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his month I feature Miami, Florida born and raised blues-rock diva Kat Riggins about her latest
Trelease titled “Cry Out”. This is the 40-year old’s first project with the Texas based Gulf Coast
Records label co-owned by guitarist Mike Zito and Guy Hale. Zito produced, arranged and played
guitar on the album and his recognizable signature is present indeed. Kat penned all 13 songs for the

new album, including the title track, her call to action against bias and social injustice: a hot button
subject in the year 2020.

I asked Kat about herself and her newest release “Cry Out”. This is what she told me …

LL: Please tell us a bit about the family you grew up in.

KR: My family was the family
that all the other kids in the
neighbourhood kind of inserted
themselves into. Some even
called my parents mom and dad

too! My parents welcomed it. The
more the merrier! While
individuality was encouraged, it
was important to them that we
spend time together. My dad

worked 24hr shifts as a
firefighter and paramedic.
Sometimes he’d pick up shifts
and have to work for days at a
time. So my mom would load us
up and take us all over to the
station to visit with him. Then

there were our Activities Nights!
Once a week we did something at
home together as a
family…games, painting or
drawing, reading, movie night, Kat Riggins Photo by Mark Schoen

etc. Creativity was always
nurtured. I remember singing
and dancing with my sister and cousins in our grandparents’ empty pool, because the acoustics were
great! My family is the source of my joy! It’s where I learned to love.

LL: I read that your mother introduced you to the blues. How so?

KR: My parents had an extensive music collection and music was always playing in our house. We
woke up to the radio! We would sing and dance along to everything from R’n’B and gospel to
country and rap, and everything in between! It was when I heard the fearlessness and strength in
the voices of some of my mom’s favourites, that I began to allow myself to believe in a dream. When
she played Denise LaSalle, Koko Taylor, Betty Wright… I heard my voice, and I kinda liked it!