"Music used to be regional. A place had a defining sound that was unique in and of itself. It came from the struggles and stories of the people there. The rhythms came from what was in nature in that area. The stories came from the experiences- the work, the struggle, the joy- of life there. That still exists a tiny bit, but the immediate access to everything homogenizes culture. And I don’t think you can turn back the clock on…

"Everything affects everything around it, I think that's the nature of physics. A great piece of music will have a specific, if initially intangible, effect on anyone who hears it and it stands a chance to affect that individual's future actions for the greater good. Sometimes, it actually does this."

Mike Keneally: The Thing That Knowledge Can’t Eat…

"Follow your instincts, when it comes to creating music keep the outside sources at bay and listen to your inner voice."

Ruth Wyand: Guitar Routes, US Roots

Being diversified is Ruth Wyand’s specialty. Demonstrating guitar virtuosity with powerful fingerpicking, bottleneck slide and a warm alto voice Ruth plays a mix of Americana, jazz, blues,…

"As far as "what is key to a music life well lived"? I think if you're true to yourself personally and musically and have a good work ethic, are kind to those you work & travel with, and give your all to the ones close to you when you're home, that's a pretty decent way to try and go about it!"

Cindy Cashdollar: A Musical Slide Touch

Cindy…

"Blues is a very wide-ranging genre, much more than the general public might imagine."

Fiona Boyes: Blues in Her Heart

Fiona Boyes plays deep Blues, influenced by a myriad of traditional regional styles. She has carved an international reputation as a blues guitarist, bandleader, vocalist and songwriter. International reviewers have described her…

"Music is life -there is music everywhere, not just in the concert halls with instruments, but on the street corners, and certainly in nature - but you just have to listen for it...With that said, not everyone is cut out to be in the music business as a profession and doing your 'artistic thing' -AND- trying to make money, which is not easy and not for everyone (no matter how talented you are!). Whatever you do--enjoy the music above…

"Well, I just go with the flow. However I'm feeling at the moment when I'm playing."

Gail Ceasar: Guitar Woman Blues

Gail Ceasar is a self-taught Piedmont blues and bluegrass singer/guitarist, who through the help of the Music Maker Foundation is releasing an authentic blues album titled Guitar Woman Blues (2023). Floating…

"New Orleans is unlike any other place. It’s always growing in some way, shape, or form. When music is in any new age, New Orleans stands the test. It’s a place where the music lives in the streets, in the buildings, on the rooftops, and anywhere you can find people. That has always been the case. Now, people know that if the whole world dried up of its musical well, New Orleans would be the one place guaranteed to fulfill that thirst. They’ll always know…

"New Orleans music is a big label that covers many styles and that is because there are so many influences in our city. Check out our Los Hombres Calientes. In one album it can take you from Brazil to Haiti to the Dominican Republic to Cuba to Jamaica and to New Orleans. There is Funk, Rumba, Salsa, Jazz, Blues annd more all in one album."

Mark Samuels: Dance on The Basin…

"When I first saw Marcel Marceau perform and then met him personally, I was deeply touched by his humanity. His “art of silence” speaks across all languages, all ethnicities, more eloquently than words. He has profound understanding of human nature and the human condition, surprising and delighting us while implanting powerful insight into who we are and how we relate to each other and the world around us. He’s a storyteller in the most fundamental way that…

"Being part of the blues and rock counterculture has given me a more relaxed approach to life and a better understanding of people, their beliefs and cultures."

Gary Kendall: Maple Groove & Soul

Gary Kendall is one of the best-known bassists in Canadian Blues, having toured and recorded with the legendary Downchild Blues Band, 1979-83 and…

"I miss the meaningful lyrics, strong melody, and bass lines with stimulating chord progressions. I also miss reading the liner notes of an album to get a feel of the artist better. My hope is today’s artists would create great music that will have longevity and meaning. My fear is that the music of the past will get lost and not resurface. 

Quisha Wint: Eclectic Emotions &…

"Humility and gratitude immediately come to mind. To have commercial success in an endeavor involving music and the arts is nearly impossible without a bit of luck along the way. You do it because you love it; you must do it, but you'll experience massive amounts of disappointment along the way."

Fred Hostetler: The Lotus of The Blues

Fred…

"Well, I hope music can help people form relationships with those others that are as different from them as I am from someone like Taildragger; in my relationship with him, the subject of race is literally a  joke. We know each other well enough to know that we are truly more alike than different, because of the music."

Martin Lang: Old Good Days of Blues Harp…

"The music will affect everyone differently; as far as the socio-cultural implication, my hope is that the music affects people in a positive way-stirs something in their soul."

Douglas Avery: Pure Emotion of Music

Douglas Avery considers himself a lucky man able to live his dream as a musician. Born in Los Angeles, Avery got an early start…

"Blues music is enormously diverse, has gone through a century of change & development & will continue to change. The impact of the blues has and will continue to shift. On a simple level, the music brings people together, makes them equal, removes barriers & differences. That'll do for me!"

Paul Cowley: On The Blues Highway 

The…

"Blues knows no color at least not with the people I know we never talk about black or white some of the things making news today are not even talked about in my circles. The music binds us together."

R.D. Olson: The Real (Mr. Dynamo) Deal

R.D. "The Real Deal" Olson brings high-energy blues to fill your soul and move…

"I firmly believe that without music (and art in general), nothing substantial exists; no culture, no society, no true love and in the final analysis… no humanity!"

John Skyllas: The Keys of Music Language

John Skyllas born and raised in Athens Greece. He studied music at the Apollonium Conservatory, with a…

"I am very fortunate to have the ability to express myself through music. The intention is for the listener to feel my spirit and emotions through my playing and what is emerging from my soul. It is who I am. It is what I am feeling that day, and in my life experiences.  Music is a special part of my life, and is a big part of who I am. I will leave it up to others to decide how it relates to the meaning of their life."…

"Any real and authentic folk-art is in fact timeless, while popular styles are conditionally in a state of permanent changing due to the spirit of times. popular music, by example became a global phenomenon and is by now the strongest influence on the development of public taste. there will be always some interest in so called exotic folk styles, but those art-forms are possibly too individual and even idiosyncratic to become a…