Talking Blues | Conversations & Oral History

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.

Tim Russ – Actor, Guitarist & True Bluesman

From Sci-Fi Icon to Bluesman Supreme – Meet Tim Russ

Starfleet knew him as Tuvok. We know him as a Bluesman who found his voice not in space, but onstage, where the only prime directive was feel. A seasoned actor, director, and musician, Tim Russ is the rare artist who moves effortlessly between galaxies and grooves.

In this episode, Tim takes us back to where it all began—the thrill of hearing music for the first time, and the fire it lit inside him to make that sound himself.

We trace his early days as a gigging musician, his classical training, and the gear he still swears by. He shares stories of late-night jams, deep grooves, and the joy of finding his voice through the blues.

We talk about what it meant to portray the legendary Robert Johnson onscreen in the 1986 film Crossroads—and the surreal experience of learning slide guitar from Ry Cooder to prepare for the role.

Tim’s love for the blues runs deep. He fronts the Tim Russ Crew, a band that blends traditional blues with a modern bite. Whether he’s channeling classics or sharing originals, his guitar work is clean, soulful, and unpretentious.

Hit play, and then:

https://timrusswebpage.com/appearances.html - visit to support Tim’s music and to find out his band appearances “Tim Russ Crew”

https://www.amazon.com/Crossroads-Ralph-Macchio/dp/B000WN60NG#:~:text=Watch%20Crossroads%20%7C%20Prime%20Video – Crossroads (1986 film)

CONNECT WITH TIM RUSS:

Website: https://timrusswebpage.com/index.html

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/trusspage5/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQSso7sds6bkC7vl0jLstkA

Stream it. Share it. And if it moves you, support the artist—and join us for more.

Matt Cooper, Broadcaster & Host

Join the movement: https://www.talkingbluespodcast.com

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.

The Talking Blues Podcast shines a light on blues musicians both past and present. We dig into their craft, influences, gear, and stories from the road. Sometimes it’s pure promotion. Sometimes it’s a deep dive.

We’re also here to archive the living history of seasoned blues musicians—to help preserve personal histories, cultural blues heritage, and valuable lessons for future generations. It’s part interview, part hangout—all heart. Once they’re gone, they’re gone. We’re here to keep them alive.

Give an episode or two a listen. If you like what you hear, stick around. The Talking Blues community is a friendly and inclusive space for anyone who loves the blues, whether you play, listen, or are simply blues-curious

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

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.