If everybody played the music the same way, or stuck with techniques from a book, the Blues would not breathe, grow, expand, or be free to express what is in the soul. Thanks to the contributions of generations before us, we have an excellent foundation on which to build. To keep the Blues real and stay true to the spirit of the music, it has to flow from the heart. What comes from the heart reaches the heart. I have also observed a shift in the diversity of Blues artists and audiences.
Diversity is good, introducing a rich collage of experiences and sharing.
Blues music stems deep from the African American culture, however we have all noticed fewer and fewer young African American entertainers embarking a career in Blues music, and smaller African American audiences. This is a bridge we must all build together. There are many wonderfully talented Blues men and women in the industry. In this state of transition, we all have to come together and respect each and every contribution. The Blues industry has lost many great artists in the past decade, but there are a number of masters who remain, who have also paved the way for all of us.