Ann Peebles was born in East St. Louis. Her father ran a church, and she grew up singing in his congregation. As a member of the Peebles Choir. Not just your average church singing group—they opened shows for gospel greats like Mahalia Jackson and Sam Cooke…

“Hard times are not our choice, but the bad decisions are within the realm of choice,” Lisa says. “This is about the balance between the karma you inherit and the karma you create. You can do something about that.”

“Today is a new day, tomorrow is coming and it’s unknown. So, you can do your part to make the world a better place. That’s all you can do.”

He says of his live performances, “I get into the energy and the moment and the excitement of it all,” he says. “I think I’m a very different guitarist live…”

This will be his third Hall of Fame induction as in 1998 he was inducted into the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame and in 2015 into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

This is the latest installment of our weekly series The Language of the Blues, in which author and rock musician…

“I want to do everything I can to inspire people and help make people’s lives better, even if its just for the night.”

“Although Mr. Mack can play every finger-twisting blues guitar lick, he doesn’t show off; he comes up with sustained melodies and uses fast licks only at an emotional peak…”

This is the latest from The Bluesmobile’s C.C. Rider, who spends her life venerating the founding fathers of the blues. She’s walked the…

“This is what quality funk and soul sounds like. Remember?”