Jerron 'Blind Boy' Paxton sings the blues, but he's also vocal at educating his fans about black culture where the blues originated.
The true bluesman with family roots deep in Louisiana says the blues is part of American culture so people can be "gung ho" about the genre, but it's important to remember where the blues came from.
His speciality is pre-1940s blues, straight from the south.
Having said that, the blues can come from anywhere, you don't need to be from the deep south to be immersed in its culture, Jerron says. Jerron himself was brought up on the rough streets of South Los Angeles.
He is happy to hear that the Western Bay of Plenty has a solid blues following - with local bands such as Brilleaux and Swamp Thing leading the charge. "Being a person who comes from a legitimate blues background it tickles me to hear people are coming back to the blues," Jerron says.