HOME PAGE

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

Making a Scene Presents Gerry Casey’s Interview with Bob Stroger

At 94 years old, Bob Stroger is still actively touring and earning long-overdue recognition for the decades he’s spent laying down the foundation of countless blues bands. In 2024, he made history as the oldest person ever inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame and won his fifth Blues Music Award for Instrumentalist – Bass.

Born on December 27, 1930, between Hayti and Swift in Missouri’s bootheel, Stroger didn’t grow up around music. It wasn’t until he moved to Chicago that his passion for the blues truly ignited—especially after living near the legendary Silvio’s club on the West Side, where he could literally watch Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf perform through the windows.

In 1949, Stroger married the sister of guitarist Johnny Ferguson, who played in J.B. Hutto’s band. That connection, along with encouragement from fellow musicians like Calvin “Fuzz” Jones and Bob Anderson, led Stroger to pick up the guitar. He tuned it to play bass accompaniment before eventually buying his first electric bass. With his brother John, he formed groups such as the Red Tops and later Joe Russell and the Blues Hustlers—opting for stage names that were easier to pronounce than “Stroger” (which is correctly pronounced STRO-jer). Even when he started gaining attention, producers and musicians often got his name wrong; early album credits list him as “Bob Strokes,” the way Otis Rush and Sunnyland Slim pronounced it.

Stroger spent his early years gigging around Chicago with a mix of blues, jazz, and R&B groups. He played with saxophonist Rufus Forman, bluesman Morris Pejoe, and had a long local run with guitarist Eddie King, performing blues and soul. His first studio recordings came during this period in the 1960s. Like many working musicians, he also took on a variety of day jobs—doing factory work, running a small candy store, even working as an exterminator. In the 1950 census, he listed his occupation simply as “Make kitchen gadgets.”

His big break came in 1975, when Otis Rush’s drummer Jesse Green introduced him to Rush’s band. That opportunity led to his first European tours and further studio work, helping Stroger sharpen his playing into the rock-solid blues groove he’s now famous for. Rush became a mentor, and Sunnyland Slim soon became a steady employer. Stroger also played with a long list of blues greats including Snooky Pryor, Pinetop Perkins, Willie “Big Eyes” Smith, Jimmy Rogers, Carey Bell, Eddie C. Campbell, Mississippi Heat, Bob Corritore, and many more—both in the U.S. and abroad.

It was Sunnyland Slim who encouraged Stroger to step up to the microphone and sing. He first recorded vocals in 1993, appearing on one track of a Mississippi Heat album and later on a German release by the Big Four Blues Band (with Steve Freund, Robert Covington, and Sam Burckhardt).

Eventually, Stroger began releasing music under his own name. His debut solo CD, In the House: Live at Lucerne, Vol. 1, was recorded at the Lucerne Blues Festival in 1998 and released by Crosscut in 2002. That was followed by Bob Is Back in Town (Airway, 2006), Keepin’ Together (Big Eye, with Kenny “Beedy Eyes” Smith, 2014), and That’s My Name (Delmark, with Brazilian blues band the Headcutters, 2022). He also appears on several live festival recordings and tours regularly as part of Chicago blues all-star sessions.

Even today, Bob Stroger beams with joy each time he takes the stage. He’s deeply grateful to mentors like Otis Rush, Sunnyland Slim, Jimmy Dawkins, and Eddie Taylor, who helped guide him in his journey. Now, Stroger pays it forward by mentoring the next generation of blues musicians, offering wisdom and guidance at the Pinetop Perkins Foundation workshops in Clarksdale, Mississippi every year.

His story is living proof that the blues never ages—and neither, it seems, does Bob Stroger.

Google	Spotify	Deezer	Breaker
Pocket Cast	Radio Public	Stitcher	TuneIn
IHeart Radio	Mixcloud	PlayerFM	Amazon
Jiosaavn	Gaana	Vurbl	Audius
Reason.Fm

Find our Podcasts on these outlets

Buy Us a Cup of Coffee!

Join the movement in supporting Making a Scene, the premier independent resource for both emerging musicians and the dedicated fans who champion them.

We showcase this vibrant community that celebrates the raw talent and creative spirit driving the music industry forward. From insightful articles and in-depth interviews to exclusive content and insider tips, Making a Scene empowers artists to thrive and fans to discover their next favorite sound.

Together, let’s amplify the voices of independent musicians and forge unforgettable connections through the power of music

You can donate directly through Paypal!

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Order the New Book From Making a Scene

Breaking Chains – Navigating the Decentralized Music Industry

Breaking Chains is a groundbreaking guide for independent musicians ready to take control of their careers in the rapidly evolving world of decentralized music. From blockchain-powered royalties to NFTs, DAOs, and smart contracts, this book breaks down complex Web3 concepts into practical strategies that help artists earn more, connect directly with fans, and retain creative freedom. With real-world examples, platform recommendations, and step-by-step guidance, it empowers musicians to bypass traditional gatekeepers and build sustainable careers on their own terms.

More than just a tech manual, Breaking Chains explores the bigger picture—how decentralization can rebuild the music industry’s middle class, strengthen local economies, and transform fans into stakeholders in an artist’s journey. Whether you’re an emerging musician, a veteran indie artist, or a curious fan of the next music revolution, this book is your roadmap to the future of fair, transparent, and community-driven music.

Get your Limited Edition Signed and Numbered (Only 50 copies Available)  Free Shipping Included