Indie Blues/Americana artist and singer/songwriter/guitarist Fred Hostetler, drops new single ‘Orphan Blues’ (Release Date: Wednesday, February 15, 2023).

Hostetler’s latest release goes to the well of human experience where he visits Son House, who reminds him about “Death Letter Blues.” Fred draws from that deep well of emotion to deliver his own tale of loss, and moving forward from it.  The moment his slide guitar begins ‘Orphan Blues,’ you know a story is about to be told. Powered by acoustic guitars churning and chugging alongside Hostetler’s earnest raspy vocal delivery, bass and drums round out the rhythm track with surprises at the end of the story. ‘Orphan Blues’ is pulled as a single from his upcoming album Rain Walking, due early this year.

“A few months ago I went out to the garage and played a slide riff that just came out of nowhere and knocked my socks off,” explains the Washington state resident. “I immediately recorded it on my IPhone. That riff fostered the song ‘Orphan Blues’ and introduces the song. A few days later, for some unknown reason, I began singing the folk spirituals ‘Motherless Child’ and ‘Motherless Children’ to myself during my early morning walks on the mountain. I realized, ‘hey I’m a motherless child and an orphan’  and ‘sometimes I feel a long way from home.’ Drawing from the loving well of the Mother, this song arrived as a story to be told, with me as the storyteller.”

‘Orphan Blues’ is available for streaming and downloading at Amazon, Apple Music, You Tube, and nearly everywhere. All his music can be purchased from the artist’s website: fredsheartradio.com/.

 Orphan Blues YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6A3o47ITek.

Orphan Blues

At 3am in the morning, I sat straight up in bed
I heard the telephone ringing, ringing in my head
When the phone rings after midnight, you know the news ain’t good
Something’s happened somewhere, you better knock on wood.
Well I Jumped out of bed…ran around, searching for my phone,
When I picked it up a voice told me, your mother has passed on.
I bowed down my head, a tear ran down my cheek
Dropped down on my knees, couldn’t find the words to speak.
Well it’s a hard hard lesson, when a loved one’s gone away,
You miss them morning noon and night, each and every day
Now Mother’s gone gone gone gone gone and I got the orphan blues,
She’s gone
Now Mother’s gone gone gone, ya and I got the orphan blues
She’s gone
Don’t know where I’m a going, or what I’m gonna do
You know I really love that woman, I tell the world I do
You know I really love that woman, I tell the world I do
Now I’m a motherless child, I got the orphan blues. (2x)
Remember mother’s advice, hold fast to the right,
Walk in the light and you’ll be alright

More About…Fred Hostetler 

Fred Hostetler crosses the great ‘genre divide’ from folk to blues and rock, brought to life by many of the artist’s original songs and reflections. He has worked with major artists including the late, great guitarist Johnny Winter, Graham Parker, Jeff Beck, The Knack, Billy Squier, and Grammy-award-winning producer, Jack Douglas. Along with Karen Lawrence, Hostetler founded the highly-acclaimed Southern California blues band, Blue By Nature. His musical style, while grounded in Blues and Americana traditions, cannot be defined by a single genre.

Hostetler won “Best Singer/Songwriter” in 2019 from the LA Music Critic Awards and the Severn/FM-UK Blues Hour and Encyclopedia of Rock “Industry Award” in 2021.

Fred is a Goshen, Indiana native and graduate of Goshen College. Fred currently resides on Whidbey Island in the Pacific Northwest and looks forward to resume playing live again in 2023.

For Immediate Release) – dougdeutschPR