by rick grant rickgrant01@comcast.net
WHAT: George’s Music Springing The Blues Festival
WHERE: Jacksonville Beach
WHEN: Sunday, April 8
At 58, Bob Margolin has seen and done it all as an accomplished blues artist. From 1973-1980 Bob toured the world as Muddy Waters’ lead guitarist. In 1980 Bob started his own band and has become one of blues’ most admired artists. Bob’s latest album In North Carolina on his own Steady Rollin’ record label was recorded at his home, he played all the instruments.
To get some personal perspective, I called Bob at his home in North Carolina to chat about his latest endeavors.
“I’ve been busy co-producing, consulting on, and writing liner notes for re-issues of Muddy Waters’ late 1970s Blue Sky albums for Sony/Legacy. I played guitar on all those sessions. The first Muddy Mississippi Waters Live Legacy Edition was released in September 2003 and won a 2004 Handy Award. I’m also Senior Writer for Blues Revue and a regular contributor to Blues Wax online magazine.”
“Lately, I’ve been expanding Steady Rollin’ Records and, in fact, I’ve been meeting with my partners to make important business decisions regarding the company. It’s been somewhat overwhelming, but things are coming together fairly well,” Bob said.
I then asked Bob about his thoughts on the status of the blues genre and whether he thought it was on the downswing or upswing?
“Well, blues has always been a niche market. However, lately, from my perspective, I’d have to say it seems to be on the upswing. I will say that blues is the one genre of music that enables artists to keep performing into their old age. My friend Pine Top Perkins is 94 and still performing, and there are many other blues artists in their seventies and eighties. So, that is a definite advantage.”
“I’ve achieved a level of success that has sustained me, but now I need to expand my horizons to keep on enjoying a middle class lifestyle. Don’t get me wrong, I still love playing clubs and festivals. I’ll always tour to support my latest album. And, I’m looking forward to traveling down to Jacksonville Beach and performing at MoJo’s Kitchen for jam sessions after each night at the Springing the Blues festival. I like the spontaneity of a jamming format. Anything can happen, and often I get great ideas while jamming with other musicians,” Bob said.
“For me, the road begins and ends at my driveway. Now, I want to take you home with me and offer my most personal blues music. Here are the acoustic and electric, solo, and multi-instrumental blues that I play in North Carolina for myself, my wife, and my pets. They reflect how much I love the peace and concentration to create music that I find at home, where I develop arrangements of original and old favorite songs, and how easy modern recording technology makes it to work alone,” Bob said on his website www.bobmargolin.com
Bob Margolin will perform on Sunday, April 8 during the Springing the Blues festival at the Seawalk Plaza in Jacksonville beach.
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