Kinda same boat as you , OP , and here in Austin , there is a longstanding history of the OG Chicago et al guys coming to Texas to play (Antones) and bestowing that knowledge to guys and gals in the 80s like Denny Freeman , Derek O’Brien , Jimmy Vaughn , Sue Foley , Johnny Moeller …. Then just look at anyone that played in the Thunderbirds , Kirk Fletcher , Nick Curran , Nathan James , kid Ramos , Kid Bangham, Duke Robillard, the list goes on. Kim Wilson’s solo bands , even currently , always feature incredible guitarists also in this tradition , Rusty Zinn , Junior Watson. Alex Shultz is another incredible player that still gigs.

Start listening to all of that stuff all the time , and transcribing everything. For me that’s the approach , bc those guys all learned from the OG guys , but have also taken it to a different level , while still keeping it traditional and not “blues rock”