BMA Nominated World Renowned Country Blues Artist & Historian
Ram Prakash Pokharel aka Prakash Slim was born mired deep in the blues. Born in a small village in Nepal, his father died at the age of twenty nine, leaving his mother with three children to raise on her own. Slim started hearing old blues records when he was a child, and he first played music by drumming on a set of gallon water jugs, and he would sing to the beat all damn day. Sometimes he almost drove his mother crazy. Due to his difficult childhood growing up in dire poverty, Slim is died in the wool bluesman.
After discovering his love for traditional blues music in a remote region of Nepal, Mr. Slim spent countless hours studying several of the great blues masters, including Charley Patton, Robert Johnson, Bukka White, Fred McDowell, Mississippi John Hurt, and Blind Blake, among others.
Mr. Slim has been traveling throughout the U.S. recording, sharing, and developing his music in the birthplace of the blues genre.
After learning that Mr. Slim was going to be in Memphis, Tennessee for the Juke Joint Festival, and while Michael Freeman a Grammy, BMA winning producer/engineer was also in this area in April 2023, he embraced the opportunity to collaborate with Slim, extending an invitation to record his next album at Sam Phillips Recording before he traveled back to the west coast.
Like his first album, "Country Blues From Nepal", " 8000 Miles to the Crossroads" has been a great success so far, earning Mr. Slim significant praise within blues communities in the U.S., Europe, Australia and several other countries worldwide.
In fact, Mr. Slim had been invited to play his music at dozens of festivals and venues around the world, although remotely since this was during the Pandemic. Mr. Slim was invited to perform at En El Rio Blues Festival in Argentina; Festival Internacional de Blues de Lima in Peru; Festival International Queretablues in Mexico; Obregon Sonora Blues Fest in Mexico; International Blues Festival of Asuncion in Paraguay; Crossroads Confined Countdown Festival, based in France; and Blues for a Cause, hosted by Blues Society of Nepal. Within the U.S., Mr. Slim was invited to perform at Can't Stop the Blues, one of the larger blues events in the world, and Moe's Alley, a live music venue based in Santa Cruz, California that won the 2021 Blues Foundation Music Award.
Mr. Slim has been invited to perform alongside Johnny Burgin, Blues Music Awards 2023 Nominee for Best Traditional Blues Artist, as well as TJ Wheeler, recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Jersey Shore Jazz & Blues Foundation. In April 2023, Mr. Prakash and Mr. Burgin performed at the Juke Joint Festival in Clarksdale, Mississippi. The festival has been featured in media outlets across the globe, including The New York Times, WallStreet Journal, The Economist, The Guardian, 60 Minutes, and PBS NewsHour, attracting attendees from across the U.S. and approximately two dozen countries.
Other events where Mr. Slim has been asked to share his music include Blues on the Range hosted by the Granite State Blues Society in Mason, New Hampshire; The Monkey House Theater Berkeley, California; the live music venue B-SIDE Bar in Memphis, Tennessee; "Blues Saturday" at AILAA Himalayan Bar & Grill in Stoneham, Massachusetts; Southern Saratoga Arts, Crafts and Vendor Fair in Clifton Park, New York; Somerville Nepali Cultural Fest 2024 in Union Square, Somerville, Massachusetts; and the Jersey Shore Jazz & Blues Foundation's Reckless Steam Nights Concert Series in Red Bank, New Jersey, The Washington Blues Society's Gas Station Blues in Downtown Issaquah, Washington.
Mr. Slim's dedication to his genre has been tireless and he has even been invited to play at a number of live music restaurants and bars when his schedule allows, including Jamey's House of Music in Landsdown, Pennsylvania; The Hotel Utah, SF, California; The Bog Easy, Petaluma, CA; MrSippy BBQ in Rochester, New Hampshire; Other One Brewing Company in Clifton Park, New York; Papa Turney's BBQ in Hermitage, Tennessee; Daddy's Tavern in Williamsburg; Riverside Hotel in Clarksdale, Mississippi; and the John Cecil Price Memorial Show hosted by The Fire in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Given his emphasis on making blues music available to the public, Mr. Slim has also accepted invitations to perform at libraries including Hampton Falls Free Library, Keene Public Library, Alton Community Action Center, Harvey Mitchell Memorial Library, all of which are located ni New Hampshire.
Prakash actively participated in 8th Annual International Conference on the Blues hosted by Delta State University, Mississippi in Oct. 2021.
Throughout his career, Mr. Slim has earned awards and nominations for his work.
- Nominated for Blues Music Award (BMA) in the "Best Emerging Artist Album" of the year 2025, USA. Blues Music Awards are universally recognized as the highest accolade/honor given to the blues musicians and are awarded by The Blues Foundation, America.
- Ambassador of the Blues Award, The Golden Gate Blues Society Awards, California, USA;
- Nominated for the "World Artist Of The Year" 2023 for Josie Music Award, USA.
- 2022 CFAB Male Artists of the Year Honor Roll Nomination on the Grey Eagle Radio Show, USA;
- Prakash Slim is honored with "International Ambassador of the Blues" from Sacramento Blues Society, California, USA;
- Prakash is honored with "Blues Ambassador and Keeper of the Music Tradition" from the Granite State Blues Society, USA.
His first album "Country Blues From Nepal" received the following positions on music charts around the globe;
-#2 on Roots Music Report Country Blues Album Chart for the Year 2025, USA.
-#6 on Roots Music Report Country Blues Album Chart for the Year 2024, USA.
-# 3 on Roots Music Report Country Blues Album Chart for the year 2023, USA.
- # 2 on Roots Music Report Country Blues Album Chart for the year 2022, USA.
Roots Music Report (USA) is the number one independent music chart in the world which compiles radio airplay data from radio stations around the globe.
- #12 on BluesBlues (UK) Top 40 Blues Albums of 2022;
- #21 on Most Played Album Top 40 - February 2022, Independent Blues Broadcasters Association (IBBA), UK ;
- #19 on Australian Blues & Roots International Airplay Chart for the month of February 2022;
- Album of the Week, Blues Beat Radio, January 2022, Australia; and
- Album of the Week on Zicazic media, France.
New Album "8000 Miles To The Crossroads" music/radio Charts ;
- #1 position on the Roots Music Report Country Blues Album Chart for the year 2025, USA.
- #3 position on the Roots Music Report Country Blues Album Chart for the year 2024, USA.
-#43 on Blues Matters The Big Blues Chart Top 50 Blues Album, UK.
-#19 on KIOS 91.5 FM Blues Chart, Omaha, USA for the month of November 2024.
- #24 on Australian Blues and Roots Airplay Chart: “Most Played International Releases” for October 2024, Australia.
- #27 on Roots Music Report Top 50 Blues Albums for the week of Oct 5, 2024, USA.
- # 21 position on Living Blues Radio September 2024 Chart, USA. This report tallies all the U.S. radio stations playlists every week and such chart positions are extremely meaningful.
- His song "Kokomo Blues" reached #29 on Roots Music Report Top 50 Blues Song Chart for the week of Oct 5, 2024, USA.
- His song“Kokomo Blues" received the #29 on Spotify Top Song Blues Chart October 2024.

- #39 position on Top Fifty Blues Albums Monthly Chart of September , 2024 of The Big Blues Chart, USA.
- #2 on World WMSE 91.7 FM, USA for the month of September 2024.
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Mr. Slim has been highlighted in some of the major blues publications around the world. Prakash featured on the cover of one of the best blues magazines "Blues Blast Magazine" USA and interviewed by senior writer/reviewer Marty Gunther. He was interviewed by Chicago Blues legend Deitra Farr for her column in the America's leading blues magazine "Living Blues" Magazine ; He was featured for UK's leading blues magazine "Blues Matters" with a four page interview ; Several magazines and media outlets have also picked up on his music and written articles detailing Mr. Slim's biography and music - American Blues Scene, USA; Blues Monday Monthly, USA; Bluesletter Washington Blues Society, USA; Grateful Web, USA; Blues in Britain, UK; Blues in the South, UK; Blues News Magazine, Germany ; Bues & Co, France; Crossroads Magazine, France; Twoj Blues Magazine, Poland; Blues News Magazine, Finland; ABC Color Daily News, Paraguay; Blues. Gr, Greece, Down At The Crossroads, Ireland; JazzBluesNews, France - Armenia; Lazie Indie Magazine, France - India; enepalese, USA; Yuwa Hunkar - National Monthly Magazine, Nepal; and Nepali Times Australia, Kalakarmi Media (Nepal), abd Khasokhas Nepali Media (USA).
SMAC (Stoughton Media Access Corporation) TV Massachusetts, USA, KZSU 90.1 FM (Stanford University, CA, USA), WUMB Radio Network (university of Masachussets), KMRE 88.3 FM (Bellingham, WA, USA), Blues Radio International (USA), Global Blues Radio (USA), Radio Memphis (USA), WEVL FM 89.9 Memphis (USA), Nashville Blues & Roots Alliance, The WAYO 104.3 FM, (NY, USA), WUSB 90.1 FM (NY,USA), The Phoenix Radio (USA), The cat 107.9 FM (UK), Hard Rock Hell Radio UK, The Sterling City Radio (Scotland), Plastic EP Live TV (Australia),
Album reviews about “8000 Miles To The Crossroads” have been published in these magazines and medias ;
Senior journalist Marty Gunther from Chicago Blues Guide Red, Hot ’n Blues Music Reviews states "It’s full of hypnotic, precise fingerpicking techniques that mix East and West sensibilities, and it’s soaring high on the charts".
Reviewer Stephen Harrison from Blues Matters (UK's leading blues magazine) states "8000 Miles To The Crossroads is An amazing album of raw Blues, Bravo".
Norman Darwen from Blues in Britain Magazine UK states "This set is a winner all the way".
Blues In The South (UK), American Blues Scene (US), Zicazic (France), Chicago Blues Guide, .....
In addition to being named in these magazines, Album Reviews about "Country Blues from Nepal" have been published in American Blues Scene (US), Blues Blast Magazine (US), Down at the Crossroads (Ireland), Living Blues (US), Making a Scene (US), Blues in Britain, Blues in the South (UK), Blues Matters (UK), Finnish Blues Society, Buscadero Magazine (Italy), La Hora del Blues (Spain), Blues News Magazine (Finland), Zicazine (France), and Twoj Blues (Poland).
Reviewer Steve Jones from Blues Blues Magazine (USA) states "Prakash Slim is a super guitar player and songwriter".
Back in Nepal and before he travelled to the United States, Mr. Slim continued to play and develop his blues music while giving back to his local community as an educator. He launched a program, "Blues in the Schools," through which he has taught music to students in various schools throughout Nepal. From March 2005 ot December 2023, Mr. Slim held several part-time teaching positions, serving as a guitar instructor at Kalanidhi Indira Sangeet Mahavidyalaya School; Vidyha Sanskar School; and Premier International School. Mr. Slim's dedication to service and giving back to the music community is unique among artists.
Prakash Slim had photo shoot with Britain's Blues Hall of Fame photo journalist Adam Kennedy for Adam's "Virtual Photography Project".
Prakash has been performing at some of the major international blues festivals, venues ;
Prakash giving interview for Talk N Tunes show on Stoughton Media Access Corporation (SMAC) TV, MA, USA
https://youtu.be/PwlJXjIKFZc?si=LGLMqsvrxiKgGoqq
Performing at Southern Saratoga Arts, Crafts & Vendor Fair, CIifton Park, NY, Aug 24, 2024
https://youtu.be/-j-2UuYdzl0?si=cUHa_9-xPmrZkqgR
Prakash Slim at Blues On The Range Festival NH, USA, Aug 3, 2024.
https://youtu.be/-xh4ln0BwMI?si=eeCNd7ynv2vT906K
Prakash Slim at The Fire, Philly, USA 06/07/2024
https://youtu.be/hmVmbs71fcw?si=UNUMIwV039SSDjC_
Prakash Slim at Ailaa Bar, Stoneham, MA, USA 06/01/2024
https://youtu.be/DgBVE5IbK_c?si=q7OLN8qQ1MdMDZe1
Prakash slim at Historic Shell Gas Station, Downtown Issaquah, WA, sponsored by Washington Blues Society.
https://www.youtube.com/live/GxMjhgt2BmY?feature=share
Prakash Slim with TJ wheeler at Harvey Mitchell Memorial Library, Epping, NH, USA, June 24, 2023.
https://youtu.be/gwQu6SNk97k
Prakash Slim Live on KZSU 90.1 FM Stanford University, California, 31/05/2023
https://youtu.be/Qm52oAgwiko
Greaseland Studio Live, San Jose, CA May 30, 2023.
https://www.youtube.com/live/uFWzul1_62M?feature=share
Moe's Alley - Santa Cruz, CA May 28, 2023.
https://youtu.be/Juuk65ZB8Io
Prakash Slim featuring Rockin' Johnny Burgin at B-Side, Memphis, April 19, 2023
https://www.youtube.com/live/JeFvhrRG6ao?feature=share
At the legendary Juke Joint Festival, Clarksdale, 1PM , April 16, 2023
https://youtu.be/qW6ZUbcjWqQ
At The Historic Riverside Hotel in Clarksdale, Mississippi, April 16, 2023
https://youtu.be/H2cZW9Ufdg8
Papa Turney's BBQ, Nashville, April 14, 2023
https://fb.watch/k3JtFAuVcN/
https://youtu.be/3mspnT0rifw
Prakash's performance at Best Of The Blues Award Show of Washington Blues Society, April 23, 2023.
https://youtu.be/P0ubxUtTAKk
Performances on Virtual Platforms during pandemic
CAN'T STOP THE BLUES, USA Dec. 14, 2020.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnnCT3IhjGY
FESTIVAL BlUES EN EL RIO, Argentina, Dec. 4, 2020.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWv5H8cAP-M
Crossroads Confined Countdown Festival, France, June 2020.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_i2_UwjEIyA
Obregón Sonora Blues Fest 2021, Mexico (starts at 3 hour 43 minute)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAxgRPOIssY
Festival International Queretablues, Mexico, Dec. 18, 2021
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=421177349667100
LA RUTA DEL BLUES VI EDITION, Mexico ) Oct. 23, 2021
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=404366571225691
Festival Internacional De BLUES de Asunción, May 24, 2020.
https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?ref=watch_permalink&v=644030776175146
1POSADAS BLUES FESTIVAL, November 7, 2020, Argentina.
https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?ref=watch_permalink&v=377223273622572
Festival Internacional de Blues de Lima, Peru, June 22, 2020.
https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?ref=watch_permalink&v=708263389741062