Serving the blues community for nearly 30 years, James “The Blues Hound” Nagel has an extensive and varied blues background. As a radio host, James has been on the airwaves since 1996. As host of Howlin’ the Blues on KPFT in Houston, James is the on-air source for all things blues—music, events, and information. The show’s weekly music calendar is arguably the most impressive and comprehensive music listing you’ll find anywhere. But James has his hand in so much more. Over the years he has helped organize, promote, and produce the Houston Blues Society’s annual Regional Blues Challenge and countless other events and fundraisers. He has served as the festival chair for the Charles Brown Music Festival and as emcee for blues festivals and area shows. James is also a writer and photographer whose work has appeared in Living Blues, Juke Blues, and numerous other publications. He is a past president of the Houston Blues Museum, serves on the board of directors for the Houston Blues Society, and is the talent buyer for the Shakespeare Pub in Houston. In his free time he creates promotional posters and is an avid painter.
