Paul Stone is not only a great musician but also one of the most passionate, sincere and positive people we have ever met. It was really a pleasure to have this talk with him. We’re sure you’ll enjoy it too!

Tell us something about yourself, what’s your musical background?

Well, I started piano when I was in 3rd grade, alone with the drums, trumpet and, bass guitar – however, I swap out the trumpet for harmonicas when my asthma got to be too much and I couldn’t really play the trumpet like I wanted to. I was never formally given an education on music outside of the regular music class in elementary school. However, I did play with a lot of very famous musicians who showed me “the ropes” in a great many ways of playing, and feeling what I play. Some are, but not limited to, Bobby Lee Corley – former drummer for Angel out of Ocala FL., Mark Hornbacher – former bass player for Harry Perry out of L.A. California. And even the bass player to Blues Oyster Cult who once told me to ‘never stop playing’ and that I had ‘something going on’, as he put it.

How did you start playing the guitar?

I picked up the guitar when I was around 8 years old – I first heard European bands like the Scorpions and was amazed by the structure an electric guitar could have, then I started delving deeper into guitar playing and improvising. I began listening to Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan and the likes of Jimi Hendrix and the Doors. I have always been amazed by the blues genre and the many great guitarists there – for example B.B. King and Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters and Buddy Guy. Then I started getting deeper into the realm of the Allman Brothers and other such southern rock and jam bands like the Grateful Dead and Lynard Skynard.  There’s just so much awesome music to be exposed to out there in the world.  I even had some old 45 vinyl’s of the Beatles and the Dave Clark Five.

Tell us more about your projects. What is your personal motivation/inspiration to do what you do?

The feeling is a big contributor to the way the music has developed for me. I have to be able to relate to what I am doing in almost such a way that it makes me laugh at it from time to time with that “Oh no, I know where this is going” wonderment, like when I first hit that right note that sent goosebumps up my arms.

The project I am working on now, I am hoping, will give the listener that same kind of feeling and make them feel happy that they listened to the blues music I am playing for them. It is a huge accomplishment to know that I can be able to create this kind of music for people of all ages and walks of life. No matter where you come from and what you do in life I think everyone can get down on and relate to the Blues. It has Soul, Funk and life wrapped in it. It is real to me. As real as life gets.

What do you think of Drooble?

I think that Drooble, like other facets of cyber-connecting with people, is a fascinating tool for musicians all around the globe to use. It is easy to use and you are able to connect with many other professionals (and not so pro yet musicians) out there in the world. And that is a really great way to get feedback. The only way to get better is to play with everyone. And if you never stop playing, you will only get better.

What would you tell every young person, who’s just starting out their musical journey?

Have fun with your music, do it because it moves something within you. I started playing when I was 8 years old, before I even knew you could make a living playing music. Before I knew I could make money playing the Blues, Soul, Funk and Blues Rock I was already playing to crowds in elementary school. The point is to do it because you love it and for no other reason. If you do it for the sheer thought of being happy in life, any paychecks you get as a result of that is just a huge bonus.  Too many people want perfection and overnight success and then once things get real and don’t exactly pan out for them as expected they get disappointed easily and may give up. Don’t give up. Life can be hard and music can provoke emotions in us in these hard times.  It is what it is within us, and we do our best to cope with it.  I like to use the genre of the Blues because it speaks to every aspect in life for me.  It is all I need..

What challenges do you face as a musician? What do you think of today’s music industry?

I think it really isn’t a matter of being a musician that holds any problems for me. In fact, if anything, my recording, playing and buying of gear revolves basically around the need for money. To be able to afford these things and you need a livable wage earning job in the working force, so that these musicians can pursue their goals and dreams in life without having to worry about becoming homeless in the process.  It speaks to many blues songs.

Do you think people can find each other online and start a real music project together?

I think where there is a will, there is a way.  So yes, I absolutely agree that folks could start a real music project if they were so inclined to pursue that as a way to connect with other musicians, who are also like-minded and with clear goals.

Free words:

Don’t ever give up, don’t ever allow the hurtful words of others stop you from attaining your dreams. Oftentimes the state of mindfulness that you perceive a situation through can direct its outcome. If you speculate it will be easy, then you might not try as hard as what you later discover is really the difficulty level of what you are doing. Sometimes overwhelming things can cause folks to give up or resign themselves to a state of complacency where they tell themselves that they won’t ever get any better so ‘why try’? So self-defeating, don’t do that! I hope this helps someone out there reading this. Thank you and have a great journey.

You can follow Paul at Drooble here – https://drooble.com/paul

And how do you feel about music? Leave us your comment below!