Catfish Keith: Iowa’s Own King of the Delta Blues Guitar
Dive into the soul-stirring musical journey of blues icon (and DIY pioneer) Catfish Keith and discover how Iowa shaped his legendary sound! Plus, Catfish shares timeless advice for aspiring artists. 🎶🛣️
✅ Listen to Catfish Keith: Iowa’s Own King of the Delta Blues Guitar on our podcast. We release new episodes of Travel with Jack and Kitty every day! Subscribe and listen on your favorite podcast app. 🎙️❤️
Quick Summary
Dive into the captivating life and music of blues legend Catfish Keith. 🎶
- Learn about his musical roots and influences in Iowa 🌆🎸
- Discover the highs and lows of life on the road 🚗✨
- Get timeless advice for aspiring artists 📖❤️
A Musical Journey with Catfish Keith
Hey guys, Jack here! You know, my wife Kitty and I have spent the best two decades as traveling musicians and filmmakers in the Midwest… and I’ve always been a huge fan of Delta blues guitarist Catfish Keith. He’s got one foot in traditional country blues and the other in a style totally his own. 🎵🎸
Hailing from Iowa City, he joined us for a very special chat on the podcast and we had a great time talking about his life as a full-time touring songster. I highly recommend you give it a listen, but here’s an overview of some of the stuff Keith and I chatted about.
By the way, if you’re looking for fun things to do in Iowa, Kitty and I wrote a travel guidebook about Iowa which you might really enjoy.
Catfish Keith: The Man, The Music
Catfish Keith, an iconic blues musician, takes us down memory lane in a candid interview about his life, music, and the road 🎤. Keith’s musical journey started early in Iowa City, a hidden gem for nurturing musical talents 🌆. He credits local legends like Greg Brown, Dave Moore, and Robert “One Man” Johnson for being his “musical family” 👨👩👦.
The Cultural Connection
Catfish Keith reveals that his time in Iowa City wasn’t just about music; it was about soaking in the culture 🎭. The place offered him an opportunity to dig deep into blues music, learning from rare recordings by Blind Blake and Mississippi Fred McDowell 📚. Keith’s career took a more profound turn when he got to meet blues giants like Henry Townsend, Honeyboy Edwards, and others in person 🤝.
The Road Less Traveled
Though life on the road has its fair share of horror stories, like cars blowing up or trees falling on them 🌲💥, Catfish Keith prefers to focus on the magic that each gig brings him ✨.
For him, every performance is a spiritual lift, where he finds himself floating in the melody, lyrics, and vibe 🎶.
Timeless Advice For Aspiring Artists
When asked for advice for up-and-coming musicians or content creators, Keith emphasizes never to stop studying and learning 📖.
His key takeaway? Always remember the original passion that got you into your craft ❤️. He insists on doing all the little things “right now,” so you don’t have to think about it later ⏰.
Gear Talk: A Peek Into His Collection
For the gearheads, Catfish Keith shows off his treasured Santa Cruz “Catfish Special” with figured mahogany and his 2018 National baritone tricone guitar with an exploding palm pattern 🌴. His collection, built mostly around modern luthier-built guitars that imitate the vintage style, is worth noting 📸.
Conclusion: Catfish Keith
Catfish Keith’s life is a masterclass in passion, dedication, and the continuous pursuit of learning 🎓.
In a world of instant gratification, his journey and advice stand as a testament to what it takes to make a living doing what you love ❤️💪.
So, whether you’re a young artist looking for inspiration or a lifelong fan of the blues, there’s something for everyone in Catfish Keith’s world of guitar love and endless curiosity.
✅ Don’t miss out! Listen to today’s podcast episode, Catfish Keith: Iowa’s Own King of the Delta Blues Guitar – where we go even deeper into this story. Remember, we release new episodes of Travel with Jack and Kitty every day! Subscribe on your favorite podcast app. 🎙️❤️
Show Notes: Links to Stuff We Talk About
Catfish Keith
Eager to hear more from this blues legend? Catfish Keith can be found at his official website and on various social media platforms like Facebook.
Listen on YouTube
