"I think it’s a kind of boomerang. Culture self-nourishes. Literature, especially poetry, has rhythm and rhythm is music; music is also made up of lyrics in the songs. It is almost a loving marriage. The symbiosis of music and literary tradition shook the world, something that reflects in the life and work of Kerouac."

Jorge "Flaco" Barral: The Art To Be Artist…

"I hope that music retains some sort of value to people - both emotional of course but also regains some fiscal value too. The business model for recorded music is broken - too many people no longer pay for music."

Gary Fletcher: River Keeps Flowing

Co-founder and continuing member of the Blues Band with Paul Jones, Tom McGuinness and…

"Music, in general, has a huge impact on people, culture, and politics. The influence of the Blues is historically immense! From a dark history rooted in African-American slavery to British blues-rockers bringing the music to the spotlight; the music has since transcended era, race, and culture. It's brought people with completely different backgrounds together and has been a vehicle for expression."…

"I think it's had a strong impact on what goes on, because first of all the music speaks to the people, if it’s African-American music, say for example the young kids, they listen to rap, they’re speaking to people who know life-style, the same lifestyle, if there’s a message in it that they want to come across, people understand the message and they respond accordingly."

Robert Cray: That’s What I…

"Fado and Blues have the same mood and a way of expressing the soul."

Tercio Nanook: Suricata Crossroads

Born in the Azores Portugal, Tercio Freire aka Nanook is a Folk/Blues singer songwriter that started playing in Bars in all Algarve (South Portugal), an achieved in few years the status of one of the best Folk/Blues players in South Portugal…

"I like to bring people together with our music, and I like to let music heal. The musical language and exchange that naturally happens with our audience is important, but even more so, the emotion that is attached with the messages we deliver are real and delivered with soul, and that exchange comes back to us ten fold."

Victor Wainwright: Memphis Loud Railroad…

"Music highlights the beauty and the magic of each culture and it’s a way for people to connect emotionally to different kinds of societies."

Adam Ben Ezra: Crossroads Freedom

Double-Bass phenomenon, multi-instrumentalist and YouTube sensation Adam Ben Ezra; a man seemingly on a mission to bring his instrument from its status as a background note…

"Without American Roots music, there would be no blues music. The blues has given birth to many different genres. It all comes from the same DNA, the same lineage. We are all the same, in that sense."

Hurricane Ruth: Good Life's Soundtrack

Hurricane Ruth LaMaster is a vocal powerhouse. Hurricane Ruth earned her name because no one believed that…

"I think the blues community is just that, it really is a community of like-minded people around the world who share a passion for music – but more than that they are a loyal and caring bunch of people."

Dani Wilde: Blues, Folk & Love

Over the past years Blues and Country singer-songwriter Dani Wilde has performed at thousands of venues and…

"It certainly helped to gain social acceptance for black performers in the USA during the Civil Rights Movement and it also helped to bring the issues to the fore with songs like ‘A Change is Gonna Come’ helping society to understand the issues that were needing addressing. Blues also offered a wider voice to those members of society who were not able to attend the rallies and marches and helped by enabling them to feel involved by listening to the new…

"Technology had made making music much easier than in the past. The bad part of that is ANYBODY can do it! You don't need any instrumental proficiency, just an idea and some buttons!  I'm looking forward to the return of the days when actually PLAYING an instrument is cool. Then music will have a "soul" again."

Greg Boyer: Soul Cool Music

Greg…

"NOLA is saturated in music. It's in the homes, the streets, the clubs, the water, in the blood in the DNA. It's a passion a lifestyle."

Louise Cappi: Eclectic NOLA Gumbo

Louise Cappi, is an American Soul/Jazz singer & songwriter, recording artist & Bandleader. New Orleans is the native New Yorkers home. She is the child of the late great…

"I think music improves lives in all kinds of ways. It offers people therapy on their own terms. Most musicians are weirdos, some are jerks, a few are worse than that, but almost all music seems to have the potential to help players and listeners through hard times. Playing music can be a public service. Seems like the world would be a better place if every job was like that."

Deltaphonic: The Holy…

"Music has always had a strong impact on people. In the past, blues music has told profoundly personal stories, it has highlighted a number of life problems as well as dealing with issues of a major consequence including war. I would like music to venture down this path; unfortunately, this philosophy is a little lost today."

Federico Luiu: Walkin’ the Blues…

"Throughout history, music always reflects what is happening in society at that time."

Eddie Henderson: Dr. Jazzman

Eddie Henderson is one of today's top and most original jazz trumpet players. Henderson was born in NYC in 1940. His father sang with the Charioteers, and his mother danced as one of the Brown twins at the Cotton club. Louis…

"It used to be such a huge part of everyday life, I feel its been slightly de-valued these days. It makes me sad that most people younger than me will never own music, have a record collection etc. Music touches me more than anything in the world and that will never change for me and so many others."

Josh Smith: Blues Rock Dynamite Axe

Blues rock…

"Music is a great platform to share important messages and it does bring people together in a very deep way."

Mary Jo Curry: Modern Old School

There’s a sincerity to Mary Jo Curry’s singing. She’s not trying to show off her voice, she’s not trying to sound like someone else, she’s here to make you believe something – to feel something, to know in…

"Jazz doesn't go along well with separatism, nationalism and dictatorship. Of course, there is only so much you can do as an individual. Yet, we as musicians, have the job to stay true to our art and thus send a signal."…

"I guess what I miss from the funk and soul music of yesterday is the really warm sounds and feeling it had. The music back in the day was played on real instruments by human beings not computers and machines."

Milo Z : The Sound of Razzamofunk

He calls the music “Razzamofunk”, a combination of Rock, Rap, Jazz, Blues & Funk. The sound is…

"Music stirs the emotion in a powerful way, I would like it to encourage the good in people, I believe it’s important for artists to keep that in mind in this age of too much negative in our music and too much dissonance in our lives. Good music can give people a purpose, joy, and connection to others... even more of a connection when enjoyed with a good meal."

Muriel Anderson: Respect & Joy of…