Start with a degree in Business Administration and Management and you might just wind up running and owning a record company. Sounds like a long shot but that's what happened to Sallie Bengtson in 2014 when her passion for all things blues—especially if it has something to do with New Orleans—inspired her to visit the city. "It started with the atmosphere—it's a gumbo of the architecture, the food, the music and the spirit. "It's 'my' place" she recalled during a spring 2024 conversation. She soon met traditional blues artist Benny Turner, who was a long-time side man, and realized that his decades of rich stories should be preserved in a book. So, as the book came together, a record company began to blossom as well.

A decade later, in 2024, Nola Blue Records celebrates its 10th anniversary—in addition, Blue Heart Records, a sister label, was founded in 2020. Interest in the labels and their artists steadily grew. Long-time radio host and blues fan Jim McGrath compiled the Living Blues Magazine official playlist (as reported by 80-100 stations in the US, Canada, Australia & Europe) for 35 years. He's met many of the legendary blues artists and is familiar with numerous musicians. "I remember when Nola Blue first debuted in 2014. It didn't take long for Nola Blue releases (and later Blue Heart Records) to start charting. There were and still are, great releases by Nola Blue Records including