He had the early heat, the critical raves, the record deal with Clive Davis. The industry buzzed like he was the next big thing—then watched as he took his own road. Now 21 albums in, Willie Nile looks back on a career driven more by passion than spotlight, sharing stages with The Who and Ringo, and holding fast to his instincts.
Author: Don Wilcock
Don Wilcock
Now into his second half century as the warrior music journalist, Don Wilcock began his career writing “Sounds from The World” in Vietnam, a weekly reader’s digest of pop music news for grunts in the field for the then largest official Army newspaper in the world, The Army Reporter. He’s edited BluesWax, FolkWax, The King Biscuit Times, Elmore Magazine, and also BluesPrint as founder of the Northeast Blues Society. Internationally, he’s written for The Blues Foundation’s Blues Music Awards program, Blues Matters and Blues World. He wrote the definitive Buddy Guy biography 'Damn Right I’ve Got The Blues,' and is currently writing copy for a coffee table book of watercolor paintings of blues artists by Clint Herring.
At 81 years old, Charlie Musselwhite still calls himself “just a working stiff.” With ‘Look Out Highway’ (out now via Forty Below Records), he shows how a lifetime of quiet dedication can still thunder loud in the blues.
Drawn from a 2009 interview, Rick Derringer candidly reckons with how he was perceived, how he saw himself, and how the blues shaped a career that refused to stay in one lane.
With a voice that can shake the rafters and a story spanning seven Grammy nods, what she calls five careers, and one unforgettable life, Bettye LaVette is still singing like it’s the last song she’ll ever sing—wondering why the world’s only just catching up.
At 52, genre-defying guitarist and singer Carolyn Wonderland is hitting her stride with ‘Truth Is,’ her second Alligator Records release. From touring with John Mayall to being produced by Dave Alvin and Ray Benson, Wonderland reflects on her wild ride through cosmic country, soul, zydeco, and beyond. The long road can still lead to the fast lane.
Tony Holiday collects guest artists like I used to collect marbles as a kid; Albert Castiglia, James Harmon, Johnny Burgin, Bobby Rush, Lurrie Bell, Kid Ramos, Charlie Musselwhite, Kid Andersen, and others have recorded with him on his Porch Sessions albums. Each one brings a different facet to a bluesman too bursting with creativity for Salt Lake City to hold onto. Memphis was calling him like a siren in a wind storm.
Suede, a renowned jazz singer and guitarist with over four decades of musical experience, shares insights on the meaningful connections her music creates. This Saturday, April 5th, she brings her distinctive sound to the 8th Step Coffeehouse in Schenectady, NY, accompanied by pianist Chris Grasso. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. at the GE Theatre at Proctor’s.
Now a retired special education teacher and still rocking with his band, the Iron City Houserockers, Grushecky discusses his path through music, his collaborations with legends like Steve Cropper and Mick Ronson, and his commitment to never quitting the guitar. With new albums out and his son Johnny joining the band, Joe remains passionate about playing, proving that the best musicians keep evolving with age.
Iconic folk/blues singer, songwriter, and guitarist Chris Smither discusses his evolving approach to mortality, the organic songwriting process, and pivotal moments like his serendipitous debut at Club 47 in 1966. Now at 80, with a new album ‘All About The Bones,’ he continues to create poignant music, confronting life’s fleeting nature with grace, while still sounding as fresh as ever.
Led by Steve Eagon, the band’s chemistry and focus on both musicianship and camaraderie have set them up for their next big step—releasing a sophomore album that builds on their newfound confidence and collaborative spirit.