After having toured and recorded for over a decade, Robert Cray had a breakthrough with his 1986 release, Strong Persuader, which included his signature tune, "Smoking Gun". Though the subject of criticism in those early days because of his willingness to embrace contemporary production techniques and incorporate soul and rock elements into his version of the blues, Cray's recorded output over 30 plus years on the scene and continuous touring around the world prove that he is the real deal. His prodigious guitar work and soulful voice have withstood the test of time, and he is now rightfully regarded as one of the great blues artists. The 55-year old Grammy winner's latest release, 2006's Live From Across the Pond, was recorded over a seven night stand at London's famed Royal Albert Hall and captures his band's potent live sound.

This Wednesday, The Robert Cray Band will headline the 5th Annual Congressional Blues Festival, which will take place on the South Plaza of the Kennedy Center. The festival is an effort by the Music Maker Relief Foundation to raise awareness of the importance of preserving American roots music. The organization exists to provide performance and recording opportunities, grants, and other forms of assistance to struggling musicians who are preserving these traditions. Also scheduled to perform are Elvin Bishop, Mudcat, the duo of Sarah Lee Guthrie and Johnny Irion, and others. Many of the artists performing are on Music Maker's roster of artists.

DCist's coverage of last year's event described the goals of the festival as well as what one can expect at the event itself. This year, we wanted to take a look at the festival's cause from the perspective of one of the performers, and so Robert Cray graciously took the time to chat with DCist and give us his thoughts.

First off, what is your take on the state of the blues today in the United States?

My take on it is, and it's always been this way, that I play the music because I love it and the fans go to see the music because they love it. The big problem for the general public who aren't really blues fans is that the music doesn't really have too many outlets. Mainstream radio doesn't play the music. The only time you really do hear the music is if you're paying attention to your local college radio station or National Public Radio, and there might be a blues program on weekends for maybe an hour or two. The people aren't really written up in the fan magazines and all that stuff, so it is a music that you really have to search out.

Do you see the effects of organizations like Music Maker in your day-to-day touring life? Do you see more young people picking up guitars and harmonicas, or is the blues still in a precarious situation?

I see more and more people doing that. The negative reasons I just mentioned, the fact that the music isn't in the mainstream, is also the same reason why a certain group of people gravitate towards it.

So it's almost an alternative music at this point.

Exactly. And so people go for it in that sense and for them, those who love that kind of music, it's their music. It's what they've discovered. I run into young people a lot at the shows and a lot of times at the blues shows the whole front row is guitar players. There's always a harmonica player who wants to sit in, and people passing along their CDs. So in that sense, the music still is out there.

The thing is it's always been that way. It would be great if a lot more people knew about the music, how long it's been going on, and all the great names who've played this music, but every bit helps.

Let's talk a little bit about the blues audience. In D.C., even though the music is rooted in African American culture, the audience is almost entirely not African American. Is this a concern to you, or do you just keep playing your music regardless? If it is a concern, what needs to happen to improve the situation?

It is a concern, but I will continue to play my music in hopes that it will break through. The concern is that the music isn't being played at the houses where the black kids are growing up, and that really is where the roots come from. There's always been, I think, for a lot of people, a stigma to going back to those days, when the people played that music. But the reality of it is that music is a form of therapy and it doesn't always connotate. There's the slavery issue and all, but the music for the most part is about love and relationships, as most music in the world is. On occasion there's something about the political side of it or the oppression of people in this country, but for the most part it's about relationships.

My knowledge base tends to go toward the jazz scene, and my take on that scene is that it's not in danger of dying simply because there's a lot of institutional support, like the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, etc. My concern is the lack of audience at the club level, where in a 60 seat club, only 12 people will show up. Does that parallel what you see in the blues scene?

We're a little removed from that particular sized venue, so I can't totally speak on it. But when we travel to different towns I might pick up the local weekly and thumb through to see if there are any names I recognize. I think a lot of those places are disappearing. What you see now with the remaining clubs is that there's a wide variety of music being played and on occasion they'll bring in a blues act.

But you mentioned for the jazz scene the Lincoln Center and all that. There isn't anything like that for the blues scene. That's one thing that's missing. It's great for the jazz scene because the jazz scene is no different from the blues scene, as far as that's concerned, in trying to keep the thing going.

So to wrap up, what can we expect on Wednesday from your set?

What we've been doing for the last five years or so is that we've basically thrown away the set list. We work through a little bit of everything over the whole course of our existence and call it as it comes to us. We play some of the favorites and go into the bag, and sometimes we'll play "Smoking Gun" and sometimes we won't.

The 5th Annual Congressional Blues Festival takes place Wednesday, April 23, beginning at 6 p.m. on the Kennedy Center's South Plaza. The event is free, but ticket distribution has closed. Those still seeking tickets must become Caravan Club Members of the festival.

Image courtesy Robert Cray