This writer met Mike Slotboom in Memphis, TN, at the International Blues Challenge—though at the time, we had no idea we were standing next to one of the most respected craftsmen in the world of Telecasters and Stratocasters.
Our road to Memphis began months earlier, when we won the Piedmont Blues Challenge in Greensboro, NC. That victory earned us a slot in the finals in Memphis, a pilgrimage point for blues musicians and true believers from all over the globe. Six months later, when we finally arrived, Memphis delivered exactly what it promises: community, camaraderie, and more talent packed into a few days than most cities see in a year.
As the competition unfolded, we met countless musicians, builders, and lifers. On the final afternoon, we crossed paths with Mike and his friend Tony, who was also competing. They were immediately disarming—smart, funny, generous with stories—and the kind of people you hope to keep running into as you move through this strange and wonderful music world. We stayed in touch…