"Music is a powerful emotional vehicle for expression of human feelings, and therefore will always be intertwined with all aspects of the human existence."

Sallie Bengtson: A Heart Full Of Blues

NOLA BLUE, INC. was formed in 2012 by Sallie Bengtson, who holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from Albright College.  Combining her 30 years of business experience with her enthusiasm and passion for music has proven a dynamic force in the blues community. As Artist Manager for Benny Turner since 2013, Sallie provided strategic oversight and management of his transition from career sideman to front man, including the release of four albums, one autobiography, and key festival appearances including Chicago Blues Fest, Ann Arbor Blues Festival and Lucerne Blues Festival. She continues to provide comprehensive management and strategic planning to document, support, and preserve his extensive blues legacy. The Nola Blue Records label was established with the 2014 release of Journey by Benny Turner. In the ensuing years, the catalog has grown to a total of 15 albums, including those from blues legacy artists Cash McCall and Frank Bey. All My Dues Are Paid, the label’s second album by Bey, received a posthumous GRAMMY nomination for contemporary blues album of the year (2020). Artists and projects that have received Blues Music Award nominations include Benny Turner, Frank Bey, John Németh, and Clarence Spady. In 2017, SURVIVOR: The Benny Turner Story, was published. An oral history of Turner’s life, SURVIVOR chronicles his birth and early childhood in Gilmer, the family's move to Chicago, and the ultimate birth and development of his career in the gospel, R&B and blues genres.

(Sallie Bengtson of NOLA Blue Records & Blue Heart Records / Nick Gould Photography)

In 2019, Sallie conceived and produced the inaugural Lone Star Blues and Heritage Festival held in East Texas not far from where Benny Turner and his brother, the late Freddie King, spent their early years and were first exposed to the blues.  A celebration honoring Turner’s 80th birthday, the three-day festival was a showcase of the finest in Texas blues music, including Milton Hopkins, Trudy Lynn, The Keeshea Pratt Band and many more. Governor Greg Abbott of Texas provided official written recognition of this milestone and Turner's many contributions to music and music history. NOLA Blue's much anticipated new album from Benny Turner, titled "BT" (Release Day: October 18th) is a musical walk down memory lane from one of the last living links to Chicago's gospel and electric blues scene in the mid-fifties and beyond. On his fifth album on Nola Blue Records, Benny celebrates the many special connections made in a music career spanning more than six decades!

Interview by Michael Limnios                 Special Thanks: Sallie Bengtson

How has the Blues and Soul music influenced your views of the world and the journeys you’ve taken?

My love of blues and soul has led me to explore and understand the origins of the music, both geographically and historically, to an extent that I otherwise might not have. Some of my favorite cities are favorites because of the music I've enjoyed there, and some of my most memorable travel experiences have been directly linked to music events. I think in a broad sense, blues and soul music provides the soundtrack to my life - the highs, the lows and everything in between. It's an integral part of my daily existence.  

What do you learn about yourself from the Blues people? How has the music influenced your views of the world?

Overwhelmingly, I have gained a much broader life perspective through immersion in the blues and its history. Hearing stories of those whose lives were influenced both directly and indirectly as a result of slavery, racism and oppression in America quickly brings those school history lessons into sharp perspective. It also gives me insights into the ongoing current race-related struggles in America in a way I wouldn’t have otherwise had. I find it both heartbreaking and tragic, and it only makes me redouble my efforts to support and uplift our beloved blues men and women as much as I can.

At the same time, I think that feelings such as sadness, despair and hopelessness are universal emotions of the human experience regardless of race or gender. There are seemingly countless factors that can contribute to those “blue” feelings on an individual level. 

"I’m proud to be a female label owner, but at the same time I don’t believe it exclusively defines me. I’m so fortunate that my very first corporate work experience was overwhelmingly positive in this regard, and it laid a strong foundation for my confidence as an individual, rather than exclusively as a woman. Certainly, as a demographic group, women are faced with challenges, barriers and perceptions, but I don’t think they’re unique to the music industry." (Photo: Sallie Bengtson & Benny Turner, Memphis TN)

What were the reasons that you started a Blues/Roots label? What is the story behind the name NOLA BLUE?

I actually started my company and named it Nola Blue before working in the blues & roots music industry! When forming my corporation, I needed a name, and combining my favorite place with my favorite music had a really nice ring to it. When my original endeavor ended and I found myself at a professional and personal crossroads, I decided to follow my passion and work with the music that I love.

I began my “blues work” with the goal of writing a book about bluesman Benny Turner’s life story, which I had always found to be very interesting and something that should be documented and shared. It was during the course of that research and development process that I became intrigued with the business of making and selling music, and figured it would be an important companion to the autobiography already in progress. Suddenly a whole new world opened up for me; a world in which I could use my business education and experience combined with my passion for blues music and really flourish in an impactful way, both for artists and for my own personal and professional satisfaction. It was a pretty incredible epiphany at a time when I really needed something positive to cling to. Ironically, “having the blues” was and still is a very good thing for me!

Why do you think that NOLA BLUE Records continues to generate such a devoted following, since 2014?

We were fortunate to launch the label with an artist of the caliber and legacy of Benny Turner, which immediately helped generate attention while we worked to establish our reputation. Our focus on the individual musician(s) and story behind the music was as important from the beginning as it remains to this day, and has also become a hallmark of what we offer. I believe that those things working in tandem with our passion and sincere commitment to each project have developed into a very special brand in today's market.

"Over the past ten years, I've noticed that the only constant in the music industry seems to be change. The unique demographics of the primary blues audience adds an interesting twist, making predictions even more challenging. I think the best answer I can give is that staying aware of and adapting to the changes to the extent possible is essential in order to survive." (Photo: Sallie Bengtson, a music aficionado with a heart full of blues with Bobby Christina)

Artists and labels will have to adapt to the new changes. What are your predictions for the music industry? How do you think the music industry will adapt to it?

Over the past ten years, I've noticed that the only constant in the music industry seems to be change. The unique demographics of the primary blues audience adds an interesting twist, making predictions even more challenging. I think the best answer I can give is that staying aware of and adapting to the changes to the extent possible is essential in order to survive.

What has been the hardest obstacle for you to overcome as a person and has this helped you become a better label owner?

I think that getting divorced when my son was four years old and as I was just starting a new business was the hardest obstacle I've faced. I was mentally and emotionally drained, yet had to keep going because a very special young person needed his mama's strength and stability, and the business was relentless in its demands on my time and energy. It sounds like a cliché, but I both learned and proved to myself just how strong and resilient I am when needed, and that kind of realization is a powerful tool. Being a small business owner, especially in the music business, can be very intense in its demands for my time and focus across multiple tasks and deadlines simultaneously. I know that I can do what it takes to make things happen, no matter the circumstances. It might not always be easy and it might sometimes seem impossible, but I have faith in my strength and endurance to see me through.

"We were fortunate to launch the label with an artist of the caliber and legacy of Benny Turner, which immediately helped generate attention while we worked to establish our reputation. Our focus on the individual musician(s) and story behind the music was as important from the beginning as it remains to this day, and has also become a hallmark of what we offer. I believe that those things working in tandem with our passion and sincere commitment to each project have developed into a very special brand in today's market." (Photo: Sallie Bengtson, Benny Turner & Bobby Rush)

Do you think there is an audience for blues/soul music in its current state? or at least a potential for young people to become future audiences and fans?

I think there will ALWAYS be an audience for blues and soul music, both in the current state and in more traditional forms. There are so many people who like blues music and aren't even aware of it. One of my favorite things is introducing someone to a live blues experience and watching the impact and transformation that takes place right before my eyes. What I have come to expect as a normal musical experience is really quite striking for a first-timer, and hearing things like "this is the best concert I've ever been to" and "they are so good, I can't believe there aren't more people here" gives me so much hope. I also think that the young people's tendency to stream and discover new music by mood and theme rather than strictly genre labels opens up new avenues for discovery and appreciation.

Why is it important to we preserve and spread the blues? What is the role of “Good Music” in today’s society?

The blues is America's music; the root that bears so much musical fruit.  Both for its ties to American history as well as American music history, the blues is a vital musical art form. "Good music" of any genre has the power to create feelings of happiness, joy, introspection and a whole range of other emotional experiences. It is truly the soundtrack of life, capturing moments in time and preserving memories in a very unique and powerful way. It can also be a powerful messenger of hope, unity, and social action.   

Life is more than just music, is there any other field that has influence on your life and music?

My family has a very large influence on my life. These days, I am a proud (and exhausted!) member of the "sandwich generation," balancing the needs of my aging parents with the needs of my teenage son. I consider my family roles to be both an important honor and also a temporary challenge that sometimes feels overwhelming, but of course it is only a season of my life. The blues is my constant and faithful companion, and my work in the industry is a source of great pride and satisfaction, taking me to fascinating physical destinations and often highly emotional excursions. It all combines into the rich tapestry of my life experience.

"I've learned the impact that one person's genuine efforts can have on the life of an artist, especially when combined with other like-minded people working as a devoted team. There is no greater feeling for an artist than to have the full backing of a supportive team. I've learned that even something as fundamental as leading with honesty and sincerity isn't as fundamental as one might think. And maybe most importantly, I've learned that when you find your passion, whether it is writing, performing or providing services in the music industry, absolutely nothing else compares to it." (Photo: Sallie Bengtson with Lil' Jimmy Reed & Charles Mitchell)

What are some of the most important lessons you have learned from your experience in the music industry?

I've learned the impact that one person's genuine efforts can have on the life of an artist, especially when combined with other like-minded people working as a devoted team. There is no greater feeling for an artist than to have the full backing of a supportive team. I've learned that even something as fundamental as leading with honesty and sincerity isn't as fundamental as one might think. And maybe most importantly, I've learned that when you find your passion, whether it is writing, performing or providing services in the music industry, absolutely nothing else compares to it.

Working in the music industry requires the passion to work many long hours, accept seemingly endless dead leads, false hopes and a steady influx of work to be done; but every drop of blood, sweat and tears melts away in an instant when the music hits a new place on the charts or gets a rave review, nomination or award. Possibly even better, when the thrill of a live show begins, the crowd is loving it, and I can witness the true joy that music brings, knowing that my own special role in the team helps to support that communal experience is a pretty wonderful feeling.

Which acquaintances have been the most important experiences? Are there any memories which you’d like to share?

Meeting Benny Turner twenty years ago is of paramount importance to my place in the blues industry today. The seeds of friendship that were planted at that time have blossomed into an amazingly rewarding and mutually-beneficial working partnership that has literally transformed my career path.

I met Benny because of my friend, Debra Clark, who introduced me to the music of his first, self-produced CD, “Blue And Not So Blue.” My friendship with Debra began because of our mutual love of blues music and New Orleans, and it has come full circle because we now work together in support of the music we love so much. Her graphic design work provides the professional visual impact of our projects. She puts forth great effort and gets paid blues wages in return, so she is an angel among us, for sure! 

"I would make sure that music is inherently valued so much that people are inspired enough to be willing to buy it. There’s a social media post titled “Respect the Artist – Buy The Music” that is very impactful." (Photo: Sallie Bengtson of NOLA Blue and Blue Heart Records with Benny Turner & Cash McCall)

Are there any memories from the late greats blues musicians Cash McCall and Frank Bey which you’d like to share with us?

I met Cash McCall for the first time in Memphis in May of 2018. It was a joy and an honor to have him among Benny Turner's guests at our table at the Blues Music Awards. There were so many memorable moments, but two things from that evening will always remain in the forefront of my mind. Benny and I drove Cash home that evening, and when we first got in the car I asked him his street address for input into the GPS on my phone. As we were getting closer to his house, Cash started giving me some directions, and I told him that I was OK because I had everything on my phone. He quickly turned his head in surprise and said, "JESUS CHRIST! Your phone tells you how to get places?  Lord have mercy!" Then, as we turned onto his street, he told me to watch for the house "with Willie's van in the driveway." That seemed easy enough. After we dropped him off, Benny was telling me that I didn't realize "what an important dude" he was. I nodded my head and assured him that I remembered that they have a long history together going back to the gospel days in Chicago in the late 50's. And Benny said, "Yeah, but he played with Bo Diddley, man! And Etta James and Willie Dixon, and... well, you know that's Willie's old van in his driveway!" WHAT?! When Cash mentioned Willie's van, I assumed it was a friend or a neighbor's van, but his casual landmark reference was to Willie Dixon's van! Sadly, I only knew Cash for a short time, and only got to scratch the surface of hearing his stories and learning first-hand about his musical legacy.

When I think about Frank Bey and the memories, I’m always filled with peace.  A phone call with Frank never ended with "goodbye," it ended with "peace," right through the very last time I spoke with him on the day before his final surgical procedure. Frank had an aura of peace to match his infamous parting word; a deep peace within himself as well as a philosophy of his interactions with the world around him. I think that even my young son felt that special magic of Frank's peaceful presence. I brought him with me when Frank performed at a festival in our city, and we went backstage to greet him after the show. My normally insecure 11 year-old went straight for Frank and threw his arms around him in a giant hug that may have shocked me even more than it shocked Frank! I didn't even have a chance to make the introduction before my son took matters into his own hands! The joy in Frank's eyes and his smile during that special moment will live in my heart forever. Just as with Cash McCall, I didn't have the gift of much time to really hear about Frank's musical career, but in his case we all have the gift of a documentary film about his life.

What moment changed your music life the most? Do you have a dream project (album) you'd most like to accomplish?

Meeting Benny Turner was definitely the catalyst for what has become my music life today.  If I hadn't met Benny and been so inspired by his music and his life story, I may have never found my way into what I believe is my true calling in this life, and exactly where I belong professionally.  It has been a dream and an honor to work with so many of the artists I've been fortunate to meet over the past ten years. I have a very special place in my heart for the living legacy artists, and have found my work with those often overlooked treasures to be among my most rewarding musical and personal experiences. At the same time, I am so excited to see a brand new generation of young artists who are claiming their heritage and continuing the blues tradition, and it is my dream to also be able to support the exciting young, emerging talent in the blues world.

"My mission seems to be ever-evolving, but at its core is my “heart full of blues” and the desire to be instrumental in creating, preserving and perpetuating the music that is so meaningful, enjoyable and inspirational to me. Having grown up in a very musical family, I’ve always known that it takes so much more than talent to be successful as a musician. Having a strong support system is an equally important piece of the puzzle, and to be able to use my skills and gifts to help provide that to musicians I respect and admire is as much of a blessing as it is a vocation." (Photo: Sallie "Blue" Bengtson)

What do you miss most nowadays from the music of past? What are your hopes and fears for the future of?

I grew up during the MTV and new British Invasion era of the 1980’s and that was my first real exposure to popular music when I was with friends. Since my entire family is filled with classically-trained musicians, that was the only music played in our house.  So, having cut my teeth on what I call “intellectual” (classical) music, and then turning to heavily-synthesized pop music, when I discovered the blues in my early adulthood, it turned my world upside down and it hasn’t been the same since. The depth and breadth of emotional expression in the pure blues form is an incredibly powerful force, and one that resonates deeply within me. As technology continues to “improve” our lives, it can also simultaneously interfere with genuine, authentic musical expression. That is actually a big inspiration for our establishment of the brand-new Lone Star Blues & Heritage Festival. When Benny Turner was given the opportunity to produce a festival in East Texas that would kick off during the weekend of his 80^th birthday (October 25-27, 2019), there was no question about whether we would do it! The park atmosphere is like taking a walk back in time to old East Texas, which is the perfect backdrop for the acoustic performances to be held on the porch stage. Unplugged and without effects, we’ll be honoring the tradition of raw musical expression, straight from the heart and soul of the performers.    

If you could change one thing in the musical world and it would become a reality, what would that be?

I would make sure that music is inherently valued so much that people are inspired enough to be willing to buy it. There’s a social media post titled “Respect the Artist – Buy The Music” that is very impactful. It presents a $5 cup of coffee and a group of performing musicians, and highlights the disposable nature of coffee versus the enduring benefits of music, and the time and costs of creating it. The same could be said for people who are turned off by paying a cover charge to see a band or tipping them for their performance. Musicians are sharing their artistic gifts in ways that touch others emotionally, yet somehow music gets taken for granted as being as much of our atmosphere as the air we breathe, rather than a result of the artists hard work and dedicated efforts to earn a living. Somehow the perception of musical value needs to be renewed.

"My love of blues and soul has led me to explore and understand the origins of the music, both geographically and historically, to an extent that I otherwise might not have. Some of my favorite cities are favorites because of the music I've enjoyed there, and some of my most memorable travel experiences have been directly linked to music events. I think in a broad sense, blues and soul music provides the soundtrack to my life - the highs, the lows and everything in between. " (Photos: Sallie Bengtson with Benny Turner, Jimmy Johnson, Frank Bey & Nola Blue family)

What does to be a female label owner in a “Man’s World” as James Brown says? What is the status of women in music?

I’m proud to be a female label owner, but at the same time I don’t believe it exclusively defines me. I’m so fortunate that my very first corporate work experience was overwhelmingly positive in this regard, and it laid a strong foundation for my confidence as an individual, rather than exclusively as a woman. Certainly, as a demographic group, women are faced with challenges, barriers and perceptions, but I don’t think they’re unique to the music industry.

What is the impact of Blues music and culture to the racial, political, and socio-cultural implications?  

Blues music was born out of the struggle and suffering of the African American community during a very disturbing period in American History. Sadly, we continue to experience new and different disturbing periods in our history, and that will continue to fuel protest songs as well as songs of hope and inspiration. Music is a powerful emotional vehicle for expression of human feelings, and therefore will always be intertwined with all aspects of the human existence.

Let’s take a trip with a time machine, so where and why would you really want to go for a whole day?

That’s easy! I would go back to the late 60’s and early 70’s and instead of just entering this world, I would be old enough to be immersed in all of the incredible music of the time. I can listen to it and appreciate it now, but to be in the moment, experiencing it live at iconic events and venues I’ve read and heard so much about would be an amazing experience. I would especially love to have seen Benny Turner and Freddie King on stage together and witnessed the intense musical energy of those shows that inspired so many and have remained such powerful experiences for them to this day. I can’t count how many emails I’ve received or personal stories I’ve heard from fans who are so excited to connect with Benny and relive their favorite memories of his brother and him from those days. I soak it all in, while secretly jealous that I will never have those memories. Thankfully, the emergence of Benny’s career as a solo artist and my management role have given me the opportunity to make my own inspirational musical memories!

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