The Nashville Blues Society

Welcome !! The Nashville Blues Society is a brand new 501C3 non-profit chartered with the state of Tennessee. Our goal is to promote and support the blues in the greater Nashville area through performances, education, and other means. We plan to serve as a nexus for fans, musicians, disc jockeys, clubs, promoters, labels and other members of the diverse blues community. This web site is being developed and will include details about formal membership and additional information. Although we have no affiliation with Music City Blues Society, If you recently signed up as a member of the Music City Blues Society, you are a member here for now.

IBC NEWS - The dates for the 2010 International Blues Challenge will be January 20-23. This is one week earlier than usual and two weeks earlier than 2009. Unfortunately we will not be sending anyone this year.

                                        New Member Profile

Born and raised in north Alabama, the earlier Muscle Shoals players influenced and shaped J. Curly Speegle’s unique sound and style as an Americana artist. And as a young teenager, just listening to Aretha Franklin’s, The Weight, set the impassioned J. Curly on a path to become the commanding slide guitarist he is today.  

“Speegle is one of the most entertaining, energetic, soulful musicians around and brings an electrifying touch…Speegle played a solo blues number on slide guitar as well as any ‘Delta Blues Man’ could.”  (Leon Russell concert review,  Vail Daily, 2006).  

As J. Curly’s debut album proves, his music spans the genres of Roots Rock, Southern Rock, Blues, R & B, and Folk.  “Years of exposure on the road will do it to you,” he says. 

His early mentor, Owen Brown, once bass player for Eddie Hinton, now plays for J. Curly rounding out an historic, yet fresh, swamper sound.  History and simplicity are common threads throughout his songwriting.  

J. Curly’s extensive touring career includes his recent role as lead guitarist and vocalist for Leon Russell for several years.    He’s also lent his talents to Taylor Hicks, Adam Hood, Damon Johnson, and O’teil Burbridge, to name a few.  

Although he still adores the stage, his most recent passions for songwriting and studio work have launched him into the Indie artist scene with his debut album, The J. Curly Band, recorded in Alabama and Nashville, mastered by Mark Lambert, and with his new band, some of the finest seasoned players from the Southland.  His second album J. Curly Acoustic is in production.  

“As a single parent at home and sights set on the next gig, it was difficult to find time to write the songs I could hear in my head.  Now I’m blessed to be able to balance it all and enjoy every minute of it.”  Among J. Curly’s guitar collection rests his grandfather’s mandolin and the scribbled notes of his nine-year-old daughter’s written songs.  He says they lend impetus and focus to his writing.