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Cape Fear Blues Society
Randy McQuay
H 2015 IBC Solo/Duo Winner H
photos by scott allen - vividpix.com
2015 has been an extraordinary year.
I have been extremely blessed and
humbled by my experiences as 2015
IBC solo winner. As your winner, I traveled
to over a dozen states and Mexico,
performing at all of the awarded dates
and so many more. It was very important
to me to take advantage of every opportunity
afforded by this achievement.
I never thought for a second that
winning the IBC meant overnight success
or that I would immediately get an
awesome record deal. It actually meant
more work. As I stated in my song “Rehab
Blues,” “It works if you work it!” This applies
to winning the IBC as well. Winning
surely opened many doors and allowed
me to book confidently and with more
success, especially in regions where I
hadn’t traveled previously. I did receive
offers from labels that weren’t right for
me, but it was very nice being considered
and to make those connections.
Ultimately, “2015 International Blues
Challenge winner” has a nice ring to it,
and looks pretty good on paper, too.
The single most important thing
about winning was being recognized
by the judges and fans alike for my efforts
as a songwriter and performer, as
I am very passionate about this music.
Second was the opportunity to get out
there and share my brand of music with
blues fans (the most receptive, grateful,
kind, and caring) from all over the world.
It was an honor and a pleasure to
perform alongside so many other talented
artists at the IBC and after. Being
invited to festivals as a performer also
meant having an all-access pass to see
many of my favorite artists as well. >>
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