Blues legend Paul Geremia, a notable 12-string guitarist, is known for fostering a traditional blues sound that is reminiscent of Robert Johnson and Blind Lemon Jefferson.

The Providence, R.I., native's skills on slide guitar and harmonica are renowned. Since releasing his first album, "Just Enough," in 1968, Germia has built a reputation as a genuine bluesman. He has 11 albums in his discography, including "Gamblin' Woman Blues" (1993) and "Love, Murder and Mosquitoes" (2004).

Geremia plays at 8 p.m. April 19, Godfrey Daniels, 7 E. Fourth St., Bethlehem.

In a recent phone interview from his home in Athens, Ohio, where he has lived since 2013, Geremia says there were many musicians who influenced his life: "So many of the people I met affected me. I hung out with some of what you would call the originators of traditional country blues."

He humbly rattles off an impressive list: "Sleepy John Estes, Little Brother Montgomery, Blind John Davis, Pink Anderson.

"I knew John Jackson quite well and Howard "Louie Blueie" Armstrong. I spent the night with Howlin' Wolf [aka Chester Arthur Burnett] and his band."

Geremia adds, "I invited them to my house for a party and they came."

Geremia's foray into the music world began in the 1960's. The third-generation Italian enjoyed playing harmonica and was learning to play guitar. He is now famous for an incredible finger-picking style on six and 12-string guitars, "Everybody who plays a 12-string owes a debt to Huddie Ledbetter [Leadbelly]," says Geremia.

Not that many of the blues greats are still with us, Geremia emphasizes. "So, I glued my ears to them whenever I encountered them."

Geremia's reverence for traditional blues is evident. He visited Robert Johnson's grave and is proud of having met Skip James at Club 47 in Cambridge, Mass.

When asked how he feels about being labeled "the torch-bearer of traditional blues," Geremia responds, "I never strived to be pigeonholed. I do the best I can to continue the tradition. I think it's an honor [to be called that], yet I don't think that I completely fall into that category."

Geremia has idols, such as Mose Allison. "I have a great deal of respect for him. He does his own music, yet also does the early blues. I know enough about piano to give him a great deal of respect."

When asked what he attributes his longevity to, Geremia says, "I attribute it to the fact that I've never had a manager or agent. I make my own way in this business. I play where I want to play."

His most recent album, "Love My Stuff" (Red House, 2011) is a live recording from The Down Home, Johnson City, Tenn. His tour will take him to Idaho and Colorado. Geremia makes the trips by car, and no longer travels by airplane, dating to a snafu in Poland when baggage-handlers broke his guitar.

"They gave me another one to use, but it was pretty awful. I had to improvise," he says