Page 39 - Blues Festival Guide Magazine 2024 Digital Edition

didn’t worry about it, Willie would fix it. He would get out on
the ground and fix things on that van, unless it was something
he couldn’t do. Being on the road with those guys? It was
like family and everything was funny. We had to protect one
another out on the road. We’d always say, ‘It’s the four of us
against the world.’ I miss those days.”
At the age of 93, Bob is still traveling and playing, and
has no plans to stop. He is scheduled to play the Notodden
Blues Festival in 2025 with John Primer, Bob Corritore, Jimi
"Primetime" Smith, Wes Starr and Anthony Geraci to promote
their newest release Crawlin’ Kingsnake. 2024 marks 50
years of the two Bobs – Corritore and Stroger – working
together. In the words of Corritore: “From the first time I met
Bob Stroger, playing with Louis Myers in 1974, he has always
been a beacon of kindness and professionalism. Back in the
‘70s, when I was living in Chicago, Bob was in demand and
John Primer and Bob Stroger play The Rhythm Room in Phoenix, AZ. played in five to 10 bands at any given time, and always
with the best players. I first took Bob into the recording studio
releases, in 2020 he had his first release on the label with his in 1980, when I was producing a recording by harmonica
Brazilian Band – The Headcutters – called That’s My Name. master Big Leon Brooks. After that, I would run into Bob all
He is working on another album, release date unknown, that over the place. We also started working together with Bob
includes some originals of his own and also pays tribute to his Margolin and became ´The Bobs Of The Blues.´ Bob has
friends. “I haven’t been traveling as much. I have so much to joined me in recording sessions with Oscar Wilson, Alabama
get done here first!” Mike, Taildragger, Willie Buck, John Primer, Henry Gray, Jimi
For the last 25 years, Bob spent much of his time in Europe ´Primetime´ Smith, Thornetta Davis and many more. I feel
and South America until COVID slowed down musicians’ strong commitments to working with Bob Stroger whenever
travels. “I’ve got two different bands. When I’m with my band, possible because of our long friendship together and his
we do a lot of ski resorts and mountain venues, and I’m not unmatched skill on the bass.”
a big, big star. I really love the smaller venues. I get to spend Between 1997 and 2018, Bob Stroger was nominated
time traveling and seeing the countryside. That’s what’s so 15 times for a Blues Music Award, winning the award in
unique about that. The only thing I miss now is doing the West 2008, 2010, 2011 and 2013. In 2023, Bob, along with
Coast and Texas gigs with Hubert, Pinetop and Willie. We fellow bluesmen Bob Margolin and John Primer, were
used to do lots of gigs in the States. When Pinetop was alive, I awarded Lifetime Achievement Awards at the Blues Blast
cut out a lot of my European gigs ‘cause we were on the road. Music Awards. Throughout it all, Bob remains humble,
On most of them, Willie and I drove – Pinetop didn’t want always ready with a smile and happy to hang out in the
to fly. Willie was a great mechanic. If something broke, we crowd or take selfies with everyone.
“Awards never meant that much to me. My reward is for
the people to enjoy what I do. I was never the one who came
off the bandstand and went to the dressing room to hide.
When I come down off the stage, I like to be with the people.
They are the ones who got me here, keep me in jobs and pay
my rent. People feel so much closer when they think you’re
personable and you talk to them. That’s my reward.”

All photos by Ÿ Marilyn Stringer

Marilyn Stringer is a passionate blues photographer who has
spent the last 20 years documenting the blues. Hailing from
California, and now residing in Arizona, she is an accountant
by day, and spends her summers traveling to document the blues
at festivals and events, loving to share them on her Facebook
page. She works closely with the print and digital media, artist
management, venues and performers, and for that, she has
been awarded a KBA (2023) and was just inducted into the
AZ Blues Hall of Fame (2024). You can find her photos on
“The Bobs Of The Blues” − Bob Margolin, Bob Stroger and Bob Corritore. Facebook.com/Marilyn Stringer and www.MJStringerPhoto.com.

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