It has always amazed me how the blues have wrapped themselves around our little planet. Magic Sam and Charlie Musselwhite referred to them as a "comforter," B.B. King thinks of them as medicinal, "they're good for what ails you." For Johnny Winter, they break down to pure "emotion."

It should have been so obvious, but who better to profile in this continuing series, than those who live most of their lives 'on the road.' No, I'm not talking about long-haul truckers or UPS deliverymen, nor am I referring to cabbies or regional sales reps. I speak of those who continue to travel the byways, back roads and endless ribbons of black top to play the music they love. I'm referring, of course, to the journeymen and women of the Blues, and their lifelong quest for that elusive 'Key to the Highway.'

Johnny Otis did it all; a multi-talented performer who sang, played drums, vibes and the piano. He was a bandleader, songwriter, producer, promoter, club owner, talent scout, and publisher. At one time, he managed his own record label, worked regularly as a radio disk jockey and hosted a long-running music and dance program in the early days of television that predated Dick Clark's 'American Bandstand.'

On February 9th, 1964, my life changed. America was getting their first live look at four English musicians with unusually long hair on Ed Sullivan's Sunday night show. As I huddled around my parents' black and white TV, I was immediately transformed into a new world.

Dec 18, 2025 marks Eddie Vinson's 108th birthday. An incredibly gifted entertainer, Vinson brought a creative depth to every genre he played and more often than not used humor as a blunt force instrument! He had no limitations whether it was Jazz, Blues, Swing or Soul, he made you feel it. His running buddies were the who's who in music from the 20th century.

“Yes, not only just because I’m a blues singer or blues musician, but I do feel there is responsibility that I should always share, if you will. Because I personally feel that if I show young people that I can play music without drugs, that I can play music without many of the things that some people think you have to have to get the feeling, if I can prove to them, which I have been doing for quite some time, that I don’t use anything other than my fingers and my head…” As he begins to laugh, he adds, “Whatever is left in it!”

As I was poking through my garage I came across an old trunk amidst my lifetime of baggage. A dust-caked time capsule, that I had forgotten about but had planned to open, I guess, on this very day. It was filled with old analog reel-to-reel tapes, cassettes, photographs and assorted junk I have accumulated over a period of 40 years or so.

I miss Willie Dixon. I had the tremendous good fortune to sit and talk with him on several occasions during the 1980’s, and he never failed to amaze, entertain and enlighten me. During those years you couldn’t go into a Southern California club, blues venue or attend a music festival without seeing the man surrounded by an entourage of adoring friends and fans. He was finally acknowledging his role as blues ambassador and accepting it with his natural ease and grace. Willie Dixon had become everybody’s favorite uncle; the elder statesman whose dues had all been paid.

Since the Blues Music Awards happened last Thursday night in Memphis…I'll start with the Blues Music Award Winners. We've written about these folks 'afore! Not to mention a bunch of the nominees!

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