Blues People - The Skin I'm In (2024)

BLUES People are a New Jersey/NYC band with a ton of musical experience who produced their first album here. I saw then at the International Blues Challenge and was impressed by their soulful blues. They are the real deal. They’ve backed and supported many a fine artist, including, among others, Sue Foley, Josh Smith, Kool & the Gang, Ruf’s Blues Caravan, Joanne Shaw Taylor, Bo Diddley, Jr. and Michael Hill’s Blues Mob, an impressive list!

The band takes it’s name from the book Blues People: Negro Music in White America. This book is a highly-regarded study of African-American music and culture by Amiri Baraka. He published the book as LeRoi Jones in 1963. A couple of long time friends who spent the pandemic developing their music and sound to the eventual result of this fine band.

The players in the band are Kelton Cooper on vocals and guitar, Mike Griot on bass, Ron Thompson on keys and Gene Lake on drums. Cooper is a powerful and soul tinged singer who plays some wickedly great guitar. Thompson’s keys are really good and the backline provides a solid and impressive groove throughout...