"I think music is a great way of helping people be a part of their group’s place in the world, and also understand the place of other groups as well. Creating bonds between nations is a wonderful ability of music and I wish it were more widespread."

John McLean & Charles Barkatz:

The Beauty of…

"First of all, I think that it's important that people realize and understand the struggles and hardships Black Americans were going through when this music was first created, and how it literally influenced all American music to follow. Also, it's important for musicians of my generation to educate the younger generations on this topic, and how important Blues is for our history."

Hamilton Loomis:…

"The blues is music about deep feelings and emotions that can bring back memories, good and bad. It’s a healing music that helps us all get through life’s ups and downs so I think that’s why it will never die."

Mark May:

Music Crossroads, Southern Gumbo

Texas-based veteran…

"Blues music has made me see the world more realistic. Even though different places have different cultures, we go thru some of the same situations and have some of the same problems."

Andrew ‘Jr.Boy’ Jones: A True Bluesman

Andrew ‘Jr. Boy’ Jones was raised in Dallas, Texas, by his mother Gladys, who was a single parent after divorcing her husband…

"It (Blues) is a language unto itself that represents humanity at it’s core. Simple truths in life."

Shawn Pittman: Make It Right!

Although he’s often closely associated with the Lone Star State since originally taking up residence in Dallas, Texas in the early ‘90s, vocalist/guitarist Shawn Pittman is actually an Oklahoma native. Pittman was born…

"The Blues is true to life as we live it. Because it is deep rooted in the fiber of man, it is a part of living. All the situations you deal with daily are in the blues."

Andrew ‘Jr.Boy’ Jones: A True Bluesman

Andrew ‘Jr. Boy’ Jones was raised in Dallas, Texas, by his mother Gladys, who was a single parent after divorcing her husband…

"What I miss the most is the radio stations don’t play Jimmy Reed, Albert King and all them blues cats anymore and I wish they did."

Augie Meyers: The Lone Star Gentleman 

Meyers' style and his Vox Continental has become one of music's most distinctive keyboard sounds around. Augie can be heard with the Sir Douglas Quintet, Texas Tornados,…

"I miss the real live music in concerts, everything it's about computer and I worry for the new generations that can grow up thinking this is the only way to go. My hope is to sell out major stadiums around the world and my fear is technology will continue to divide us rather than bring us together."

Evelyn Rubio: The Soul of The Blues

Evelyn…

"All modern music after the 1800s has been heavily influenced and shaped by American Blues. Blues is the parent genre to almost everything we hear these days, everything from Jazz, to electronica, to Hip Hop, it all started at the blues. It has bridged many gaps socially, at least in the US, and has always been a champion for diversity and inclusion."

Jackie Venson: The Girl & The…

"I feel blues these days is really too broad. Most of what people refer to as the blues is nothing more than rock and roll. Contemporary blues for the most part has become too predictable. The important thing about the blues is to make it your own. This is very, very challenging."

Janky: The Power of Texassippi Groove

Texas-based…

"I would hope that the blues would continue to be primarily a storytelling medium, but I fear that “the blues” will morph and “evolve” into more commercially-appealing “blues-rock” with little to no reference to the traditional musical structures and storytelling qualities, and that the importance of lyrics will degrade into simplistic and meaningless stock “blues” cliches that serve only as a mere backdrop to endless instrumental noodling and unemotional…

"I think it’s an indispensable part of our lives. We couldn’t be here, if it wasn’t for all of the music that came out of the south, the music that came into this country through Louisiana to the North Coast. That’s where the blues music came in."

Delbert McClinton: Ulysses Of American Roots Music

Tall, Dark, & Handsome (2019, Thirty…

"Music is very powerful and can make people forget their differences and shake their booty together."

Sparky Parker: Blues n' Rock In The Dark

Eric “Sparky” Parker wears his Texas blues-rock guitarslinger credentials on his sleeve, possessing the grit, drive and talent needed to stand tall in the eternally-competitive Texas music scene. His guitar…

"Our world has been shaped by the blues. Our Music evolved from it. Slang, attitude, lifestyle. Blues is a catalyst and it should be treated as sacred. The black community gave the world an incredible gift in the Blues and it should be honored as such. I think Blues and the story telling it inherently brings can change the world."

Cheyenne James: Burnin' Americana Blues…

"These days, things politically seem SO BAD that our music offers some relief and solace and alternative. Maybe we need less ‘big’ and ‘mega’ and ‘corporate’ and more ‘little’ and ‘local’ and ‘friendly’."

Mark "Kaz" Kazanoff (The Texas Horns):

Let The Lone Star's Good Times Roll…

"Music reflects society and hopefully it informs and educates people encouraging them to act in the best interests of our little planet in our little universe."

Glen Clark: The Soul of Lone Star

Born in Fort Worth, Texas, Glen Clark (keyboards, guitar, vocals) studied music at North Texas State University. He moved to L.A. in the seventies where…

"I miss the idiosyncrasies in peoples playing and singing. Nowaday's any quirks that an artist has can be smoothed over with a couple of pro-tools edits. I miss the weirdness. Carolyn Wonderland once told me that people's goofiness is their most interesting quality. I believe that."

Hadden Sayers: Dopamine Machine

Veteran…

"I don't think modern music would be the same without the music and philosophies of the Psychedelic culture. Psychedelic culture has influenced music still to this day."

Bubble Puppy: Rockin' (Lone) Star

Bubble Puppy, the 1966 Texan Psychedelic Rock Band best known for their hit song, Hot Smoke and Sassafras, are back with original…

"Blues people are basically very friendly and mostly enjoy celebrating to this music. The Blues is one of the greatest American art forms.  I’ve made a lot of friends in the Blues Community from the Blues Cruises, which I’ve done 15, to the Blues Foundation and it’s awards, which I’ve attended probably ten or so, to all the great festivals all over the world."

Tony Braunagel: Rhythm &…

"Soul, Blues, R&B, Rock and Roll and Jazz music has brought people from all over the world together. A Universal language that we can speak and communicate with each other. Beautiful!"

Joe Sublett: Lone Star Saxophone 

Joe Sublett's Texas tenor saxophone sound has been heard on CDs by The Rolling Stones, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Eric Clapton, Ryan…