JJ Grey & Mofro/Neal Francis

Initially, John "JJ Grey" Higginbotham and songwriting partner Daryl Hance, friends since high school, went to England because they had the chance to sign with a label there. By the time they got there, the label was defunct. Higginbotham managed to eke out a living overseas for about two years before he moved back to Jacksonville at the request of Fog City Records label owner, who offered him a contract. With Jacksonville as his base, he's recorded and toured steadily ever since. His 2015 album Ol' Glory features soulful vocals and bluesy melodies. Higginbotham's husky voice, for example, sounds more soulful than ever on album opener "Every Minute." (Jeff Niesel)