VIZIONS OF ROCK: Your list of accomplishments is amazing and awe-inspiring, but what started it all, where did it begin?

VICTOR WAINWRIGHT & THE TRAIN: It all began with me being picked up and sat next to my Grandfather on the piano bench when I was a child. He taught me. He and my father.

VIZIONS OF ROCK: What inspired you to get into the music industry?

VICTOR WAINWRIGHT & THE TRAIN: My family, particularly my Grandfather and Father. They played music professionally in and around Savannah, GA as I grew up.

VIZIONS OF ROCK: How did your Father and Grandfather help meld you as a musician and human being?

VICTOR WAINWRIGHT & THE TRAIN: They taught me that music isn’t about what you play, it’s about how you play it. They also taught me to be kind.

VIZIONS OF ROCK: How did growing up in Savannah inspire your music style?

VICTOR WAINWRIGHT & THE TRAIN: Growing up in Savannah had its clear advantages! Number one and the most basic, my family is from Savannah. My Grandfather, Father and Uncle all played music in and around Savannah for many, many years before I was born. I grew up listening primarily to them, starting the day I was born. Later once I was in High School, I started venturing downtown to Savannah Blues.

VIZIONS OF ROCK: You have a very storied past concerning how and why you play. Please tell us who inspired you and how you plan to honor that memory.

VICTOR WAINWRIGHT & THE TRAIN: I learned to play the piano from my Grandfather. He was bigger than life and he and my father are the main reasons I play music today. My Grandfather passed this December 2017, but every night I come on stage, I truly believe he comes on with me. He loved performing more than anything!

VIZIONS OF ROCK: What artists inspire you?

VICTOR WAINWRIGHT & THE TRAIN: BB King was a huge influence. I just gravitated towards that man. His music was amazing of course, but also his demeanor, positive attitude and how hard he worked just floored me, and still does. I miss him.

VIZIONS OF ROCK: What other types of people inspired you?

VICTOR WAINWRIGHT & THE TRAIN: Comedians inspire me as I think they have a really challenging job. Reverend Billy C Wirtz really inspired me coming up in the blues world. He used comedy and music together as a way to reach the crowd, and that was completely new to me. I love learning from a great comedy act, and he’s a master at holding a crowd in the palm of his hand.

VIZIONS OF ROCK: Did you have any mentors?

VICTOR WAINWRIGHT & THE TRAIN: I would call my Father and Grandfather my biggest mentors.

VIZIONS OF ROCK: What did you grow up listening to?

VICTOR WAINWRIGHT & THE TRAIN: I remember hearing my Dad and Grandfather singing covers of Ray Price and Merle Haggard. Jerry Lee Lewis, Jim Reeves and Jimmy Reed. Honky Tonk, Genuine Rock n’ Roll, and Blues. It was amazing!!! It was joyous!

VIZIONS OF ROCK: Tell us about your early Memphis experience and what ‘clicked’ for you.

VICTOR WAINWRIGHT & THE TRAIN: At that time, I think almost 12 years ago now, Beale Street was slammed! It was like the IBC’s every weekend, with clubs and the street packed tight with all sorts of people. I had a regular gig at Wet Willie’s and a steady working relationship with the club, Rum Boogie. I had as many gigs as I needed at the time, which were more than I could handle thinking back.

VIZIONS OF ROCK: What inspires you when you start writing a song?

VICTOR WAINWRIGHT & THE TRAIN: I get inspired mostly by my band. They are so ridiculously good that it’s hard for me to keep up, but they inspire me to work harder, to try and reach further. Lyrical inspiration is different for me. That comes from my heart and has to be personal.

VIZIONS OF ROCK: What has been your favorite song that you’ve written so far?

VICTOR WAINWRIGHT & THE TRAIN: At the risk of sounding cliché, they are kinda like children, so I don’t really have a favorite. But I really enjoy performing Wiltshire Grave and I’ll Start Tomorrow!

VIZIONS OF ROCK: Watching the crowd sing your songs with you as you play and sing them, how does that feel?

VICTOR WAINWRIGHT & THE TRAIN: It feels like there is no greater honor. It’s humbling and it just makes me feel so amazing and grateful.

VIZIONS OF ROCK: How did you find your producers and what do you look for in one?

VICTOR WAINWRIGHT & THE TRAIN: The album is a co-production between my friend Dave Gross and I. I’ve been wanting to work with him for a while and when I found out he was interested, I jumped all over it. Dave has supernatural studio abilities and an ear to die for. He works super hard and I consider him a part of our family and team.

VIZIONS OF ROCK: What projects do you have coming up? What are your plans for the future? As

VICTOR WAINWRIGHT & THE TRAIN: As soon as we get back from the Grammy’s and settled back home from tour, we are hitting the studio to record our next album!

VIZIONS OF ROCK: Who makes up your current touring band?

VICTOR WAINWRIGHT & THE TRAIN: Billy Dean who’s been with me for 10 years on drums. Terrence Grayson who’s been with me five years on bass. Pat Harrington who’s been with me three years on guitar. Just this past year, we’ve added on a bulk of our shows an amazing horn section, comprised of Mark Earley on Saxophone and Doug Woolverton on trumpet.

VIZIONS OF ROCK: How do you manage to keep your energy level high when you give your out and out at each event…night after night?

VICTOR WAINWRIGHT & THE TRAIN: I often wonder about this myself when it’s time for me to find energy due to other things! The crowd and fans of this music as what directly give me the energy to continue doing this.

VIZIONS OF ROCK: Where was your first big stage appearance?

VICTOR WAINWRIGHT & THE TRAIN: Opening for BB King was my first “big stage” appearance. I’ll never forget it. About 2500 tickets sold in the Peabody theater in Daytona beach.

VIZIONS OF ROCK: All artists have had to make sacrifices for their art, what have you had to give up to make it work, and where do you gain your strength?

VICTOR WAINWRIGHT & THE TRAIN: It’s sometimes quite strange to see my friends I went to high school with raising children and having big families while I’ve been dedicated to the road and to this musical journey. Sometimes I wonder.... but then I hit the stage.

VIZIONS OF ROCK: What would you like our readers to take away from this interview, what insights into your life as a Musician and your vision of Blues Music?

VICTOR WAINWRIGHT & THE TRAIN: A church isn’t the walls, the bell or the steeple, it’s the people inside a church that make it a church... blues is much the same... it’s the people; You guys. It’s not guitar or a special cord or notes. The network of volunteers, staff, festivals, fans, bands, foundation and society’s... the people. It’s just a pleasure to walk among my contemporaries and friends here in this community. I’m doing my absolute best to ensure the music we play is both exploratory and also respectful of the past.

VIZIONS OF ROCK: How can our readers follow you and your career?

VICTOR WAINWRIGHT & THE TRAIN: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and my website and www.victorwainwright.com