Love is Blue(s): Corky Siegel’s story

Corky Siegel shares the wondrous journey of his life and his take on learning music

“When someone compliments you on your music, just say thank you and stop criticising yourself. Play your music, play whatever makes you happy,” says Corky Siegel, musician and singer-songwriter. In a conversation peppered with good humour, there is an unbridled joy as he recounts his unusual foray into the world of blues and blues-rock. At 78, his zest to share his music and knowledge remains undiminished; he is as gleeful as a child sharing a secret when talking about his success as a musician.

“I call it a secret since it is something which seems negative. In reality, it’s one of the most positive things in my life,” he says, going on to recount how he did not possess the necessary skills to become a musician.

“I loved music and I even took lessons but I didn’t do very well. I was almost 20 when I learned about the blues which is built on the framework of a simplified form of music. I realised early on that I lacked what was needed to play music. Yet, when I heard the blues I fell in love with it — its emotion, expression, rhythm.”

“I started learning bit by bit and instead of mastering an entire song, I would take one phrase and play it over and over for months.”

Corky says his unorthodox manner of learning, ‘from the opposite end’ is not how one traditionally learns music where a focus on theory and method dulls the joy of being able to play. “However, that’s been my approach to music,” he says.

Even as he was finding his groove, Corky and his friend, guitarist Jim Schwall, began making waves. They were playing the blues at a time and place when not too many white people accepted it as serious music.

Despite the years and his roaring success, Corky hasn’t lost that sense of wonder over the turns his life has taken. There is no mistaking the amazement in his voice as he talks about how his idol Howlin’ Wolf came with his family to watch him play. Or how a club regular turned out to be maestro Seiji Ozawa of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra who offered the Siegel-Schwall band the chance to tour with them.