Tim Russ – Actor, Guitarist & True Bluesman

From Sci-Fi Icon to Bluesman Supreme – Meet Tim Russ

Starfleet knew him as Tuvok. We know him as a Bluesman who found his voice not in space, but onstage, where the only prime directive was feel. A seasoned actor, director, and musician, Tim Russ is the rare artist who moves effortlessly between galaxies and grooves.

In this episode, Tim takes us back to where it all began—the thrill of hearing music for the first time, and the fire it lit inside him to make that sound himself.

We trace his early days as a gigging musician, his classical training, and the gear he still swears by. He shares stories of late-night jams, deep grooves, and the joy of finding his voice through the blues.

We talk about what it meant to portray the legendary Robert Johnson onscreen in the 1986 film Crossroads—and the surreal experience of learning slide guitar from Ry Cooder to prepare for the role.

Tim’s love for the blues runs deep. He fronts the Tim Russ Crew, a band that blends traditional blues with a modern bite. Whether he’s channeling classics or sharing originals, his guitar work is clean, soulful, and unpretentious.

Hit play, and then:

https://timrusswebpage.com/appearances.html - visit to support Tim’s music and to find out his band appearances “Tim Russ Crew”

https://www.amazon.com/Crossroads-Ralph-Macchio/dp/B000WN60NG#:~:text=Watch%20Crossroads%20%7C%20Prime%20Video – Crossroads (1986 film)

CONNECT WITH TIM RUSS:

Website: https://timrusswebpage.com/index.html

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/trusspage5/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQSso7sds6bkC7vl0jLstkA

Stream it. Share it. And if it moves you, support the artist—and join us for more.

Matt Cooper, Broadcaster & Host

Join the movement: https://www.talkingbluespodcast.com

His landmark work is Up Jumped the Devil: The Real Life of Robert Johnson, co-authored with Gayle Dean Wardlow. The result of over 50 years of chasing documents, recordings and oral histories, it destroys the crossroads myth and brings us a more complex, brilliant—and human—Robert Johnson

In this engaging conversation, Bruce Conforth, a lifelong bluesman and ethnomusicologist, shares his journey through the world of music, from his early influences in New Jersey to his pivotal role in the folk revival and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

He discusses the profound impact of Robert Johnson's music, his experiences with Reverend Gary Davis, and the cultural shifts in music during the 60s. Throughout the discussion, he emphasizes the importance of authenticity in music and the rich history of blues and folk music.

Whether you’re a blues fan, a history buff, or someone seeking clarity in myth, this episode digs deep. Bruce Conforth doesn’t just tell stories—he lays the evidence on the table.

Hit play, and then:

bruceconforth.com – visit to explore more from Bruce Conforth – award-winning author, musician, and ethnomusicologist and to buy music straight from the man himself

Amazon.com: Bruce M. Conforth: books, biography, latest update – visit to purchase book “Up Jumped the Devil: The Real Life of Robert Johnson”

CONNECT WITH BRUCE CONFORTH:

Website: https://bruceconforth.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Bruce-Conforth-100040296168814/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bruceconforth8220

Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruce_Conforth

Stream it. Share it. And if it moves you, support the artist—and join us for more.

Matt Cooper, Broadcaster & Host

Join the movement: https://www.talkingbluespodcast.com

Raw Chicago Blues from a man who lived it—and never left it behind.

What do you call a guitarist who stood beside Muddy Waters for seven years, played The Last Waltz, and still sounds like he’s got the South Side of Chicago running through his cables?

You call him Bob Margolin. The blues world calls him Steady Rollin’—a name he’s more than earned.

Bob doesn’t just carry the tradition—he embodies it. His playing is steeped in the electrified Delta that Muddy, Wolf, Elmore, Reed, and Little Walter hauled up to Chicago and set ablaze. What Bob calls Raw Chicago Blues—it’s not about vintage gear or studio tricks. The sound lives in the fingers and the heart of the musician.

He’s not here to reenact history. He’s here to pass it on.

In this episode of Talking Blues, Bob talks about his time with Muddy, the blues ethos, guitars that bite back, and what keeps the music honest. You’ll hear the stories behind the sound and feel the weight of a life lived on stage—and in service of something bigger.

Hit play, and then:

BobMargolin.com - visit to buy music straight from the man himself.

https://www.bobmargolin.com/truefire-lessons - Want to play with the same fire? Check out his Raw Chicago Blues Guitar Course - a must for anyone serious about the sound.

https://www.pinetopperkinsfoundation.org/ - Bob also gives back through the Pinetop Perkins Foundation mentoring the next generation of blues musicians.

The Blues Foundation - https://blues.org/become-a-member/

CONNECT WITH BOB MARGOLIN:

Website: https://www.BobMargolin.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bobmargolinfanpage

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/bobmargolinofficial

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bobmargolin/

Twitter/X: https://www.x.com/bobmargolin

Stream it. Share it. And if it moves you, support the artist—and join us for more.

Matt Cooper, Broadcaster & Host

Join the movement: https://www.talkingbluespodcast.com