Living Blues #301 (March/April 2026)

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Sean McDonald

Prodigy to Pro

By Roger Wood

24-year-old phenom Sean McDonald is turning heads and garnering praise everywhere he goes. His young career is full of hope and promise on the heels of his first release.

Fernando Jones

Open Season on New Ideas

By Peter M. Hurley

Chicago native Fernando Jones has spent his life playing blues in his hometown but now dedicates much of his time to teaching with his Blues Kids Foundation’s Blues Camps.

Karen Wolfe

Queen of Soul Blues

By Christopher Klug

Over the past 20 years Karen Wolfe has established herself as reigning Queen of Soul Blues. Mentored by her sister-in-law Denise LaSalle, Wolfe learned from the best.

Willy Jordan

I’m Not Wasting a Momen

By Mike Stephenson

Vocalist Willy Jordan has recently taken his place fronting the Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra. The California native honed his chops in a Cajun band before switching to blues with Elvin Bishop.

Let It Roll!

Leroy Carr and Scrapper Blackwell, Vocalion Records, Indianapolis, June 16 and 19, 1928

By Jas Obrecht

At their first recording session piano/guitar duo Leroy Carr and Scrapper Blackwell cut two of the most popular songs of the pre-war era. Blackwell’s Kokomo Blues (the model for Sweet Home Chicago) and their biggest hit, How Long – How Long Blues.

Record Reviews

• New Releases: Lil’ Ed and the Blues Imperials, Solomon Hicks, and Selwyn Birchwood
• Reissues: Yank Rachell, Chuck Berry, and Etta James

Editorial 

Blues News

Breaking Out with Aki Kumar

Book Reviews

Obituaries

Radio Charts 

Cover photo by Marilyn Stringer: Sean McDonald on the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise, January 2026.