Adam Gussow – Blues Harmonica, Books & The Meaning of It All
Bruce Conforth - Robert Johnson Biographer & Blues Historian
Adam Gussow – Blues Harmonica, Books & The Meaning of It All Adam Gussow didn’t just play the blues—he lived it on the streets of Harlem, side by side with the late Mister Satan. That legendary partnership shaped not just his music but his life’s work. These days, he’s a harmonica master, a blues scholar, and a full professor down at Ole Miss. In this episode, we get into the whole journey, from busking on corners to writing some of the most talked-about books in blues culture. Titles like Mister Satan’s Apprentice, Seems Like Murder Here, Beyond the Crossroads, and Whose Blues?—books that ask big questions about race, music, and identity without losing the soul of the story. His latest, My Family and I: A Mississippi Memoir, takes it even further, peeling back the layers on roots, conflict, and the search for meaning in the modern South. We also talk shop: teaching the harp, finding humour in hard places, and why the blues still hits home in a world that feels more disconnected by the day. Smart, soulful and straight from the heart. Stream the episode now at https://www.TalkingBluesPodcast.com or wherever you podcast. Hit play, and then: Read My Family and I: A Mississippi Memoir – Available now on Amazon: Learn Harmonica at ModernBluesHarmonica.com – Lessons, tabs, and blues harp tutorials. http://www.modernbluesharmonica.com Adam’s Harmonica of Choice – Hohner Marine Band - https://www.hohner.de/en/adam-gussow - "I've been using it for 50 years.” Connect with Adam Gussow: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/adam.gussow YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@modernbluesharmonica YouTube: : Gussow’s Claddic Blues Harmonica Videos Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/adamgussow Connect with Matt Cooper – Host & Broadcaster – Talking Blues Podcast Website: https://www.patreon.com/c/TalkingBluesPodcast/posts Personal Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Matt.Cooper.Broadcaster/ Talking Blues Podcast on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TalkingBluesPodcast/ If this conversation moved you or got you thinking, join the Talking Blues Backstage Pass at https://www.TalkingBluesPodcast.com’s free to join, and you’ll get early access, behind-the-scenes stories, and the chance to shape future episodes.
His landmark work is Up Jumped the Devil: The Real Life of Robert Johnson, co-authored with Gayle Dean Wardlow. The result of over 50 years of chasing documents, recordings and oral histories, it destroys the crossroads myth and brings us a more complex, brilliant—and human—Robert Johnson In this engaging conversation, Bruce Conforth, a lifelong bluesman and ethnomusicologist, shares his journey through the world of music, from his early influences in New Jersey to his pivotal role in the folk revival and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He discusses the profound impact of Robert Johnson's music, his experiences with Reverend Gary Davis, and the cultural shifts in music during the 60s. Throughout the discussion, he emphasizes the importance of authenticity in music and the rich history of blues and folk music. Whether you’re a blues fan, a history buff, or someone seeking clarity in myth, this episode digs deep. Bruce Conforth doesn’t just tell stories—he lays the evidence on the table. https://www.TalkingBluesPodcast.com - Listen to the Talking Blues Podcast – Stream it now or wherever you podcast. Hit play, and then visit: bruceconforth.com – visit to explore more from Bruce Conforth – award-winning author, musician, and ethnomusicologist and to buy music straight from the man himself Amazon.com: Bruce M. Conforth: books, biography, latest update – visit to purchase book “Up Jumped the Devil: The Real Life of Robert Johnson” Connect With Bruce Conforth: Website: https://bruceconforth.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Bruce-Conforth-100040296168814/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bruceconforth8220 Connect with Matt Cooper – Host & Broadcaster – Talking Blues Podcast Website: https://www.patreon.com/c/TalkingBluesPodcast/posts Personal Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Matt.Cooper.Broadcaster/ Talking Blues Podcast on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TalkingBluesPodcast/ If this conversation moved you or got you thinking, join the Talking Blues Backstage Pass at https://www.TalkingBluesPodcast.com’s free to join, and you’ll get early access, behind-the-scenes stories, and the chance to shape future episodes.
Raw Chicago Blues from a man who lived it—and never left it behind. What do you call a guitarist who stood beside Muddy Waters for seven years, played The Last Waltz, and still sounds like he’s got the South Side of Chicago running through his cables? You call him Bob Margolin. The blues world calls him Steady Rollin’—a name he’s more than earned. Bob doesn’t just carry the tradition—he embodies it. His playing is steeped in the electrified Delta that Muddy, Wolf, Elmore, Reed, and Little Walter hauled up to Chicago and set ablaze. What Bob calls Raw Chicago Blues—it’s not about vintage gear or studio tricks. The sound lives in the fingers and the heart of the musician. He’s not here to reenact history. He’s here to pass it on. In this episode of Talking Blues, Bob talks about his time with Muddy, the blues ethos, guitars that bite back, and what keeps the music honest. You’ll hear the stories behind the sound and feel the weight of a life lived on stage—and in service of something bigger. Hit play, and then visit: https://www.pinetopperkinsfoundation.org/ - Pinetop Perkins Foundation - Mentoring the next generation of blues musicians through masterclass workshops and blues education. https://blues.org/become-a-member/ - The Blues Foundation - Supporting blues music worldwide. Become a member and help keep the blues alive. Connect with Bob Margolin: Website: https://www.BobMargolin.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bobmargolinfanpage YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/bobmargolinofficial Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bobmargolin/ Twitter/X: https://www.x.com/bobmargolin Connect with Matt Cooper – Host & Broadcaster – Talking Blues Podcast Website: https://www.patreon.com/c/TalkingBluesPodcast/posts Personal Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Matt.Cooper.Broadcaster/ Talking Blues Podcast on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TalkingBluesPodcast/ f this conversation moved you or got you thinking, join the Talking Blues Backstage Pass at https://www.TalkingBluesPodcast.com’s free to join, and you’ll get early access, behind-the-scenes stories, and the chance to shape future episodes.