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AG: I’ve always dug the academic side of music. After finally getting my B.A. from Berklee (it took
over 20 years!), I decided to get my master’s degree from Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs,
NY. They have a great music program. I taught jazz piano, History of the Blues, History of Rock and
Roll and World Music at a college in Vermont. I think any artist must be willing to pass on what

they know to those eager to learn. None of this is easy, but if it’s your calling you will find a way.
I’m also on the Board of Directors at The Pinetop Perkins Foundation. I taught there for 3 years in
Clarksdale, Mississippi. It was Pinetop’s wish to pass knowledge of blues music to a younger
generation. Please check out The Pinetop Perkins Foundation at www.pinetopperkinsfoundation.org

LL: What’s it been like to move from the sideman to the bandleader position?

AG: I’ve been the leader of bands in the past, but playing with Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters,
and with Sugar Ray and the Bluetones for almost 40 years taught me how to be a better “band
leader.” Sugar Ray was always the fairest and nicest
musician I’ve ever worked with. If it’s a band,
everyone should have a say with what’s going on.

It’s a lot more work than people think being the
band “leader.” I write most of the songs on our sets,
so I need to make sure the band is well rehearsed.
I’m thrilled to be on the Intrepid Artists
International roster, but you have to stay in touch

with the agents. I do all my own advance work. I
buy the plane tickets, make sure my band is well
taken care of. Even though I haven’t had a real gig
since March, still spend hours a day doing business.

LL: Let’s talk about your latest release
“Daydreams In Blue”. It sounds like a whole lot of

fun for you! You’re playing a variety of blues
styles, playing with a lot of your favourite players … just an A-team blues party all around!
Please tell us a bit about your concept for this album.

AG: I wanted this to be more of a “band” sound. My previous two recordings Fifty Shades Of

Blues (Delta Groove), and Why Did You Have To Go (Shining Stone) had a lot of special guests;
Sugaray Rayford, Sugar Ray Norcia, Michelle “Evil Gal” Willson, all the guys from The Proven Ones,
Ronnie Earl … so that’s pretty much impossible to take on the road! Daydreams In Blue has my core
band; Dennis Brennan singing and playing harmonica, and only two special guests, Walter Trout
and Monster Mike Welch. I’ve known Mike since he was in his early teens, we’ve been friends for a
long time. We spent 15 years together in the Bluetones too. Mike’s knowledge of what a guitar is

supposed to sound like, and the individual styling he brings to each tune is truly inspiring. It was an
honour to be on the Welch/Ledbetter recording Right Place-Right Time (Delta Groove.) I dedicated
one of the songs on the recording to Mike Ledbetter, to my son Todd, who I’ll talk more about later,
and our dog Ella who was an absolute joy to have in our lives. While I was writing “No One Hears
My Prayers” I kept hearing a guitar part that I knew I wanted Walter Trout on. We were both
booked by the same agency at the time, so we did a few gigs together. Walter is a very gracious and

giving artist. He invited me to sit in with his great band at a few festivals, most notably The
Notodden Blues Festival in Norway. Walter and his wife Marie are very good friends with Jesse