Raful Neal
harmonica, vocals
born: June 6, 1936 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
died: September 1, 2004 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana (cancer)
buried: Roselawn Memorial Park and Mausoleum, Baton Rouge, East
Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana
father of Kenny
Neal
Member of:
The Hoodoo Kings (Eddie Bo, Raful Neal, Rockin' Tabby Thomas)
Raful Neal is one of the key architects of the Baton Rouge blues and R&B sound, with a career that spans six decades. With his relaxed vocal style and piercing, behind-the-beat harmonica, he's won a devoted following on the South Louisiana scene.
Raful Neal was born on June 6, 1936 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He and his sister Cora lost both parents early in life. They grew up with an aunt and uncle on a tenant farm in Chamberlin, a small town outside of Baton Rouge, where they cut cane and picked cotton.
Neal began playing harmonica at age 14. At age 17, he formed his first band, The Clouds, which originally included Lester Johnson (later known as Lazy Lester) on guitar. Lester was later replaced by a very young guitarist named Buddy Guy. The band played Baton Rouge clubs and local parties and gradually established a large regional following. At the age of 22, Raful was popular enough to be signed by the giant Houston-based R&B label, Peacock Records, and cut his first single, Sunny Side Of Love. Through the 1960s he recorded for various Louisiana labels, including La Louisiane and Whit, cutting local hits that never quite broke nationally.
After hearing Neal in Baton Rouge, Little Walter was so impressed that he invited Neal to come to Chicago and play local gigs in his place when he was on tour. Neal turned him down, as he had just gotten married and settled down with his new wife. But his harmonica playing was so strong that he won the nickname of "The Little Walter of Louisiana."
While regionally popular, Neal didn't find an audience outside of Louisiana until 1987, when his version of Man Watch Your Woman came out on the Fantastic label. The song was nominated for a W.C. Handy Blues Award in the Blues Single of the Year category. Neal's first full album, Louisiana Legend, was released on King Snake and later reissued on Alligator in 1990. In 1991, Neal recorded I Been Mistreated for Ichiban Records and, in 1998, Old Friends for Club.
Nine of Neal's 11 children inherited his blues-playing prowess and play professionally, including guitarist/vocalist/songwriter Kenny Neal, who played on Louisiana Legend.
Raful Neal was inducted into the Louisiana Blues Hall of Fame in 1995. He continued to play locally and perform festival dates all over the world until he passed away on September 1, 2004. Copyright © Alligator Records (used with permission)
Albums:
- Louisiana Legend [Alligator 4783, April 1990]
with Denzil Best, Ernie Lancaster, Kenny Neal, Noble
"Thin Man" Watts
- I Been Mistreated [Wild Dog 9004, July 1991]
with Ernie Lancaster, Lucky
Peterson
- Old Friends [Club Louisianne 1111, May 1998]
with Troy Davis, Jackie Neal
The Hoodoo Kings:
- The Hoodoo Kings [Telarc 83532, April 2001]
He appears on the following albums:
Jackie Neal - The Blues Won't Let You Go [Cititrax 4001,
October 1995]
Various Artists - Essential Blues Harmonica [House Of Blues
161300, August 1997] 2 CD set
Tab
Benoit - Live: Swampland Jam [Justice 1204, September
1997]
Tab Benoit / Debbie Davies / Kenny Neal - Homesick for the Road [Telarc 83454, March
1999]
Various Artists - Return to Big Easy: Music from New Orleans [DCC
175, September 1999]
Various Artists - Rollin' into Memphis: Songs of John Hiatt
[Telarc 83505, August 2000]
Kenny
Neal - A Tribute to Slim Harpo and Raful Neal [True
Life Entertainment 0021, August 2005]
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