We recently connected with Guitar Frenchie and have shared our conversation below.

Guitar, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

Growin’ up to the sounds of my parents extensive record collection, I was drawn to music and particularly guitar at a young age. I picked up my first guitar when I was 12 and have dedicated my life ever since, to the craft! It’s a lifelong process that I’m still learnin’ and being inspired by other musicians from different backgrounds.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I was born & raised in the South of France and at an early age I knew that I wanted to be in America fullfilling my dreams of being a professional musician. I made the big leap in the spring of 2001 and moved to Hollywood, CA with nothing but a guitar, a change of clothes and $200 in my pocket. Call it luck or fate but 3 weeks into my stay in the City of Angels I ran into Shooter Jennings and promptly joined his band Stargunn. The first two years in California saw my dreams coming true by meeting and playing with some of my childhood heroes (Waylon Jennings, Slash, Tom Morello and James Hetfield to name a few…) Since my early American beginnings, I’ve played guitar for the likes of Stoney LaRue, Billy Joe Shaver and Jack Ingram as band leader! In the past few years, I’ve expended my craft to singing, writing, recording & performing my own music both as Frenchie’s Blues Destroyers and more recently as Guitar Frenchie. To pursue my career as a solo artist, I’ve moved full time to Clarksdale, MS arguably the home of the Blues to continue pushing my boundaries, recognizing and respecting the tradition of the birthplace of America’s music!

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect in my 22 plus year career in America has been the connection I’ve made via my music with people. Many I’ve remained friends after all those years! I look at music as an universal language that connects all of us no matter your background.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

In recent years, Alan Lomax book “The Land Where The Blues Began” has made quite an impact on me understanding how the music I love the most The Blues, was born. It was born out of hardships in the south, specifically Mississippi where my favorite artists hail from (Clarksdale and the Mississippi Delta in particular)

Contact Info:

• Website: www.linktree.com/guitarfrenchie
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/guitarfrenchie
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/guitarfrenchie