We had the good fortune of connecting with Robin Henkel and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Robin, is there a quote or affirmation that’s meaningful to you?
I write almost every day to get in touch with myself. Here’s an affirmation I created and refined by years of writing, sorting out where I’m going, what I want to do, how I want to focus my energy, etc.

“The contributions I make to my career and well-being add up—they work together to create good and sometimes unexpected results.”

I like this way of looking at things because it keeps my motivation positive rather than being bogged down and owned by my work. Feeling good about what I do is important to me.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Playing music as a career since 1973, I have experienced a lot of emotional ups and downs. Along with the successes there have been many frustrations. Some of these experiences were followed by a loss of self-esteem which lingered for years. For each setback however I’ve managed to develop a “workaround.” If something didn’t work try something else. Playing in bands with a group of people creates a situation where cooperation is vital. Around 1985 dealing with other people in bands became so frustrating that I decided to start performing solo. Since I can play guitar and sing, I am fortunate to have that option—many musicians do not. After a few years of building credibility playing a variety of places, I was able to assemble my own band which still performs today.

One of the challenges my band faces with respect to repertoire is that we do not perform popular current music. My experience has been that most places that hire bands want to hear recognizable hit songs. We do not do any of that. You could say I am artist first and businessman second. I’ve been very hardheaded about this. For me art is more of a self-indulgent expression of what the artist wants to present. It’s not about winning favor for mainstream audiences.

As a solo performer I’ve developed a style originating from Mississippi Delta Blues, yet not in it’s pure form. I blend it with back-country, roots American music and funk stylings. As a band leader I like to compose music that honors the deep roots and traditions of American music—funk, jazz, blues and swing. I’ve also enjoyed being inspired by the styles of Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Moze Allison, Slim Gaillard and many others. It gives me great joy to compose horn arrangements based on the work of these great writers and performers.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
To entertain out of town guests? We’d have to see Bill Caballero’s Latin Jazz Jam currently at Bread & Salt in Barrio Logan. I quit drinking over 20 years ago so I’m not much fun. Plus, fancy establishments don’t impress me too much—I’ve played in so many of them. Although I have to say the Red Fox is great. There’s also Filippi’s for a pepper steak sandwich or perhaps one of the great Mexican food establishments. Do we have to stay in the city? I recently entertained some musician friends from Plymouth, England. I figured there’s a chance they had never seen a desert before so we headed out to Anza Borrego. I think it blew their minds to feel the hot wind as we poked around Dos Cabezas. I heard one of them say “mental” more than once.

Owens Valley around Lone Pine is another favorite of mine.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
When I was 11 years old (1962) my parents took me to see the first real blues musician I had ever seen—Josh White. Not only was he a great performer singing blues and spirituals, he was also an inspiration as a social activist.

In 1997 I read “The Artist Way” by Julia Cameron. For me this writing has been a major inspiration. It has helped me get to know myself better, focus toward the outcomes I desire, and enjoy the ride.

Website: www.robinhenkel.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robin.henkel.39/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@robinbongos

Other: tiktok.com/@robinhenkelblues Yes I am the 72-year-old guy playing blues on TikTok at 9 AM California time every day (except Tuesday). My participation on this social media app has exploded into something unique, special and global. Please join us.

Image Credits
Photo 1: Chickenbone Photo 2: Dennis Andersen Photo 3: Dennis Andersen Photo 4: no credit necessary

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutSocal is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.