Whether he is anchoring the Red Dirt Boys for Emmylou Harris or producing Grammy-nominated records for blues queen Shemekia Copeland, Will Kimbrough is the ultimate "musician’s musician." A Mobile, Alabama native with a career spanning over three decades, Kimbrough’s discography is a roadmap of American roots music, from his early days in The Willies to solo gems like his 2024 release, For the Life of Me. In this episode, Kimbrough joins Jason English on the Gulf Coast to discuss the spiritual gravity of live performance and his deep collaborations with legends.

For Kimbrough, the essence of music isn't found in the digital ether but in the physical connection of a room. He notes that while the industry has shifted, "performing the thing is really the heart and soul of it". He describes the "energy and connection" between a performer and an audience as an irreplaceable force. This commitment to the moment defines his work, whether he’s playing for thousands or practicing a Gram Parsons duet in a small tent.

As a producer, Kimbrough favors intuition over technical rigidity. Recounting the sessions for Shemekia Copeland’s Blame it on Eve, he describes the joy of "jamming" with greats like Jerry Douglas and Luther Dickinson. Rather than acting as a distant director, he chooses to "play along," believing that "you’ve got the energy of all those people" when you record live.

The conversation turns poignant as Kimbrough discusses "Bubbles Up," the track he co-wrote for Jimmy Buffett’s final album. Written while Buffett was undergoing treatment, the song serves as a beautiful analogy for finding one's way when "your compass is spinning". Kimbrough reflects on the profound trust Buffett placed in him, noting, "He didn’t want me to be him. He wanted me to be me".