A Musical Journey: How I Fell in Love with the Blues

As I prepared Rusty Dawg, my trusty canine companion, for our usual morning walk, I couldn’t help but indulge in one of my favorite pastimes: listening to music. On this particular morning, the soulful tunes of Keb’ Mo were filling the air, setting the stage for a contemplative journey into the realm of music. I found myself wondering why blues music held such a special place in my heart compared to the countless other musical genres out there. So, I decided to take a stroll down memory lane, tracing the roots of my musical tastes.

My journey began in my childhood, around the tender age of six. Like most kids my age at the time, my musical preferences were heavily influenced by whatever was playing on the radio. In my case, it was WWSE93, a station my dad tuned into primarily for its news segments rather than its music. My father was a skilled pianist, with a penchant for playing Jerry Lee Lewis’ “boogie woogie” style, but his true musical passion lay in classical compositions by the likes of Chopin, Beethoven, and Wagner. It was an eclectic mix of classical and popular music that filled our home.

Surprisingly, my dad also possessed a collection of vinyl records. Among them were a couple of Beatles’ 45s, a Jerry Lee Lewis album or two, and LPs from Cream and The Mamas and the Papas. Among these, it was the latter that resonated with me the most, becoming my go-to musical choice during my early years.

However, as I grew older and ventured more into the world of school and social interactions, I soon became aware of the peer pressure associated with music tastes. The “what do you listen to?” conversations inevitably led me to the realm of “Heavy Metal,” which is now commonly referred to as classic rock. Bands like Led Zeppelin, Van Halen, Motley Crue, and countless ’80s “hair bands” quickly became my musical companions. My personal favorite? Judas Priest. Although it didn’t matter to me, Rob Halford’s coming out later in life did alter the way the world viewed the band, but their music remained untarnished in my eyes. “You’ve Got Another Thing Coming” still pumps me up. If I were a movie star flying an aircraft into battle, that would be my soundtrack.

One of my standout memories during this period was discovering George Thorogood’s “One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer.” For about a month, it was virtually the only thing I listened to, effectively proving that my musical choices weren’t easily swayed by peer pressure.

Then came a pivotal moment in my musical journey. My brother, Brian, unexpectedly gifted me Stevie Ray Vaughan’s “Soul to Soul” album, on cassette tape no less. Equipped with a Walkman boasting an auto-reverse feature (a luxury for the ’80s), I hardly ever removed “Soul to Soul” from the player until it met its untimely demise. Stevie Ray Vaughan had captured my heart, and his fusion of blues and rock resonated with me in a profound way. You see, my brother is one of the biggest Beatles fans you’ll ever meet. Talk about influence; maybe there’s a connection there somewhere? So yeah, I’ve listened to a lot of Beatles and love them as well… Notice I wrote listened, not heard… but I digress.

But SRV’s music didn’t just introduce me to his genius; it opened the door to a vast universe of blues music. The realization that SRV had drawn inspiration from legendary bluesman Albert King was a jaw-dropping revelation. It was as though I had stumbled upon a hidden treasure chest of musical history, rich with licks, runs, and riffs that had been echoing through time long before Stevie made them famous.

And so began my deep dive into blues music, starting with the classics of the ’60s and ’70s. Then, delving back through time, the list of blues legends I encountered seemed endless: Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters (with PineTop Perkins on the piano—a true marvel), John Lee Hooker, Howlin’ Wolf, Buddy Guy, B.B. King, Elmore James, Son House, Little Walter, Otis Redding, and, thankfully, the list goes on… and on.. and on.

Listening to blues music isn’t just about enjoying the melodies and rhythms; it’s about understanding the profound influence it has had on the world of rock and roll and virtually every musical genre that followed. From Elvis to contemporary bands and artists, the blues underpins the essence of their sound and style. I never bought the whole “The blues is nothing but a good man feeling down”, in fact quite the opposite in my eyes. Sure, it can sound sad; however, much of it is uplifting, sometimes funny, and other times it is a comical story to let ya know that “you ain’t the only one brother”, It’s really genius.

If you’re a Led Zeppelin fan, I urge you to explore the roots of “When the Levee Breaks” by listening to Memphis Minnie and Kansas Joe McCoy’s 1929 rendition. Yes, you read the year correctly. It’s an eye-opening experience that highlights the interconnectedness of music across time and genres. I started a routine a couple years ago. I play the “Electric Blues” station on the streaming service Pandora. It’s amazing how alive blues music really is today and how much talent there is out there right now.

As I walked Rusty Dawg through the tranquil morning streets, I couldn’t help but marvel at the incredible journey my musical tastes had taken me on. From the innocent tunes of my childhood to the electrifying blues of Stevie Ray Vaughan and the rich tapestry of blues legends that followed, my love for music has evolved and deepened over the years. Thanks, Brian and Stevie.

So, as I continued my morning walk, with the blues as my mental soundtrack and Rusty Dawg by my side, I felt a profound sense of gratitude for the music that had shaped my life and the endless exploration of new sounds and stories that awaited me in the world of blues. It was a reminder that music, like life itself, is a journey, and I was eager to see where the next note would lead me. Yes, I understand how cliché that sounds. It doesn’t make it any less true. Thanks for reading.

~Nate