Talking Blues | Conversations & Oral History

Singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist, Erin McCallum, has been delivering her brand of Blues for over 20 years. Best known for her unmistakable contralto voice, McCallum’s name has been on the marquee at countless national and international festivals and events, and the list continues to grow. With five all-original albums to her name, McCallum has received recognition (Maple Blues Award nominations for Female Vocalist of the Year and Artist/Group of the Year, International Songwriting honours, OIMA nominations for Blues artist of the year, BluesSource Canada Album of the Year for “It’s Time”, and more) from the music industry and listeners alike. McCallum’s original music is broadcast on commercial radio stations in 63 countries (terrestrial, digital, and satellite) worldwide; however, it is her authentic live performance that sets her apart from others, and justifies the tagline “Big Voice. Big Sound.”.

👉 Go behind the curtain and discover what fuels Erin’s blues—now on the Talking Blues Podcast.

CONNECT WITH Erin McCallum

Website: www.erinmccallum.com

Facebook: @ErinMcCallumMusic

Instagram: @erinmccallummusic

YouTube: www.youtube.com/ErinMcCallum

CONNECT WITH Matt Cooper

https://www.facebook.com/TalkingBluesPodcast

https://www.facebook.com/Matt.Cooper.Broadcaster

What if one song in your teens could change the whole direction of your life? Seattle guitarist Jon Clemence holds a master’s degree in biblical studies and runs a publishing firm by day — yet the blues remain his lifelong compass. On Talking Blues, Jon shares how a single spark ignited his journey and why the music still shapes his path today.

Stream it now on the Talking Blues Podcast.

Connect with Guitarist Jon Clemence:

https://guitarophile.com/

https://www.facebook.com/jon.clemence.7

https://cedarpressproofreading.com/

Connect With Author | Broadcaster | Matt Cooper

https://www.facebook.com/TalkingBluesPodcast

https://www.facebook.com/Matt.Cooper.Broadcaster

Malta isn’t the first place that comes to mind when you think “Blues capital of the world.”

No, rather, it’s a sun-baked speck in the middle of the Mediterranean — three main islands, stone alleys, and centuries of history crammed into 316 square kilometers. But if you know where to look, the blues have a way of finding you, even here.

And sometimes, it comes roaring back out — louder, tighter, and hungrier than you expected. That’s Vinyl Paradise: Ben Bailey on guitar and vocals, Patrick Camilleri on drums, and Antoine Tonna on bass. A blues/blues-rock power trio with the chops to match their influences — Cream, the 3 Kings, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Hendrix, and the audacity to make it their own.

Their roots run deep in Malta’s rare musical advantage: free music education for every child. They were nurtured, encouraged, and — in Ben’s case — sparked by a certain video game that put a plastic guitar in his hands and an idea in his head. The toy didn’t last, but the idea did. One day, he was pretending. The next, he was the real thing.

It’s the sort of environment where music isn’t just an afterthought — it’s part of the social fabric. Street festas with brass bands, school programs that hand real instruments to real kids, and a cultural crossroads where Mediterranean rhythm, European melody, and African groove all pass through. Vinyl Paradise grew up in that mix, and you can hear it in the way they play — tight, confident, and unafraid to color outside the lines.

So join us as we take a ride across the Atlantic and the Med to check in on Malta’s blues scene — and meet the island’s number one blues export. You’ll hear the accents, the stories, and the sound that’s already crossing borders.

🎧 Listen now — your ticket to Malta’s salt air, stage lights, and a band built to go global.

Talking Blues with Vinyl Paradise – Listen to the full episode at:

https://www.TalkingBluesPodcast.com - Listen to the Talking Blues Podcast – Stream it now or wherever you podcast.

Connect with Vinyl Paradise:

Website: https://linktr.ee/vinylparadise

Connect with Author | Broadcaster | Podcaster Matt Cooper – Host Talking Blues Podcast

Website: www.TalkingBluesPodcast.com

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 It’s free, and you’ll get early access, behind-the-scenes stories, and the chance to shape future episodes.

Some musicians survive the blues. Others elevate it.

Ira Walker was shaped by a world where thought, art, and sound mattered—a home where classical compositions weren’t background noise, they were conversation. Where intelligence wasn’t just valued, it was expected. And yet, somewhere between the string section and the silence, a different rhythm called out.

It wasn’t rebellion—it was recognition. The blues had always been there. In his father’s record collection. In the quiet encouragement of neighbors who knew talent when they heard it. In the moments of stillness that only music could fill.

Raised by intellectual parents with a deep respect for the arts, Ira’s early life wasn’t so much a departure from the blues as a slow orbit toward it. Classical music gave him language. Academia gave him perspective. And a series of unforgettable live performances—Hendrix, SRV, and others—gave him fire.

His West Coast vantage point gave the blues room to breathe. It let him blend structure with soul, head with heart, and instinct with insight.

Over the years, Ira has built not just a career but a circle—of collaborators, confidants, and creative allies. He knows how the business moves, but more importantly, he knows how to move through it with grace. Still writing. Still playing. Still rising to the moment.

In this episode of Talking Blues, Ira Walker sits down with Matt Cooper for a wide-ranging conversation about identity, influence, and the quiet power of staying true. They talk roots, records, relationships—and the kind of legacy that doesn’t chase trends, it outlasts them.

If you want a glimpse into the mind of a musician who’s walked both sides of the street—conservatory and club—this is the one to hear.

Stream it now on the Talking Blues Podcast.

Connect With Singer/Songwriter Ira Walker [https://irawalker.net/]

Connect With Author | Broadcaster | Podcaster Matt Cooper [https://www.facebook.com/TalkingBluesPodcast/]

Mark Hunt’s Story in Wood, Wire, and Willpower

Some musicians write songs. Some build guitars. Mark Hunt does both.

Raised in rural Eastern Ontario, Mark is a self-taught guitarist, songwriter, and builder who’s carved out a life in music one honest note at a time. Whether he’s crafting unique, custom guitars from reclaimed materials or pouring his heart into his own blend of blues, rock, and Americana, Mark brings quiet intensity and a working-class soul to everything he touches.

In this episode, we talk about:

• How growing up outside the city shaped his sound and spirit
• The creative process behind his new blues project
• Why he builds guitars from crates, sticks, and whatever sings when you tap it
• The joy of playing with Outskirts, a band that covers Blue Rodeo with love and respect, not imitation

This is a conversation about tone, time, and truth—from a musician who never stopped creating, no matter who was watching. If you believe in honest craft over flash, this one’s for you.

🎧 Listen to the full episode → http://talkingbluespodcast.com/

🔗 Connect with Mark Hunt:

https://www.facebook.com/huntguitars

https://www.instagram.com/huntguitars

Connect with Matt Cooper – Host & Broadcaster – Talking Blues Podcast

Website: www.TalkingBluesPodcast.com

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. It's free, and you’ll get early access, behind-the-scenes stories, and the chance to shape future episodes.

The Guy from Verdun Who Got Your Foot Tapping—Part Two

If you thought Part One hit hard, wait till you hear where we go next.

In this episode, Jerry Mercer pulls back the curtain on a life lived loud—from the raw magic of that first jam with Myles Goodwyn to the birth of the second coming of April Wine. He talks about the spark behind Electric Jewels, the real deal on the Attitude Tour of ’93, and what it was like sharing the bill with the Rolling Stones.

We ride the rails back through Festival Express, catch a young Miles Davis in a smoky club in the ’60s, and sit ringside as Jerry breaks down what really mattered behind the kit—lessons he picked up at the legendary Esquire Show Bar and never forgot.

It’s more than just a drummer’s tale. It’s a backstage pass to six decades of groove, grit, and gold records—and it’s still going.

Talking Blues with Jerry Mercer – Part Two Now Playing at:

https://www.TalkingBluesPodcast.com - Listen to the Talking Blues Podcast – Stream it now or wherever you podcast.

Connect with Jerry Mercer:

Personal Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009494798736

Connect with Matt Cooper – Host & Broadcaster – Talking Blues Podcast

Website: www.TalkingBluesPodcast.com

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. It's free, and you’ll get early access, behind-the-scenes stories, and the chance to shape future episodes.

🎙️ Still Keeping Time: Jerry Mercer’s Lifelong Groove

What does an 86-year-old rock legend do after decades behind the kit? If you’re Jerry Mercer, you pick up the bass—not to teach, but to learn. To stay curious. To keep growing. And maybe, to find a little peace in the groove.

In this episode, Jerry reflects on a lifetime in rhythm—from his early days in Newfoundland to the sweaty R&B clubs of 1960s Montreal, to touring the world with Mashmakhan, the Festival Express and April Wine, We dive into the music that shaped him—Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, jazz—and the moments that kept him humble, hungry, and human.

Now, decades after topping charts and filling stadiums, Jerry is still chasing new sounds and deeper meaning. And in today’s fast, noisy world, he’s discovering that picking up the bass might be the quietest, truest way to stay connected.

Tune in for a conversation that moves like music and brings the calm after the storm.

https://www.TalkingBluesPodcast.com - Listen to the Talking Blues Podcast – Stream it now or wherever you podcast.

Connect with Jerry Mercer:

Personal Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009494798736

Connect with Matt Cooper – Host & Broadcaster – Talking Blues Podcast

Website: www.TalkingBluesPodcast.com

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. It's free, and you’ll get early access, behind-the-scenes stories, and the chance to shape future episodes.

Some people talk about the blues. Others grow up learning how to express it—quietly, patiently, and on time.

DeShaun Jones is a music event and industry professional whose story begins in the province of Ontario, where his grandfather played guitar in rural churches and he learned to keep time on the drums. That’s where he first discovered the language of the blues—not just as music, but as expression. As survival. As truth.

His career has since taken him through radio, label work at Sony BMG, and deep into the world of international music festivals. He’s spent decades behind the curtain and beneath the noise, helping artists and events find rhythm, purpose, and presence.

Today, as Founder and CEO of MangoTree Music Corp, DeShaun brings that same early discipline to the modern music business—helping creatives turn vision into voice and sound into something that lasts.

Hear the full conversation now on Talking Blues.

https://www.TalkingBluesPodcast.com - Listen to the Talking Blues Podcast – Stream it now or wherever you podcast.

Connect with DeShaun Jones:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deshaun-jones-68b112218/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mangotreemusiccorp

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.

🎤 Danny Boy Phelan – Carrying the Flame of Front-Porch Blues

Some players chase the blues. Danny Boy Phelan seems to have been born with it stitched into his soul.

A gentle old soul from St. Catharines, Ontario, Danny channels the ghosts of the Delta with a rawness that’s hard to fake and harder to forget. His voice carries dust, hope, and history in equal measure—and his command of banjo, harmonica, fiddle, mandolin, and guitar makes him a one-man front porch revival.

Danny is a Niagara Music Award nominee in the Blues category, a musician’s musician, and a storyteller who doesn’t just sing about the old days—he takes you there. On this episode of Talking Blues, we dig deep into:

• The personal hardships and working-class conditions that shaped his worldview
• The emotions that rose up from those moments—and how they live in his voice
• The deep well of influence he draws from—Delta blues, gospel, folk, and early radio sounds
• And how his blues expression—rooted in honesty and feel—continues to evolve

Soft-spoken and wildly talented, Danny works with DeShaun Jones at Mango Tree Music / Taylor Made Management, surrounding himself with folks who know artistry when they hear it. And if you’ve ever been in the room when he plays, you’ll know why.

https://www.TalkingBluesPodcast.com - Listen to the Talking Blues Podcast – Stream it now or wherever you podcast.

Hit play, and then visit:

https://dannyboyphelan.bandcamp.com/album/live-at-the-leopard-frog-barn

Support His Music Grab his new EP Live at the Leopard Frog Barn and stay tuned for live shows, rare sessions, and limited-run merch.

Connect with Danny Boy Phelan:

Website: https://dannyboyphelan.bandcamp.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dannyphelanmusic

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danny_boy_phelan

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.

Vince Lee: Blues Roots, British Grit

Vince Lee didn’t wake up one day with a slide and a following. He built it—over decades, one gig, one guitar, one groove at a time. Before leading bands like The Big Combo and The Wildcards, he was grinding it out in working bands, soaking up everything he could from older players and long nights on stage.

We talk about those early days, the gear he’s picked up (and brought back to life), and how he found his way into frontman territory on his own terms. Vince has spent time behind the board too—producing sessions for other artists in years past—but these days, he records from home, just chasing sounds that feel good.

He and his partner Sophie Lord have a natural thing going—upright bass, fingerpicked guitar, no frills. Their videos are straight-up house concerts with heart. Millions of views, sure. But more than that, they’ve got feel.

https://www.TalkingBluesPodcast.com - Listen to the Talking Blues Podcast – Stream it now or wherever you podcast.

Hit play, and then visit:

Visit https://www.VinceLeeSophieLord.bandcamp.com to buy music direct from the blues artists.

Connect with Vince Lee & Sophie Lord:

Website: http://www.vinceleebigcombo.co.uk/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vinceleeblues/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/dynocruiser

Twitter/X: https://x.com/#!/Bigcomboman

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.