Doug Duffey is a Southern musical institution. He’s retained that status since the ‘60s, having immersed himself in the indigenous sounds of Louisiana, the Mississippi Delta, Memphis, and specifically, the broad spectrum of the music brewed in New Orleans. It’s little wonder that no less than that city’s beloved icon, Marcia Ball, has referred to him as “a multi-hyphenated all- star. He sings great, plays great, writes great. He writes the truth and you can dance to it!” 

​

Others have concurred.  “There was  never a time in my life when I wasn’t making music,” Duffey suggests. “It’s as natural as breathing, and I’ve never given it a second thought.” 

​

With a new album, the aptly titled Trapped in the Blues, Duffey marks his second blues offering with his band BADD — Duffey on lead vocals and keys, guitarist/producer and multi-instrumentalist Dan Sumner, bassist Ben Ford and drummer Adam Ryland, along with guests Lisa Spann on backing vocals. All highly-acclaimed musicians, they sow those seeds spawned from Louisiana blues, delta soul, bayou funk, gumbo jazz, producing a sound best described as “swampadelic.” 

​

Combining that depth of devotion with exceptional instrumental prowess, the group’s sophomore release is a follow-up to its highly acclaimed, Play the Blues — that reaped an exceptional array of critical kudos. David Roman of The Mystery Train hailed it as “an outstanding album… highly recommended for listeners of blues music in all its immense and varied ways.” Indie Voice Blog Review noted, “If you like the blues... then add this one to your collection today.” “This is truly the music of Louisiana music on a small platter,” Bill Wilson of Reflections in Blue insisted, before going on to say, “Duffey is a man of vision and a great storyteller...and the supporting cast is spot-on and able to help bring it all to life. ‘Nuff said. Doug Duffey and BADD are the real deal.” 

​

Then again, Duffey’s regal reputation is well deserved. Aptly described as “one of Louisiana’s living legends” and “artistic treasures,” he spent two years writing and recording the album at Fort Sumner Studio in Monroe Louisiana, taking advantage of down time during the pandemic. The music reflects the art, culture, stories, and environs where they came of age, reflecting the impetus and expression that brings it to fruition. 

Duffey describes the album as a continued exploration of the blues through the lens of personal perspective, as well as the isolation caused by the pandemic. And while the common thread is still blues-based, it goes further afield by including other seminal influences as well. 

 

The energy and enthusiasm conveyed in the band’s performances effectively share his stories and, in the process, convey that spirit within the songs. 

 

A member of both the National Blues and the Louisiana Halls of Fame, Duffey comes about his pedigree quite naturally. Born in Louisiana in the Mississippi Delta, he gained his early chops playing in local clubs. He spent time in Little Rock, New Orleans, Hollywood and Nashville, where he lived and performed on and off from the ‘60s to the ‘90s all the while developing his seminal style. His songs charted on Billboard, Cashbox and Record World.

​

Even now, some 50 years later, his music continues to capture the imagery of his storied realms. His virtuosic  piano playing reflects the traditions of the Mississippi Delta that’s won him respect and renown throughout a startling, prolific career — on his own, with BADD and as part of the Louisiana Soul Revival. Given his soulful vocals and incisive, poetic lyrics, he’s become known for sharing dynamic performances interspersed with imagination, improvisation and celebratory sense of spontaneity. Having gained acclaim in Europe, he’s become a fixture at such prestigious gatherings as the Montreal International Jazz Festival, the Heineken Jazz Festival, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, the Louisiana Folklife Festival, and an impressive array of other music gatherings, clubs, concert halls and music venues both in the U.S. and overseas. 

​

At the same time, he’s contributed a wealth of songs to other artists as well, including Marcia Ball (“If It Ain’t One Thing”), George Clinton (“Silly Millimeter,” a co-write), Funkadelic (“One Nation Under a Groove,” a co-write), Rare Earth (“B. What R Ya,” “Happy Song,” “Delta Melody”), Zakiya Hooker (“A Memory Left To Lose,” “New Orleans Rain”), Billy Gregory (“Time & Money,” “Didn’t We Ramble”) John Austin (“Publicist”), and Jerry Beach (“Victim of the Blues”). 

​

“We go where the muse takes us,” Duffey insists. “Music is, for us, a natural state of being. It’s all about who we are.”