Raful Neal

Raful Neal - Louisiana Legend - 1987 - Fantastic/King Snake

Kenny Neal's dad Raful is a longtime Baton Rouge swamp blues stalwart whose own discography is way sparser than it should be. This album, first out on Bob Greenlee's King Snake logo, is an atmospheric indication of what the elder Neal can do with a harmonica, mixing covers ("Steal Away," "Honest I Do," "No Cuttin' Loose") with spicy originals. © Bill Dahl, All Music Guide © 2010 Answers Corporation http://www.answers.com/topic/louisiana-legend

The late Raful Neal from Baton Rouge, was a powerhouse blues harmonica player. He had a heavy, gut-grabbing style of blues, reminiscent of Solomon Burke at times, but with a personal stamp best heard in tracks like his wrenching "Down and Out". His laid-back vocals and powerful harmonica was the soul of South Louisiana blues. He was influenced in his early days by artists like Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters and Little Walter, and in his later life he played with greats like Buddy Guy. A brilliant harmonicist, this album is a perfect example of pure Baton Rouge home blues.The album was co-produced by his son Kenny Neal, who also plays lead guitar. Buy Raful's great "I Been Mistreated" album

TRACKS / COMPOSERS

Luberta - Raful Neal
Steal Away - Jimmy Hughes
Blues On The Moon - Raful Neal
Down And Out - Raful Neal
You Don't Love Me (Anymore) - Daniels, Marks, Moore
No Cuttin' Loose - Daniels, Marks, Moore
Been So Long - Raful Neal
Late In The Evening - Raful Neal
Honest I Do - Jimmy Reed, Ewart Abner
Let's Work Together - Wilbert Harrison

MUSICIANS

Kenny Neal (Lead Guitar)
Bryan Bassett (Guitar)
Bryan Lancaster, Ernie Lancaster (Rhythm Guitar)
Bob "Rattlesnake" Greenlee (Bass), (Baritone Sax)
Red Simpson, Barry Rupp (Keyboards)
Jimmy Payne, Scott Corwin, Denny Best (Drums)
Noble "Thin Man" Watts (Trombone), (Tenor Sax)
Jon Paltishall (Trombone)
Bruce Staelens (Trumpet)
Raful Neal (Harmonica), (Vocals)

BIO

When he wasn't busy siring progeny (the Neal household produced ten kids, most of them seemingly now playing the blues), Raful Neal was staking his claim as one of the top harpists on the Baton Rouge blues front. Unfortunately, until recently, his discography didn't reflect that status — but albums for Alligator and Ichiban have righted that injustice. Born in Baton Rouge in 1936, Neal took up the harp at age 14, tutored by a local player named Ike Brown and influenced by Chicago mainstay Little Walter. Neal's first band, the Clouds, also included guitarist Buddy Guy. This was the band Little Walter heard while in Baton Rouge and invited them to move up to Chicago and fill in at the gigs Walter couldn't make. Guy jumped at the chance but Neal decided to stay in Louisiana and raise his family. The harpist debuted on vinyl in 1958 with a 45 for Don Robey's Houston-headquartered Peacock Records. But "Sunny Side of Love," fine though it was, didn't lead to an encore for Peacock or anywhere else until much later, when Neal turned up with 45s on Whit, La Louisiane, and Fantastic. Neal's debut album, the aptly titled Louisiana Legend, first emerged on Bob Greenlee's King Snake Records and was picked up by Alligator in 1990. I Been Mistreated, Neal's equally swampy follow-up, was released on Ichiban the following year; sons Noel (on bass) and Raful Jr. (on guitar) pitched in to help their old man out. Neal toured around the world and in 1997 he contributed harp to a couple of tracks on Tab Benoit's Live: Swampland Jam record. The understated but solid Old Friends appeared in 1998. After a long bout with cancer, Raful Neal died on September 1, 2004, after a long bout with cancer. © Bill Dahl © 2010 Rovi Corporation. All Rights Reserved http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:0ifuxq95ld0e~T1

BIO (WIKIPEDIA)

Raful Neal (6 June, 1936 – September 1, 2004 was an American, Louisiana blues singer, harmonicist and songwriter. Born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Neal took up the blues harp at age 14, tutored by a local player named Ike Brown and influenced by Little Walter. Neal's first band, the Clouds, also included the guitarist, Buddy Guy. Neal debuted on vinyl in 1958 with a single for Don Robey's Houston, Texas based Peacock Records. But "Sunny Side of Love" was not successful. Neal's debut album, Louisiana Legend, first emerged on King Snake Records and was picked up by Alligator Records in 1990. I Been Mistreated, Neal's follow-up, was released on Ichiban Records the following year. Neal toured around the world and in 1997 he contributed harp to a couple of tracks on Tab Benoit's Live: Swampland Jam record. Neal's next long-player, Old Friends, appeared in 1998. After a long bout with cancer, Neal died in Baton Rouge, in September 2004. Nine of his ten children are also blues musicians, and several performed with him on his later releases on the Alligator label.