janis Joplin they are timeless! Their talents were so great. I'd like to look on the bright side for the future. Anyone can now be heard with their music being digitally distributed all over the world."

Reddog: Booze, Blues & Southern Grooves

Southern Blues…

"Blues music has always been the music of the marginalized and oppressed. It has always been political. Anyone who says otherwise, that it’s ‘just music’ and there’s no politics involved, is mistaken..."

Mike Nagoda: Slide Outside The Box

Mike Nagoda is an LGBT Blues musician from Toronto, Canada. He began learning the piano at age six, and nearly…

"Music is universal and ALIVE because it conveys the human experience without the need of spoken languages. Similar to what I already said, I enjoy that there is so much music out there today. But, conversely, so much music also means people tend to block out music without knowing it. We block out the music at the grocery store, or in waiting rooms. Wouldn't all music benefit if it weren't shoved down our ears all the time."…

"Blues & Jazz, creative music, is an important and necessary vehicle for expression of political views. Blues songs are about life, and they illustrate experiences, so they are perfect for political statements."

Julia A. Miller & Elbio Barilari

Delmark Records: Keeping The Legend Alive…

"I enjoy thoughtful lyrics set to good music and that’s very typical of old blues.  Some of modern popular music is quite interesting but unfortunately some of the lyrics are just crude and vulgar, and sometimes glorify violence and misogyny. The old-time blues singers wrote songs about the struggles of life, love, lust, pain and sorrow, and even revenge, but it was always thoughtfully done using clever references and double entendre. I worry that the…

"Blues is a cure for racism. Folk music give you a sense of global citizenship although it is considered usually a local thing."

Eduard Jimmy Matešić: Music Passion Key

One of the most prominent Croatian blues guitarists. Matešić has been professionally involved in music since 1970, when he recorded his musical beginnings in his native Zadar,…

"I hope that any art form speaks for itself. With music, because it’s such a universal language that touches and moves people all over the world, for all the ages of time, I hope that people can experience the music purely. I know that music can open people’s eyes and open people’s hearts to all kinds of racial and socio-cultural implications and realizations, so I would hope for the best in humanity in this way."…

"I want to people to understand that this music didn’t just appear, that it came from life experiences that were both happy and sad and formed cultures that used music as a mode of expression. I also hope that enjoying music of other cultures will open people up to be more understanding of the complex world we live in and the importance of peace and tolerance."

Bert Deivert: The Music of…