EPISODE · Jan 31, 2025

Episode 239: Bennett Kelly

from Look At My Records! · host Thomas Gallo

Episode 239 features an interview with author Bennett Kelly! Known across New Jersey for his excellent journalistic contributions to publications like New Brunswick Today and the Look At My Records! music blog, Kelly recently shared his first-ever work of non-fiction, a novel titled Sensation Blues. The book, which is set deep in the Mississippi Delta, tells the story of a young, aspiring musician named McKinley as he navigates his journey through the world of the blues. Along the way, McKinley is mentored by his uncle Ira and encounters some exciting rock and roll antics, which are playfully detailed across Sensation Blues’ almost 300 pages. During the interview, Ben and Tom chatted about the process behind writing a work of fiction, the influence of New Jersey legend Paul Robeson on the book, the type of research he performed, and much more. Plus, Ben picked some awesome records from Blur, The Beatles, and the Jam. You can follow along with Ben’s picks via the official playlist for Episode 239.You can purchase a copy of Sensation Blues via Ben’s website. Keep up with Ben by following him on Instagram!