RAGAN WHITESIDE-SOUL JAZZ PHENOMENON

Teresa B.: Good. If you had one wish when it came to your career,…what would you do differently? Ragan Whiteside: That's tough. Because without all of the little things the highs, the lows, and the in between struggles, heartbreaks and joy, all of it has made me who I am today as a musician. So I really wouldn't do anything differently and I like where I am as a musician. I want to continue to grow and so I don't think there has been one thing where I would say, “I should have just went on and did that”. I'm not that person. I take every experience for what it is and I learn as much as I can from it. But one wish that I do have for the future is that all musicians get paid what they're worth and that low balling becomes a thing of the past. I don't think the general public has any idea how much time, energy, and money that has to go into this. That's why people set their prices where they set them.

Teresa B.: What advice would you give the up and coming musicians?

Ragan Whiteside: Develop a thick skin and learn everything you can about this business,…especially the underbelly of it. There's a lot out here and you have to be able to protect yourself, and the only way to protect yourself is to have that knowledge.

Teresa B.: How can people reach you to book you for shows and events?

Ragan Whiteside: You can always reach me through my website RaganWhiteside.com. I'm also on social media at @RaganWhitesideMusic Facebook or at @RaganWhiteside on Instagram.