2024 Blues Fund Board
Scott Lindsey (Janky)
Founder/President
Scott Lindsey, better known on stage as Janky is an Austin, TX blues musician with a long history of helping blues artists. Scott was originally mentored by Texas blues great, Reverend KM Williams while playing bass for him. Scott produced six of the Rev’s CDs while under his tutelage, at no charge. Doing so simply for the love of the blues. Scott later went on to record and produce many other blues greats including, Robert Kimbrough Sr, Peggy Sue Hemphill aka Lady Trucker, Lil’ Joe Ayers, and EJ Mathews. Again, Scott did not charge a single cent to these artists. Scott and Robert Kimbrough Sr won the Artists Music Guild’s (AMG) Album of the Year for Robert’s I Been Fixed release. Scott’s work with Lady Trucker on her release, Rollin’ Up On Ya, has garnered her many awards.
In the late 80s and early 90s Scott attended LSUS and transitioned to the Art Institute of Dallas gaining a degree in Visual Communications in 1991. Scott quickly moved into the dotcom world working with Mark Cuban at Broadcast.com/Yahoo, leading the team that built Pizza Hut’s first iPhone App and then climbing the ladder in the advertising world to become Executive Creative Director for RAPP Worldwide/Dallas.
Janky is also a hard-driving musician having produced 4 CDs of his own good-time-blues. His last two releases were Grammy contenders.
Cristal Givens
Vice President
Cristal has built a career around two of her greatest passions, music and technology. Starting in the late 80s working in music retail, she soon founded a grassroots marketing company covering genres from blues to punk to rock. By the mid-90s she transitioned into the technology space, where she co-created a digital agency and worked with companies across various industries while still staying connected to her music side, consulting with independent artists and labels. In 2014, she delved back into the music world through artist development and education at MediaTech Institute. Today, she continues to work with diverse clients and talents, always seeking the opportunity to discover, define, and design solutions that streamline ideas, brands, and opportunities.
Chad Carroll
Chairperson
Chad served our country for 27 years in the Army and is now a retired veteran living in Austin, TX where he works with nonprofits for veterans administrations. Chad has played drums in various blues bands at his numerous duty stations during his 27-year Army career. He has a great knowledge of the interworkings of nonprofits and how the Blues Fund can create a greater impact for blues musicians. Playing music and helping his fellow musicians remain his best therapies.
Cody Cotton
Board Member
Cody is a versatile musician proficient in a wide range of Western instruments and styles, with particular expertise on harmonica and guitar. He was deeply influenced by live performances of Austin blues icons Joe Richardson and W.C. Clark and by recordings of blues greats Freddie King and Muddy Waters. Cody has shared the stage with legendary blues artists such as Duwayne Burnside, Robert Kimbrough Sr., and Lil’ Joe Ayers at festivals across Tennessee and Mississippi.
In a previous role, Cody served as the Austin area Nashville Songwriter’s Association Coordinator.
Oliver Kostrinsky
Board Member
Oliver is a very talented musician/guitarist and resident of new York who travels around the South playing with blues legends who are still alive. He is a true inspiration. He seeks out greats like Pat Thomas or Jimmy “Duck” Holmes, befriends them and just plays guitar with them. He is building up quite a repertoire of blues styles of the great legends who are still with us. He offers an authentic connection to these musicians.
Ilana Katz Katz
Board Member
Ilana Katz Katz is a Blues and Appalachian fiddler, singer, songwriting musical chameleon whose busking passion began on Boston’s subway platforms in 2008. Known for her signature solo performances, she also lends her fiddling prowess to a who’s who of Blues musicians and beyond as a recording artist and special guest in many bands. She strives to do whatever she can to bring good vibes to our strange world and even offers free home-baked cookies at her performances. Ilana is also a novelist, sews one-of-a-kind jackets and berets, makes organic body balm, and is a henna artist.
More info: ilanakatz.com
Marie Claire Underwood
Board Member
Marie’s love for the blues runs deep. She is such an Elvis superfan that she bought the Graceland Too Museum in downtown Holly Springs along with her husband after the original owner’s death. She sponsors many of the blues musicians in Mississippi and you can often find her setting up something rain or shine at many of the big blues festivals.