Sugaray Rayford is literally, larger than life…a gentle giant in both stature and compassion. Multiple times during our conversation we were interrupted by friends and fans wanting to take a picture with him or just shake his hand. Mid-sentence he would stop, smile for the picture and thank them for coming out to see him. Soft-spoken unless he's onstage Rayford is both a storyteller and musicologist but is quick to credit those around him for his success. He places the most emphasis on being where his is today on the love, encouragement and support of his wife, Pam.

Detroit's reigning Queen of the Blues; Thornetta Davis recently graced Southern California with a royal visit courtesy of the San Diego Gourmet Blues Series. Ms. Davis' performance made it perfectly clear why she was honored with the Female Soul Blues Artist of the year at the 2023 Blues Music Awards in Memphis last May. Thornetta and her Motor City entourage follow a musical path that is uniquely their own and the songbook they work from contain the crown jewels of soul, blues, rock and funk. For more than two hours she reminded So Cal's blues faithful what the true meaning of Detroit's thriving music scene is all about. "Detroit, man! Give it up for Detroit musicians! Don't sleep on us!"

Johnny 'V' was just thirteen when he got his union card to play music professionally. Thirteen! There seemed to be little doubt on his direction in life. His father and uncle both played music and the Vernazza's were living in the Bay Area…it was the early 1960s. Johnny would begin his journey by playing every teen center and Moose Lodge that would have him. By the late 60s he would be on stage at some of the most legendary venues of that era; Winterland, Golden Gate Park, the Carousel, the Fillmore and Wumper's Old Man. His musical runnin' buddies included some the best that ever were; names like Elvin Bishop, Toy Caldwell, Jerry Garcia, Norton Buffalo and Janis Joplin.

When you grow up in a family where your father is known as Lil’ Howlin’ Wolf, the chances are pretty good that you may end up as a bluesman. If you come of age on Chicago's Southside and your band is forced to practice in the basement laundry room of the projects, you may end up as a bluesman. But when childhood memories include your dad taking you by the hand into some of the Windy City's most legendary bars and you witness B.B. King live for the first time at the Burning Spear on State Street, damn you have to be a bluesman!

Hidden in the heart of West Los Angeles is a mini-Disneyland known as the Riot Games campus. No, you can't buy tickets to get in. No, you can't sign up to enter. The only way to enter is to know somebody who works for the company and who will sponsor you and act as your tour guide (there are some top secret, restricted areas you know). For a company that is Chinese owned (Tencent, the economic giant) this secretive imposition should not be surprising.

RJ Mischo has been dropping blues records and discs since the 90s and his latest is out right now. The new release was captured ‘live’ in Studio late, last year at Suprovox Analog Recording in Karkkila, Finland. That certainly comes as no surprise when you consider RJ’s popularity and fan base in Scandinavia and throughout Europe is just as wide-ranging as it is across the U.S.

Earlier this year, I had the distinct pleasure of witnessing the West Coast swing of the Lurrie Bell and Jason Ricci tour. With the celebrated rhythm section of Rena Beavers on drums and Paul Loranger on bass, the bands cruise through the Southwest was both fast and furious. With stops in San Diego, Los Angeles and Arizona this All-Star lineup provided a blues experience unlike any other.

A classic film based on Harper Lee's classic novel that delves into the complexities of racial injustice and the moral conscience of a small Southern town. Published in 1960, this Pulitzer Prize-winning book continues to captivate readers with its compelling characters, powerful themes, and thought-provoking narrative. Set in the 1930s during the Great Depression, the story unfolds through the eyes of Scout Finch, a young girl growing up in the fictional town of Maycomb, Alabama. Through Scout's innocent yet perceptive viewpoint, Lee offers profound insights into the human condition, challenging readers to confront their own prejudices and embrace empathy.

James 'Yank' Rachell isn't a name commonly mentioned or referred to in the blues community but he really should be. It might have been his instrument of choice; it wasn't a guitar but rather, the mandolin. Born Northeast of Memphis near Brownsville, Tennessee, on March 16th 1910, Rachell grew up as a farm laborer working alongside his family. The story goes he traded a pig for his first mandolin when just a child and lucky for us, he never put it down. Yank became an accomplished musician and also played guitar, banjo and the fiddle, but he always came back to his first love, the mandolin.

Here’s my list of 76 - 101 Greatest Film Directors. I encourage you to assault, disagree or perhaps even agree, and send in your own list in our readers’ section at ad***@tr**********.com . What is most important is to keep a dialogue going about cinema as a visual medium for artistic expression where it takes its place among other art forms.