“I miss the finality of the music of the past. I miss the pops and scratches. I miss the msitakes and emotions. I miss the call for action that music can provide. My hope is that one day every school aged child will play an instrument.”

B. Douglas: He Lives With The Blues

B. Douglas Daugherty has enjoyed four decades of success in many areas of the music industry. He is highly regarded as a performer, composer, arranger, and soloist in various small groups. He has been a band leader since 1976 and recorded several albums before attending Southern Illinois University. His recordings are in many genres including New Music, Blues, Jazz, Classical, and Psychedelic. Whether performing in Krakow Poland, the islands of Trinidad & Tobago, West Frankfurt Germany, or in the United States B. Douglas brings energy to music! The Baked Potato in Hollywood, Harvelles in Santa Monica, The Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach, Beale Street in Memphis, Printer's Alley in Nashville, or Shyrock Auditorium with the Southern Illinois University One O' Clock Big Band are a few notable places of performance. B. Douglas has shared the stage with Lonnie Brooks, Junior Kimbrough, R.L. Burnside, Kenny Wayne Shepard, Eric Gales, Joe Correro Junior, Baba Elefante, and Gary Hoey, disciple of Surf Guitar King Dick Dale, and the composer of the Endless Summer II Movie Soundtrack.

(Photo: B. Douglas Daugherty)

He truly lived the blues. As one of his favorite quotes goes “You can’t sing the blues from an air-conditioned room”. He turned his life around and his Mississippi called him home. He picked up his guitar and has been playing ever since. “What drew me to the blues is getting to play my guitar. I can vent my frustrations; vent my feelings, all of myself, through the guitar”. B. Douglas has lived the blues, from Memphis to Hollywood. From smoky clubs to international stages. From mentorship under masters to leading bands of his own. “Sound Worlds” is a release of project “You Fantasy Joe”. It is the distilled story of a lifetime in music — Blues, jazz, improvisation, scholarship, and soul. This is the record that tells that story.

Interview by Michael Limnios

How has the music influenced your views of the world and the journeys you’ve taken? What does the blues mean to you?

The music has influenced my views by providing the experiences to inter act with others internationally. The world is a small place and we should care for it and each other. People are the same. People love to love and are so accepting in my travels. It's about peace, love, and understanding man. The BLUES is a way of life. The BLUES is how I live my life. The BLUES is a FEELING. I will play blues in the schools for the students and I will ask say, "CAN YOU FEEL IT?" they shout back "YES" I say "That's The Blues!" They get it cause thery can feel it!

How do you describe your sound, music philosophy and songbook? What's the balance in music between technique (skills) and soul/emotions?

My sound is ever evolving and hopefully always improving so that I show myself approved of study, hard work, and dedication, I like to write songs that are stories that have happened along my journey. I try to improve at my craft of story telling while trying not get the MY BABY DONE LEFT ME SYNDROME. You see blues can be happy too! Technique is ghreat and there are some guys out there, KIDS, who can just destroy a guitar technically. I have always, and sometimes to a fault, been about in your face energy! nI tell my drummer to bring bring a towel cause we are fixin to work tonight bro! ENERGY OVER TECHNIQUE. BB King’s one note versus a plethora of FLASH GUITAR LICKS.

“Changing poison into medicine music brings people together. Even if just for a few hours folks can get together and forget our differences, expierence the music, and each other. I want people to feel the power in notes! I want them to understand how I am feeling that day. I mean that is what is coming out of the guitar. I am laying my burden down when I am playing the Blues.I want them to feel that.” (Photo: B. Douglas has enjoyed four decades of success in many areas of the music industry.)

Why do you think that acoustic sound (Resophonic/Slide guitar) continues to generate such a devoted following?

The resnophonic guitar continues to generate a devoted following because of its timbre (Spoken tamber). The slack key Hawaiian Guitar has a natural timbre and an earthy sound. Folks around the world have been conditioned through movies, cinema, recordings and like to associate that sound with the real blues! People holler "B Douglas paly the shiny guitar!" You can't start a Vespa and expect the sound of a Ferrari to emit from the exhaust...one must have the proper tool

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

I miss the finality of the music of the past. I miss the pops and scratches. I miss the msitakes and emotions. I miss the call for action that music can provide. My hope is that one day every school aged child will play an instrument. My fear is that they will miss the experience that can change their life because grown folks are to busy acting poorly with wars, shootings, and anarchy to see the least.

What moment changed your life the most? What´s been the highlights in your life and career so far?

One moment that changed my life was meeting Will Guston. I will call him the Buddhist On The Beach. I was complaingin to him because I had to go play music later in Santa Monica. He asked me why I played music? I had playe dmusic for 35 years at thsi point in my life and I couldn't answser his question. I went along my way and thought about it and went back to his place three weeks later to tell him I knew the reason I played music.

As I approached the door the music was ringing loudly. Music of the type I had never heard and I have a degree in music. He opend the door and I aksed him what it was. He told me it was Nam Myoho Renge Kyo. Nam Myoho Renge Kyo is an SGI Nichiren Buddhist Chant. I told him I know why I play music now! Why he inquired? I play music to pay my bills and keep the lights on. At that moment he said, "There is the problem. You are playing music for all the wrong reasons." Will Guston later introduced me to two of my mentors Joe Settlemires who is in nine guitars halls of fame. He was and is my teacher and Vince Gills teacher, along with many others, and Daisaku Ikeda. It was through this Buddhist on The Beach that I learned of Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Bennie Maupin, and Buster Douglas. Tina tiurner too however I nerver met her. I learned of Bodhisatva Wondrous Sound and how to spread the music like medicine and share the happiness it can bring.

It is about our Human Revolution or Kosen Rufu in Japanese. He taught me how to look in the mirror and be someone I was alright with looking back. This is difficult for artist. I am a great big guy but I am quiet and introvert and not real crazy about crowds. He transmitted to me the essence of Buddhism-from mentor to disciple, from one life to another.

“When I do my Blues In The Schools Programs, I teach the youth that the blues is the foundation of ALL MODERN MUSIC. Yes, that is a PERIOD. They must know this! How will they know? Well someone has to tell them. I share openly with the youth!” (Photo: B. Douglas)

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

Changing poison into medicine music brings people together. Even if just for a few hours folks can get together and forget our differences, expierence the music, and each other. I want people to feel the power in notes! I want them to understand how I am feeling that day. I mean that is what is coming out of the guitar. I am laying my burden down when I am playing the Blues.I want them to feel that.

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

Bob Hope once told a friend "You don't have to look for Hollywood you just do your thing and they will find you.

You can't sing the blues in an air conditioned room - Bubba Jones Boy Drummer.

Why is it important to we preserve and spread the blues? How can we bring the Roots music of the past into the future?

When I do my Blues In The Schools Programs, I teach the youth that the blues is the foundation of ALL MODERN MUSIC. Yes, that is a PERIOD. They must know this! How will they know? Well someone has to tell them. I share openly with the youth! Through my mentors, at the age of 58, someone finally told me the answers to my musical questions. I think back and wonder how it would have been different if someone had shown me that long ago. So once a month I invite youth to come out and play/improvise with a world class rhythm section and we have a great turnout. The kids are awesome. The best thing is us old guys 65+ need something to do. We share openly with the youth and hand down the skills and supprt required. I also just partnered with The Illinois Arts Council to advocte for increased funding levels for the arts. A one half of one percent of the toal budget was the ask. This would bring funding back to 2007 levels (References Illinois Arts Council).

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(Photo: B. Douglas)