"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: Lone Star's Blues Power

Born and raised in Galveston, Texas, Hamilton Loomis is the son of musician parents who listened to blues, rock and soul. Music ran in his veins and, with instruments readily available around the house, he picked up drums, piano, guitar and harmonica, honing his multi-instrumental talent in addition to performing regularly as part of his family’s doo-wop group. Hamilton Loomis’s Christmas album “This Season” brings us hope – at a time when it’s needed most. Amidst the worldwide 2020 pandemic, the title track conveys an uplifting message of hope and healing. Loomis made his dream of making a Christmas CD a reality. With covers of five Yuletide classics and five originals destined to become seasonal classics, the album offers something for everyone. His Christmas CD's title track "This Season", inspired by his son Bo, takes the personal subject of his family's struggle with hyperinsulinism and transforms it into a universal message of hope, faith, and healing. Loomis not only shows off his songwriting and musical chops here, but his production skills are also on deft display as originals and classics seamlessly blend together to create an almost-perfect holiday vibe.            (Photo: Hamilton Loomis)

Loomis’ 2013 album “Give It Back” showed his pay-it-forward attitude of passing on knowledge to young, up-and-coming musicians, just as his mentors (notably Houston’s Joe Hughes, Johnny Copeland and rock icon Bo Diddley) once did for him. On his 2017 "Basics" album, Loomis continues the tradition by featuring several of his young protégées, and finishes the record with a jam session by some of his favorite Houston-area youngsters, whose ages range from 12 to 16. A protégé of Bo Diddley, Loomis met the icon backstage at the age of 16 at Houston’s famed venue Rockefeller’s. Before the night was over, Loomis was onstage playing guitar with the legend. Diddley quickly became friend, mentor, collaborator and supporter, appearing on two of Loomis’ albums and presenting a cherished red guitar that he still plays.

Interview by Michael Limnios              Archive: Hamilton Loomis, 2011 interview

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

I can say growing up in the Blues scene really opened my eyes to the power of music to unite people. I was lucky to be mentored by Blues veterans, and they showed me how music shatters the barriers between race, culture, age, gender, etc., and that's more important than ever to be a part of in our very divided country and world.

How do you describe your sound, music philosophy and songbook? Where does your creative drive come from?

People have said my "sound" is hard to describe...it's really a mash-up of all my favorite music I listened to growing up: Soul, Blues, Rock, Funk, and Pop. I try to make my sound as homogenous as possible, so it comes out as Funk rhythms with Blues & Rock guitar, Soul-like vocals, and most written with Pop-type melodies. As far as creative drive, I have learned to find inspiration in everyday life, sometimes from everyday things, and turn them into something uplifting or inspirational. A lot of my recent inspiration has come from my son (Bo Jordan Loomis), who was diagnosed with hyperinsulinism, a rare pancreatic disease that causes dangerously low blood sugar. This has also changed my mission to include raising awareness for hyperinsulinism and hypoglycemia.

How do you think that you have grown as an artist since you first started making music? What has remained the same about your music-making process?

I think artists continue to grow throughout their career, and I know I have. I know early on in my career the challenge for me was finding my sound and my niche, because I don't fit into just one category. One thing that has definitely remained the same is that I knew I could never duplicate traditional blues, because I didn't live the lifestyle that the Blues Masters did. I've known that since I was a teenager, so I always tried to do something different and put a different spin on Roots music, writing in singing about my own experiences.

"I can say growing up in the Blues scene really opened my eyes to the power of music to unite people. I was lucky to be mentored by Blues veterans, and they showed me how music shatters the barriers between race, culture, age, gender, etc., and that's more important than ever to be a part of in our very divided country and world." (Photo: Hamilton Loomis)

What has been the hardest obstacle for you to overcome as a person and as artist and has this helped you become a better blues musician?

Everyone has hardships, but I'm very grateful that I haven't had to go through many major ones in my life, which is again why I've never really done traditional blues, or even really consider myself a "blues" musician. I'm just a musician who has a deep love and respect for blues, but also lots of other genres. I am still very grateful to be embraced by the blues community around the world, and of course my music has bluesy elements to it. What really got me into the blues scene was the Blues Masters in the Houston TX area... They recognized my respect for blues and sort of took me under their wings and gave me encouragement and exposure, along with other guitarists my age, because I think they knew that we may be the ones carrying the torch for blues, and exposing it to younger generations over the years. I didn't really choose Blues, it kind of chose me, in a way.

Why do you think that Texas Blues Scene continues to generate such a devoted following?

It's hard to say why Texas music has such a following.... I believe that it's partly because so much great music has come out of Texas, and people just recognize that and embrace it. Also, it may have something to do with the sheer size of Texas, so there are a lot of different influences throughout the state.

What moment changed your music life the most? With such an illustrious career, what has given you the most satisfaction musically?

The moment that changed my musical life the most was meeting Bo Diddley, because he was the one who encouraged me to find my own voice and my own sound. He said, "you got to do your own thing, don't sound like me", and that was the beginning of my journey as an artist to find my own sound and to try to be unique, which he also encouraged me to do.                                         (Photo: Hamilton Loomis & Bo Diddley on stage)

"I think my favorite memory was Bo Diddley calling me on stage to jam with him when I was 16...it spawned a friendship with him that lasted until he passed away, and I'm so grateful for it!  He gave me a lot of advice and encouragement...the best advice was to find my own sound: "Don't sound like me, sound like YOU. Innovate, don't imitate". That was the beginning of my journey in becoming as artist."

What's the balance in music between technique (skills) and soul/emotions? What is the driving force behind your continuous support for your music?

In all popular music, especially blues, it's almost ALL about soul, emotion, and feel. That's how you connect with your listeners because they may not be able to understand the language of the notes that you're playing, but they definitely understand and feel emotion and the way that you put it out there. Technique allows you to expand your vocabulary and to convey what you want to convey with your music, but the ultimate goal is to convey emotion and feelings. You can have all the technique in the world, but if you're not really "saying" anything with your instrument, there's no point.

What are you doing to keep your music relevant today, to develop it and present it to the new generation?

I've always tried to incorporate modern elements into my style, in the hopes that younger generations may gravitate towards it. It's also great to see younger famous artists like Gary Clark Jr for instance, exposing younger people to blues...or John Mayer for instance...they are really blues players at heart.

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

Becoming a Dad was a huge turning point in my life, and it has definitely inspired me to have more honesty in my playing and songwriting.

Are there any memories from gigs, jams, and studio which you’d like to share? What was the best advice anyone ever gave you?

I think my favorite memory was Bo Diddley calling me on stage to jam with him when I was 16...it spawned a friendship with him that lasted until he passed away, and I'm so grateful for it!  He gave me a lot of advice and encouragement...the best advice was to find my own sound: "Don't sound like me, sound like YOU. Innovate, don't imitate". That was the beginning of my journey in becoming as artist.

"Over the years, I've had many small onstage moments that have made a huge impact in my life: watching black & white people synchronously bobbing their heads at a concert, watching an old guy fist-bump a young guy at a live show, watching poor folks jammin' out next to rich folks...these may seem like small things, but they showed me the power of music, and made me sure that I was doing something meaningful in the world." (Photo: Hamilton Loomis)

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

I think I miss the original authenticity, to be honest...the Blues pioneers and Blues masters sang about their lives, and about their truth, which was so pure. I knew early on that even though I had a deep reverence for Blues, and was educated by some notable Blues masters, I didn't live the life they did, nor could I ever sing about the topics they sang about. I knew I had to find my own truth, and sing about my experiences and from my perspective, while still honoring the music and passing it on to future generations.

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

I wish that talent + vision + originality = automatic success and millions of records sold. I know so many amazing musicians and artists who never make it, and yet there are many untalented and/or unoriginal artists that top the charts. It doesn't seem fair.

What touched (emotionally) you from the Christmas' spirit and songs? How does the Seasons affect your mood and inspiration?

I love that Christmas is all about togetherness, family, giving, etc. I feel like Christmas (in general) gives the world a much-needed jolt of positivity. Regarding the seasons, that's a tough one, because here in South Texas where I live, we have basically one season: HOT. I mean, it occasionally gets cold in Winter, but not for long...it was 78 degrees this Christmas, and I remember some years ago it was 80 degrees! In fact, this very situation inspired me to write one of my Christmas songs, "Another South Texas Christmas" which is totally tongue-in-cheek, but a really fun song to perform live.

"I think I miss the original authenticity, to be honest...the Blues pioneers and Blues masters sang about their lives, and about their truth, which was so pure. I knew early on that even though I had a deep reverence for Blues, and was educated by some notable Blues masters, I didn't live the life they did, nor could I ever sing about the topics they sang about." (Hamilton Loomis / Photo by Flo Cat)

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

I mentioned this in an earlier question, but music (and especially LIVE music) is truly one of the only things that brings different people together. Over the years, I've had many small onstage moments that have made a huge impact in my life: watching black & white people synchronously bobbing their heads at a concert, watching an old guy fist-bump a young guy at a live show, watching poor folks jammin' out next to rich folks...these may seem like small things, but they showed me the power of music, and made me sure that I was doing something meaningful in the world.

What is the impact of Blues on the socio-cultural implications? How do you want it to affect people?

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. Now, even though times have changed, and the music has evolved and changed, I believe that at its core, Blues is about expression, and everybody has something to say or express... and when artists put their music out there into the world, they connect with people who feel the same things.

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 a tough one! I think I would love to experience a day at Woodstock 1969... I think that festival was an amazing historical event for music, not just because there were so many amazing artists that performed there, but because of the peaceful gathering. That year produced some of my favorite music of all time. Let's just pick a day that it didn't rain!

Hamilton Loomis - Home

(Photo: Hamilton Loomis)