If you want to experience the “Real Deal”, take time out to find Kenny Neal. One of the strongest modern proponents of Baton Rouge swamp blues, Kenny Neal is a second-generation southern Louisiana bluesman who is cognizant of the region’s venerable blues tradition and imaginative enough to steer it in fresh directions. Neal was born on October 14, 1957 in New Orleans. His dad, harpist Raful Neal, was a Baton Rouge blues mainstay whose pals included Buddy Guy and Slim Harpo (the latter gave three-year-old Kenny his first harmonica).
At age 13, Neal was playing in his father’s band, and at 17, landed a job playing bass for Buddy Guy. The guitarist recruited some of his talented siblings to form the Neal Brothers Blues Band up in Toronto (brother Noel later played bass behind James Cotton; five other Neal brothers also play in various bands) before returning stateside. In 1987, Kenny Neal cut his debut LP for Florida producer Bob Greenlee, an updated swamp feast initially released by Kingsnake Records as Bio on the Bayou. The following year, Alligator Records signed Neal and reissued the debut under the title Big News from Baton Rouge!! Young Neal was on his way. Neal’s sizzling guitar work, sturdy harp, and gravelly, aged-beyond-his-years vocals served him well, and he cut four albums for Alligator Records between 1989 and 1994. An acclaimed 1991 stint on Broadway in a production of Mule Bone found him performing acoustic versions of Langston Hughes’ poetry set to music by Taj Mahal.
Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise Appearance:
~ #38 Jan. 28 ~ Feb. 4, 2023 Eastern Caribbean Kenny Neal Band feat. Lil’ Ray Neal
~ #30 Feb. 4~11, 2018 Eastern Caribbean Kenny Neal Band feat. Tyree Neal
~ #27 Oct. 29~Nov. 5, 2016 Southeastern Caribbean Kenny Neal & The Neal Family Band
~ #25 Oct. 24~31, 2015 Big Easy / Fantasy Kenny Neal @ Howlin’ Wolf
~ #20 Jan. 20~27, 2013 Eastern Caribbean Legendary Rhythm & Blues Revue with Tommy Castro & The Painkillers, Kenny Neal, Rod Piazza & Samantha Fish
~ #18 Jan. 22~29, 2012 Caribbean
~ #14 Jan. 23~30, 2010 Caribbean Legendary Rhythm & Blues Revue with Tommy Castro, Magic Dick, Deanna Bogart & Kenny Neal AND Kenny Neal & The Neal Family Band
~ #11 Oct. 5~12, 2008 Pacific
~ #6 Jan. 8~15, 2006 Caribbean & Billy Branch
~ #5 Jan. 22~29, 2005 Caribbean Kenny Neal Band