Rollo Markee
Barry Middleton (BM) Interview with Rollo Markee (Rollo) - June 2010
BM: Aims for the future and what do you hope to achieve within the Blues?
Rollo: My ambition is to keep improving and to KEEP GOING! I'm always looking for more work and new people to play to.
BM: Why do you feel that young people are not as attracted to the Blues as other Genres?
Rollo: I don't know if that is true - it's a really hard thing to quantify. The people we play to in London are mainly under 30. Where as in the provinces we don't play to as many Young people.
BM: What were your first experiences of the Blues?
Rollo: We had an African American guy living in Leicester in the early 80's called Julius Jr. He was playing Harp and Singing Blues. He was really the one who got me started.
BM: Who were the influences on your musical career?
Rollo: Julius Jr. All Harmonica Players! but particularly Jr Wells, Sonny Boy Williamson 1&2, Sonny Terry, and George Harmonica Smith.
BM: Does singing the Blues come from experience?
Rollo: Yes and being stubborn
BM: What was the first gig that you played?
Rollo: At a small Pub in Leicestershire without a P.A. it was very acoustic. Before that I would stand in with any Blues band who would let me.
BM: Do you think that Blues needs to evolve to stay relevant?
Rollo: Yeah ... but I think that it has never stopped evolving.
BM: What other styles of music have you drawn inspiration from?
Rollo: I have been listening to Reggae since I was a boy. I also listen to and love.. Soul, Salsa, Samba, Flamenco, Jazz and a variety of African Music.
BM: When did you start playing (Harmonica)?
Rollo: I used follow my mum around the house with a Chinese Harmonica from 5 years old. but I started seriously when I was 16
BM: How would you like to see music change over the next 10 years?
Rollo: I'd like to see undiluted blues breaking into the mainstream!
BM: If you wasn’t a musician (in a band) what would you be doing?
Rollo: I think I would have concentrated on my acting career
BM: What sort of music did you listen to growing up?
Rollo: Blues and Reggae mainly
BM: You are a singer/songwriter. What drives your song-writing?
Rollo: Mostly real experiences. Or Jokes.
BM: If you had the opportunity to play with any blues artist dead or alive live on stage who would it be?
Rollo: Urm................ I thought Muddy but I think He would have told me off alot. So I would have liked to be in George Harmonica Smith's band
BM: What do you do to relax when you have some spare time away from music?
Rollo: Dance, Play Guitar, Drink, Smoke!
Thank you Rollo for finding time to complete my questions.
Barry Middleton
Nottingham Blues Society
You are viewing the text version of this site.
To view the full version please install the Adobe Flash Player and ensure your web browser has JavaScript enabled.
Need help? check the requirements page.
