“Gibbs’ songwriting is deeply personal and profound. It’s plain to see Otis Gibbs is a man you should give a damn about.” — Rolling Stone
“Gibbs has been likened to everyone from Guthrie to Springsteen, but his is the rare voice that stands on its own.” — Esquire Gibbs’ storytelling extends beyond music to his YouTube channel, where more than 100,000 subscribers listen to tales and folklore passed down by legendary musicians. In an effort to preserve these stories before they’re lost to history, he has single-handedly built a living archive in the spirit of the Lomax family, Studs Terkel, or even Charles Kuralt. This deeply personal project reflects Gibbs’ reverence for history, lived experience, and the characters who shaped American roots music from the ground up. He embraced a DIY ethic early on, sometimes by choice and sometimes out of necessity. Whether starting his own record label, podcast, YouTube channel, or whatever else needed to be done, he has created his own ecosystem in the arts — all while wearing the same work shirt and old felt hat that he wore planting trees 25 years ago. He continues to shine a light on forgotten people, overlooked places, and the unvarnished beauty of everyday life.