When Brian Stoltz picked up a guitar for the first time at age 9 or 10 and found the instrument’s old, rusty strings difficult to play, it didn’t derail his artistic ambitions.

The New Orleans guitar slinger kept strumming and learning, formed a late ‘60s garage band and then built a notable career playing with, among others, the Neville Brothers, Dr John, the Funky Meters and Bob Dylan.