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Kenny Neal

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Kenny Neal
Neal performing at New Orleans Jazzfest in 2012
Background information
Born (1957-10-14) October 14, 1957 (age 67)
Erwinville, Louisiana, United States
GenresBlues
Occupation(s)Guitarist, singer
InstrumentGuitar
LabelsCleopatra Blues, a division of Cleopatra Records, various others
Websitewww.kennyneal.net
Kenny Neal at Djurs Bluesfestival, Denmark (2009)

Kenny Neal (born October 14, 1957),[1] is an American blues guitar player, singer, and band member.

Neal was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, the son of Raful Neal, and he comes from a musical family. He has often performed with his brothers in his band.

Career

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Neal preserves the blues sound of his native south Louisiana, as befits someone who learned from Slim Harpo, Buddy Guy, and his father, harmonica player Raful Neal.[2]

In 1987, Neal cut his debut album for the Florida record producer Bob Greenlee — an updated swamp feast initially marketed on King Snake Records as Bio on the Bayou. Alligator Records picked it up the following year, retitling it Big News from Baton Rouge!![1]

In 1991, he proved to be a talented actor in the Broadway production of the folk musical Mule Bone (by Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston), singing numbers written by Taj Mahal.[2]

Neal has played with blues stars including Lucky Peterson and Lazy Lester, and was at one time a member of The Downchild Blues Band, during a period of relocation to Toronto, Ontario, Canada.[3]

In September 2006, Neal announced he was taking a year's break from recording and performing, due to an undisclosed illness.[4] He returned to the public eye at the Monterey Blues Festival in June 2007. He has children named Kenny, Syreeta, and Micah.[5]

In 2010, he was touring with the Efes Pilsen Blues Festival.[6]

In 2016, Neal's album Bloodline received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Contemporary Blues Album.[7] Neal recorded Bloodline in Nashville, Los Angeles and Baton Rouge. He co-produced it with Buddy Guy’s Grammy-winning producer, Tom Hambridge.[8]

Awards

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Honors

  • 2011 - Inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame
  • 2005 - Official Statement to Kenny Neal, by the Governor of Louisiana
  • 1993 - Washington, D.C., USIA Certificate of Appreciation for representing the U.S. with Kenny Neal's Blues Band for tour in Africa

Winner

  • 2019 - Blues Music Award for Contemporary Blues Male Artist of the Year[9]
  • 2011 - Jus' Blues Music Foundation Contemporary/Traditional Blues Song Of The Year for "Hooked on Your Love"
  • 2011 - Critic's Poll Living Blues Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album of the Year
  • 2009 - Monterey Bay Blues (M.O.B.B.A.Y.) Artist of the Year Award
  • 2009 - Blues Music Award winner for Song of the Year, "Let Life Flow"
  • 2009 - West Coast Blues Hall of Fame Awards for Blues CD of the Year "Let Life Flow" and Blues Band of the Year
  • 2009 - Blueswax Album of the Year "Let Life Flow"
  • 2008 - Blues Critic Awards Readers Poll, Blues Album of the Year "Let Life Flow" and also Contemporary Blues Artist of the Year
  • 2008 - Jus' Blues Awards "Junior Wells Harp Award"
  • 2008 - Hometown Video Awards, Entertainment Talk Show
  • 2007 - W.A.V.E. Award, Talk Show-Entertainment/Pro
  • 2005 - W.C. Handy Blues Awards - Acoustic Blues Album
  • 2003 - Slim Harpo Award in Baton Rouge
  • 1994 - Theatre World Award "Outstanding New Talent" on Broadway
  • 1989 - Big Bill Broonzy Award in Paris
  • 1989 - JD Miller Award "Outstanding Performance"

Nominated

  • 2016 - Grammy Nomination for Bloodline - "Best Contemporary Blues Album"
  • 2009 - Grammy nominations in four categories
  • 1999 - Grammy Nomination for Tribute to Howlin' Wolf - "Best Traditional Blues Album"

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Bill Dahl (1957-10-14). "Kenny Neal | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 2015-10-05.
  2. ^ a b Russell, Tony (1997). The Blues: From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray. Dubai: Carlton Books Limited. p. 150. ISBN 1-85868-255-X.
  3. ^ Craig Harris. "Downchild Blues Band | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 2015-10-05.
  4. ^ "Living Blues Magazine :: Blues News". Archived from the original on 2006-11-15. Retrieved 2017-04-27.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  5. ^ "Blues Heals | Kenny Neal returns to the ..." Archived from the original on 8 September 2012. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  6. ^ "Efes Pilsen Blues Festival ile Blues Fırtınası Başladı!". Archived from the original on October 12, 2010. Retrieved October 4, 2010.
  7. ^ "Kenny Neal". Grammy.com. 2017-05-14. Retrieved 2018-03-08.
  8. ^ John Wirt. "No rest needed: How Kenny Neal worked his way to a Grammy nomination". The Advocate. Retrieved 2018-03-08.
  9. ^ "2019 Blues Music Awards Winners Announced". Antimusic.com. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
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