“The blues, despite it being the roots of all American music, has always been relegated to an underground status. I was always acutely aware that blues was not on mainstream radio or television except on rare occasions. It has not been given the due that it legitimately deserves.” – Billy Branch
Author: Brant Buckley
Brant Buckley
Brant Buckley is a Berklee College of Music graduate, songwriter, and guitar teacher with a passion for both creating and sharing music. He is also a published writer and a professional tennis instructor, blending artistry and discipline in all he does.
Delmark Recording artist Dave Specter has earned an international reputation as one of the premier talents on the Chicago blues scene.
“I am a true bluesman. There are very few true bluesmen around. I make my living off the blues; not R&B or hip hop.” – Linsey Alexander
“Try to keep it as real as you can. I’m doing what I love. Blues is all about life. I want to keep it real.” – John Primer
“I think my writing and film making is musical in some way. Being raised around music affected my sense of rhythm, timing, and contrast. I am very inspired by the music.” – Robert Gordon
“My goal is to let the younger generation really see what the blues has been and what it can be. To keep the music popular and create a resurgence, the blues needs the young people.” – Keith Dixon Nelson
“As I get older, I am interested in authenticity. I want to see how close to the bone I can get. I want to see how real to the heart I can get. I want to see how real of a song I can write. I am still chasing that.” Tommy Conwell
In the 1970s, Graves started his own record label to promote the blues music of his early heroes.