Scott Ainslie Has a High Calling
Scott Ainslie has a high calling. He’s a blues and traditional roots musician, a blues historian, storyteller, teacher, record producer, and ethnomusicologist. He’s developed a strong voice and conscience to match.
Ainslie has made a point of studying the culture and history of the blues musicians whose songs he sings. He says, “Knowing the background of what a song meant when it was initially played, who played it and how they lived, deepens the emotional experience.”
– “Musician Caught By The Blues,” 7/22/2011
Scott Ainslie
Born in Rochester NY in 1952, Scott Ainslie has been playing music on something since he was three years old. A guitarist since 1967 with powerful appreciation for and apprenticeships with elder black and white musicians in different musical traditions, Ainslie carries a portion of them forward in his own traditional blues performances and songwriting.