7 minute read
An interview with Gina Coleman, Misty Blues
Blues Matters caught up for a chat with Gina Coleman, the powerhouse lead singer of the acclaimed Misty Blues Band. Known for her soulful vocals and magnetic stage presence, Gina has been the driving force behind the band’s unique blend of blues, jazz, and original music for over two decades.
Words: Colin Campbell Images: As credited
Gina’s deep connection to the roots of blues shines through every performance. Today, she shares insights into her musical journey, the evolution of Misty Blues, and the passion that keeps her inspired. We discussed her career and her newest project honouring the songs and music of Odetta.
THE DARE THAT SPARKED IT ALL
“I became a musician on a dare. After graduating from college, I had moved to a new town in western Massachusetts, far from my roots in the Bronx, New York. I worked as a teacher’s aide in a school for children with behavioural disabilities, a demanding job that left me looking for an escape after work. One night, my co-workers decided to show me around town. They took her to a local club on a Wednesday night for an open mic event, not karaoke, but a stage for real musicians with real instruments.” Fuelled by the spirit of the night and a few drinks, she found herself being dared to sing. “I said, well, I don’t check,” she recalls, smiling. But then came the double dare, and for Gina, turning down a double dare wasn’t an option. “This was the first time I had ever been in that club, and I thought, if I do really, really bad, I can just leave and never come back.”
With that thought in mind, she stepped up to the mic and sang an a cappella version of the classic “Mercedes Benz,” a song written by Kris Kristofferson but made famous by Janis Joplin. “The place erupted in applause,” she says. To her surprise, she had not only won over the crowd, but she also won the night’s open mic competition, walking away with a $75 prize. “I thought, $75 for two minutes of work. That’s not bad!”
BUILDING A MUSICAL CAREER
After that fateful night, there was no turning back. Coleman returned the next week, a guitarist approached her, suggesting they collaborate. They formed a group called The Siblings, “That’s when I knew I was a professional musician.” Growing up in the Bronx, music was always a part of her life. “I had piano lessons starting at the age of five, I played until my teens, and I also took guitar lessons. Plus, I played in a Latin drum corps.” Her time in the drum corps honed her skills in Latin percussion, adding another layer of versatility to her musical abilities.
EMBRACING THE BLUES
Reflecting on her journey, Coleman acknowledges that her path hasn’t always been easy, but it’s been deeply rewarding. “My career has been going downhill ever since,” she jokes, referring to that first $75 win, “but in the best possible way.”
Her story is a reminder that sometimes the most unexpected beginnings can lead to the most fulfilling destinations. From a double dare to a career in the blues, Gina Coleman’s musical journey is a celebration of spontaneity, passion, and the undeniable power of music.
FROM FOLK FUNK TO THE BLUES: THE BIRTH OF MISTY BLUES
Before Misty Blues came to life, Coleman was exploring other musical avenues. “I had a duet partner, and after we split up, I started a band called Cole- Connection,” she recalls. The group played an eclectic mix they labelled “acoustic folk funk.” However, as the summer of 1999 approached, Gina got a unique opportunity to perform at the Williamstown Theatre Festival, where she was cast as a gospel singer in a production of Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin In The Sun. The role required her to sing gospel blues from a fire escape built above the main stage, distracting the audience as the acts transitioned below.
Enter Ruben Santiago-Hudson, the play’s star, who had a transformative influence on Coleman. “He came to me and said, ‘You need to stop that folk funk nonsense you’re doing,’” Coleman laughs. Santiago-Hudson handed her a collection of forty-six tracks, Men Are Like Streetcars, featuring all-female blues singers from 1928 to 1969. “I consumed it, and I was hooked! “I told the remaining band members, ‘Let’s become a blues band,’” They embraced the idea, and on a whim, she christened the band Misty Blues. “There was no rhyme or reason for the name, it was just the first thing that came to mind.”
25 YEARS STRONG: MISTY BLUES AT SEA
In 2023, Misty Blues celebrated a milestone with a blues cruise to Bermuda. “We had about 75 people come specifically for our special cruise package, but there were 2,500 folks on the boat. Our people got first dibs on the venues we played each night, and then it opened to the rest of the ship. We tried our hardest not to repeat any songs throughout the week. But 90% of what we did was all different songs. The legacy of Misty Blues is still being written, one soulful note at a time.”
PASSING THE TORCH: DIEGO COLEMAN AND THE NEXT GENERATION
“Diego Coleman, a talented musician in his own right, and my son is making waves in the blues world. In January, he’ll be heading to Memphis to compete in the International Blues Challenge (IBC) for the second time with his band. I always tell him there’s always someone better, so don’t get too full of yourself. Stay grounded, because no matter how good you are, someone can come along and knock you out of the game. As much energy and effort as you put into this work, someone can pull the rug out from under you. You must be able to get back on your feet and pivot.”
THE QUEEN OF GETTING CLIPPED AT THE KNEES
When asked about the advice she passes on to her son Diego, Coleman had a knowing smile. “Oh yeah, I’m the queen of getting clipped at the knees,” she laughs. Her career has been a testament to resilience, a lesson driven home during the pandemic. “We made it to the finals of the International Blues Challenge in 2020. I mean, we were on a rapid ascent, everyone wanted us,” she recalls. But then, as for many artists, the pandemic hit hard. “The pandemic comes and takes all of that forward progress away. And now we’re just, like everyone else, trying to be heard more, trying to be seen more. When all else fails, I’ll keep producing music.”
UK TOUR: A DREAM COME TRUE
“It was fantastic,” she says with a smile, her enthusiasm palpable. “It was affirming, you know? We got to these venues and found folks who have been listening to our music for years. We always spend time at the end of each show meeting the audience, chatting with folks. That’s everything to me. There wasn’t a night on tour where someone wasn’t asking for a song that I barely even remembered writing!”
ODETTA TRIBUTE: A PERSONAL MISSION
In August, Misty Blues released I’m Too Old for Games, the second album in Coleman’s tribute series to Odetta, the legendary folk and blues artist. The project is close to Coleman’s heart, not only because of her admiration for Odetta’s work but also due to a sense of responsibility. “We had great success with the first tribute album,” she explains, but what struck her was how many people asked, “Who is this Odetta person?” For Coleman, the idea that younger audiences might never discover Odetta’s legacy was “frightening.”
Coleman decided to double down and create another tribute. “This time, I selected songs more clearly in the blues realm, as opposed to folk,” she explains, distinguishing the new album from the first. She notes that this latest album
