"Blues, Gospel, Folk will always be here. Not enough off the old Blues people left take care of them. Lotta good folks doing that." 

Buddy Flett: Southern Blues Cat

Buddy Flett singer/songwriter/guitarist of the Bluebirds resides in Shreveport, LA and started his career in 1975 at the legendary Lake Cliff Roadhouse and the infamous Bossier Strip where the likes of Elvis Presley, Hank Williams, Sr., "Gatemouth" Brown and Hank Williams, Jr. all performed. Buddy was a founding member of A-Train, a very successful Blues/R&B band during the late 70's and 80's throughout the South. Buddy has written songs that have been recorded by John Mayall, Percy Sledge, and many others.

He is also featured performing an acoustic solo of LeadBelly's "No More Cane on the Brazos" in the Music Documentary on Louisiana, Robert Mugge's "Rhythms n Bayous". Buddy toured with Kenny Wayne Shepherd on his "Ten Days Out: Blues From The Backroads" Tour featuring collaborations with the greatest names in blues: Jerry "Boogie"McCain, Cootie Stark, Neal Pattman, Buddy Flett, B.B. King, "Gatemouth" Brown, Bryan lee, John Dee Holeman, Pinetop Perkins, Henry Gray, Calvin Jones, "Wild Child" Butler, Willie "Big Eyes" Smith, "Cool John" Ferguson, "Steady Rollin" Bob Margolin, Lazy Lester and Noah Hunt.

Interview by Michael Limnios

What do you learn about yourself from the blues and how do you describe Buddy’s sound?

Being a guitar play I thought the Blues Cats were the best, when learn lyrics I thought they preach the truth.
My sound is B.B., Freddie, Elmo, Mr. Hubert, STAX, Keith, Leadbelly, and own.

From whom have you have learned the most secrets about the blues?

The old Men sharing knowledge...

How and where do you get inspiration for your songs?

Songs come from everyway, conversations, road trip, and observations. 

Why did you think that the blues lyrics continues to generate such a devoted following?

Good lyrics are like a good short story. 

Which was the best moment of your career?

Ten Days Tour with Kenny Wayne Shepherd was best  

What is the “feeling” you miss most nowadays from the A - train era?

A train was a good run   

What advice would you give to aspiring musicians thinking of pursuing a career in the craft?

Don’t do it for money sometimes it comes lotta time in don’t 

Are there any memories from Bluebirds, which you’d like to share with us?

Liked playing Memphis a lot with BlueBirds 

Are there any memories from the road with the bluebirds?

We had an old van, old amps and guitars; it was a cool trip, got to open up for John Lee Hooker in Lil Rock.

Do you remember anything fanny or interesting from Greece?

I liked Greece good fans great food they like music.

Which memory from Kenny Wayne Shepherd makes you smile?

On the Ten Days tour Kenny would bring us at one a time then big last set Him and Mr Hubert were goin after each other. Mr Hubert played some lick Kenny and I look at each other, WHAT WAS THAT! 

Tell me a few things about your experience on the road with Pinetop Perkins, Hubert Sumlin, "Big Eyes" Smith, and the others old Blues cats.

First bus and second bus I was on the second bus all the old cats I will did was drink coffee and laugh Pinetop saw a McDonalds we had to pull off get him a burger Mr. Hubert, Buddy can you get me something too.

What’s the best jam you ever played in? What are some of the most memorable gigs you've had?

After the "Ten Days tour" Mr. Hubert took be out as his second guitar player that was cool. A-Train, and BlueBirds played around the south crazy times I was young

What is the best advice a bluesman ever gave you?

Don’t gamble with the Bands money.

Some music styles can be fads but the blues is always with us. Why do think that is? Give one wish for the BLUES 

Hard question, Blues, Gospel, Folk will always be here. Not enough off the old Blues people left take care of them. Lotta good folks doing that. 

Do you know why the sound of slide is connected to the blues?

The Mississippi guitar player had a lot to do with that. Robert Johnson, Elmo James I like open tunin’ slide Blues.

Make an account for current realities of the case of the Southern blues scene.

It hangin’ in there, the festivals are nice, Bill Wax show is great.   

Buddy Flett at Myspace