Blues

Arthur Adams has written and played the blues nearly his entire life! He played guitar for many top blues players such as BB King, Elmore James, Lowell Fulson and Gene Allison. Arthur also wrote some wonderful songs that are a part of our musical history such as "Love and Peace" covered by Quincy Jones on his Grammy winning album in 1969 Walking In Space! Arthur's music has been included in several box office hit movies including his instrument hit "Pipe Dream." The great Sam Cooke recorded one of his early songs called "Somebody's Gonna Miss Me."

Jamey Aebersold’s name is synonymous with the play-a-long style music books, which have aided and inspired thousands upon thousands of musicians! Jamey does not refer to his publications as method books, but rather as a tool to have musicians tap into their creativity and use their imagination within their playing. His first play-a-long book was published in 1967. His goal was to create books that would encourage improvisation and debunk the notion that only high level musicians can improvise.

Javier Batiz was very proud of the role he played in bringing American Blues music to Mexico! His own playing in bands and as a solo artist brought a great awareness to the Blues south of the American border but more than that he created opportunities that brought legendary performers to Mexico for the first time such as Ray Charles and Little Richard. Perhaps even more meaningful to Javier is the time he dedicates to young musicians to teach them the art of music-making. Over the years he taught and inspired a host of well-known musicians including Carlos Santana, whom Javier beg

Joe Beard doesn't remember a time when he didn't have a guitar.  He grew up near Ashland, Mississippi becoming friends with locals Syl and Jimmy Johnson and Floyd and Matt Murphy. In Memphis he met B.B. King and Howlin’ Wolf.  Later in the 1960s in Chicago, he played with Buddy Guy, Junior Wells, and Luther Allison, among other blues greats.  One of his longest and closest friendships came when he moved to Rochester, New York in 1956, where blues legend Son House lived just around the corner.  Beard never recorded in the early part of his career but taped several sessions with Hou

Elvin Bishop was inspired to play the guitar because as an early teen he noticed that the girls at the dance seemed to always hang out with the guitarist!  When he discovered the blues, he was hooked, as he had found the style of music he felt could best express his feelings.  Over his long and successful career he also wrote a series of songs that became hit pop songs, as well as blues standards heard all around the world. Among his best known songs, "Fooled Around and Fell in Love," "Struttin' My Stuff," and "Fishin'."

Ron Blair was the original bassist for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, bringing to the group his understanding of the blues and his skills on the electric bass. The band was formed in 1976 and Ron stayed on until 1982 when he took a twenty-year hiatus. He returned to the band in 2002 and stayed on until Tom Petty’s untimely death in 2017. Ron spent much of his NAMM interview talking about the roots of his music and the respect he has for the blues artists who inspired him to play music when he was a kid.

Big George Brock knew all about laying his burden down. The blues musician was running his nightclub in 1970 when someone shot up the place to try and hit George. One of the bullets went through the wall and killed George's wife in the next room. George always said you can't sing the blues if you don't know the blues.  Equally important to that and to understand the man George became is the sentiment echoed in the first song he ever played on harmonica, which is included in this clip from his NAMM interview, "glory glory hallelujah since I laid my burdens down."  

Ray Brooks grew up playing the blues in juke joints and small clubs all across the United States even before he was of age to drink.  He toured with Freddie King and Gene Alison (among others) and developed his own style of playing that seemed to echo his roots while adding new colors and flavors to extend the vocabulary of the blues.  He began recording in 1963 when he arrived in Los Angles as well as writing songs.  One of his tunes was featured in the Hollywood movie “Bob, Carol, Ted and Alice.”  The song is called “Burbank Brown” and has since been performed by several other a

Pastor Dave Brown developed a rich and meaningful appreciation for music when he began playing cornet in his high school band. He attended many concerts as a teen (namely at Cafe Au Go Go and the Fillmore), developing a deep appreciation for the blues music he encountered. As he grew up he also felt the calling to become a pastor. He realized he could use the music of the Blues to help spread his message of faith. As a result, in 1999, Pastor Dave established a program in Seattle, Washington he calls Blues Vespers (vespers is another word for evening prayers).

Misty Browning loved to watch the smiles on the faces of those in her church as a child when they began to sing. She noticed their mannerisms and expressions completely changed once the music started. She knew then that hers would be a life in music! She toured with the all-female group The Flirtations, recorded and taught music, all the while bringing the joy of music everyplace she went. Everyplace! Misty passed away at the age of 70 in 2021 and an article online stated, “Her music and grand presence were infused with the spirit of her Texas roots.

Lou Castro has often said that NAMM is about the people!  As a musician and songwriter, Lou has been involved with many musical products and publishers over the years and when it comes time for the trade show each year, he knows he will get the opportunity to connect with those important to his musical growth.  As a songwriter he has written for Arthur Adams and BB Chung King, among others.  He continues to refine his craft and looks forward to new technologies to help him achieve his goals.

Lester Chambers performed with his brothers as the Chambers Brothers, a band that became a pivotal group beginning in the late 1960s.  The band had style, so much so that bluesman Snooky Flowers reported in his NAMM interview that, "We all went to check out the Chambers Brothers to hear them and to see them!  They were so cool!  They dressed as good as they played and we all wanted to be them!"  Lester was proud of the role he has played in the band and in encouraging others to pick up an instrument, like a cowbell, and just play!  

This audio only interview was conducted for a radio program by Dan Del Fiorentino and donated to the NAMM Oral History program: Doc Cheatham was a blues and jazz trumpeter who played from the early years of recordings all the way into the 1990s. Doc was just a teenager when he recorded with the blues legend Ma Rainey (1927) and played with a who's who of musicians and singers until his last performance two days before his passing at the age of 91. Among those Doc performed with over his career were Chick Webb, Claude Hopkins, Benny Carter, Teddy Wilson, Fletcher Henderson, and Cab

Eddy Clearwater was a teenager when he left Mississippi to live with his uncle in Chicago.  There he discovered his love for the blues.  As a guitarist, Eddy became a sought after session player in the area.  As a songwriter, Eddy added to the modern blues movement in the 1950’s with a string of tunes that have become classics, beginning with “Hill Billy Blues.”  Up until two months before his death in 2018, he toured the world and recorded a string of popular CDs, including several that have been nominated for Grammy Awards.

Wallace Coleman played blues harmonica with the legendary Robert Lockwood Jr. as well as forming his own groups during his long career.  His creative style can be heard on live and studio recordings with Robert Lockwood and on his own albums, all of which include at least a few songs he wrote.  For years, Wallace has been playing and endorsing the Hohner Harmonica, which has featured his image in their print ads and packaging.

Phil Collen, the dynamic guitarist for Def Leppard, spoke eloquently about his lifelong passion for music and the feeling of flying he experiences each time he plays. He described his deep connection with his instruments and the trusted relationships he’s built with guitar makers, including Grover Jackson and the Jackson Guitars team who crafted his signature PC1 model. Beyond his legendary role in Def Leppard—a band he calls “family”—Phil shared his enduring love for the blues through his side project, Delta Deep. With genuine admiration, he credited his sound crew and guitar tec

James Cotton learned the blues from many of the greatest artists in recorded history! As a result his style of playing is our link to the early development of the music form, especially those influences in the years following World War II. James was nine years old when he played with Sonny Boy Williamson and later played with icons such as Howling Wolf, Muddy Waters, Bobby “Blue” Bland, BB King and Big Mama Thorton, among many others. His passion for music and his willingness to share his style with others has made him one of the most beloved bluesmen of our time.

Tommy Couch was born in Tuscumbia, not too far from Muscle Shoals, Alabama and grew up with many of the studio musicians and engineers at the Fame Recording Studio. He later moved to Jackson, Mississippi to form his own studio, Malaco Records, with the help and advice of his old friends. The label released a number of award-winning albums covering soul and R&B to the blues and gospel. Tommy had the opportunity to purchase the Savoy, and later, the Apollo Records catalogs, which helped to create a rich history of recorded music.

Tomcat Courtney was raised in a cotton field outside of Marlin, Texas. When he was ten years old he saw Bill Bojangles dance in a traveling minstrel show and Tomcat was hooked. He left home at the age of 14 to dance in the circus where he also sang and learned to play the guitar. His style of playing was based on roots music and the blues that he not only heard, but he loved. As a songwriter, Tomcat penned “Cook My Breakfast,” “Disaster Blues” and “Railroad Avenue.” He also became a strong force in passing the blues traditions down to the next generation, looking for every opportu

Robert Cray walked into his local music store as a kid and dreamed of owning his own Fender Stratocaster. After years of playing the blues, his career took off to the point that Fender approached him to create a Robert Cray model Stratocaster, which thrilled him to no end.  He was also honored to perform with some of the great musicians who influenced him as a young musician, greats like John Lee Hooker and Muddy Waters.  Robert's recordings and live performances include the styles and songs of his early heroes and, of course, his Stratocaster!  

Kal David helped bring the Firebird to the blues! The famed electric guitar was not widely used for the blues until Kal began playing it in bands in and around Chicago. He was a founding member of the band The Exceptions in 1962 and the Illinois Speed Press in 1965. During the 1970s, while living in Woodstock, New York, Kal formed The Fabulous Rhinestones, recording three albums with the group. He later teamed with his future wife, Lauri Bono, to write, record and tour together as Kal David and The Real Deal. Their role in the Palm Springs music scene earned them a star on the cit

Clifton “Fou Fou” Eddie began his career as a big band and jazz drummer but soon discovered he has the skills for the blues and pop music.  He has played with the likes of The Dells, Patti La Belle and Tommy Hunt, along with his dear friend Preston Epps.  After moving from his native Chicago, Fou Fou moved to Hollywood where he was often cast in movies and TV shows as, you got it, a drummer! Fou Fou was also a regular artist at the NAMM show and could often be found in the lobby signing autographs and posing for photographs in his signature fly suite and hat.

Leroy Emmanuel often shares a telling story about his musical heritage—his parents met in their school band, both playing the violin. Born in Georgia, he moved to Detroit at the age of eight, where he was mesmerized by a local guitarist. Determined to follow his passion, he collected cans and bottles until he saved enough money to purchase his first guitar, a Stella from a pawn shop, for $17. By age 12, he was playing the blues at a hotel restaurant, earning a humble $2, a hamburger, and a cola. Those modest beginnings laid the foundation for a legendary career.

Rick Estrin and Charles Baty started playing blues together and decided to form a group in 1976.  They brought in two other players and called themselves Little Charlie & the Nightcats.  They began touring and soon began to feature at many of the top blues festivals.  Ten years later they cut their first album, ALL the Way Crazy, which featured several of the band’s best known songs including "Suicide Blues," "Poor Tarzan" and "When Girls Do It.” When Charles decided to come off the road, Rick continued the great traditions that they formed together.  In 2009, the band name wa

James Evans met one of his musical heroes, Louie Lee, in 1977. Mr. Lee took the time to show James techniques in playing his saxophone that greatly inspired him. Over the years he developed into a highly regarded studio musician, often recording at Malaco Records in Jackson, Mississippi. Among those he has recorded or toured with are Bobby Rush, ZZ Hill, Percy Sledge, Willie Clayton and Sam Myers. James toured with ZZ Hill just after the release of his critically acclaimed record Down Home in 1982. The two bluesmen remained friends until Mr. Hill’s passing in 1984 at the age of 48

Yvonne Fimbres recalls with a smile the lullabies her mother sang to her as a baby. Music has always played an important role in her life. As she developed her own vocal skills, Yvonne was often hired to sing both on her own and as a backup singer. She met blues and folk singer Taj Mahal thanks to her work with Bill Graham in San Francisco. Taj asked Yvonne to provide backup vocals on his Music Fuh Ya album, which was recorded at Bear West Studios in 1977. Among the tracks Yvonne can be heard on is “Truck Driver’s Two Step,” for which you can hear Taj encouraging the backup singer

Samantha Fish has earned numerous accolades for her unique self-expression, which she channels through explosive riffs, visceral rhythms, and spine-tingling vocals. She was born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri, where she started playing drums before switching to guitar at age fifteen. While growing up in Kansas City, she would frequently go to the local blues club the Knuckleheads Saloon to check out and listen to visiting blues artists. Within a few years, she would sit in with whoever was playing at Saloon and learn different musical styles and expressions.

Rob Flax is an award-winning multi-instrumentalist, composer, and educator known for his playful spirit and wide-ranging musical voice. He began studying violin in third grade, though he always felt like a percussionist at heart. Through private lessons in junior high and an expanding curiosity in high school, Rob immersed himself in jazz, blues, and a wide range of popular styles, performing in numerous bands and later discovering a deep love for bluegrass music. A pivotal moment came when Rob heard pioneering jazz violinist Stuff Smith on Nat King Cole’s recording of “After Midn

Snooky Flowers was asked to put a band together to go on the road and travel with a young blues singer named Janis Joplin. As her bandleader he helped to prepare her for road performances. As her friend, he joined her on stage to dance during her appearance at Woodstock.  Snooky recorded with his own band as well as with several performers over the years and enjoyed every bit of it along the way.  

Robert Frazier is an octogenarian whose distinguished career has spanned jazz, rock, pop, funk, progressive rock, and soul from the mid-20th century forward. A trumpet player who studied piano in junior high with the aunt of Cannonball Adderley, Frazier performed with an extraordinary range of artists including Little Richard, Dizzy Gillespie, and Oingo Boingo. Beyond performance, he built an influential career as a radio executive at KPFK, while also contributing as an educator, writer, producer, and director. Among his notable creative works is the multi-generational stage produ

Roy Gaines, like his brother, Grady, who played saxophone for Little Richard, made his mark in the early days of rock and roll. As a blues guitarist, Roy recorded a number of songs for RCA, which have become popular rockabilly tunes such as "Skippy is a Sissy" in 1958. He worked with a number of artists over his long career including Della Reese, Brook Benton, and Harry Belafonte. Roy later worked on movie soundtracks with Quincy Jones and appeared in the movie The Color Purple in 1985 for which he wrote a song for the soundtrack.  

Ed Gerhard knew that there was something special about playing the guitar when he heard Andrés Segovia play on TV when he was 10 years old. He took a few lessons from a music store but learned most of his beginning skills from one of his neighbors. Ed has a unique playing style - combining the orchestrated sounds of classical music with the emotional and raw sounds of blues. He has played on records with many acoustic guitar greats such as Arlo Guthrie and Jorma Kaukonen. Ed also has a Breedlove signature model that was one of the best-selling Breedlove guitars in the year 2000.