Kenny Neal

The son of well-known blues harmonica player Raful Neal, guitarist Kenny Neal was born in New Orleans, LA, in 1957. Raised in Baton Rouge, LA, he showed musical talent at an early age, and was given his first harmonica by the renowned Slim Harpo (aka Slim Harpo), a friend of his father's. At age 13 he was playing in his father's band, and four years later he was playing bass in Buddy Guy's band. While in Toronto, Canada, Kenny and several of his brothers formed the Neal Brothers Band, playing in the Toronto area before returning to the US. In 1987 he released his first album, "Bio on the Bayou", on King Snake Records (later released on Alligator Records as "Big News from Baton Rouge"). He cut four albums for Alligator between 1989-94. In 1991 he performed in the Broadway musical "Mule Bone", for which he received a Theatre Guild Award for Outstanding New Talent. In 1998 he left Alligator Records for Telarc Records, and by 2001 had released three albums on that label. He also recorded other albums for independent labels. In 2008 he signed with Blind Pig Records, for which he recorded two albums over the next two years. In 2015 he signed with Cleopatra Records, releasing two albums for that company. He works out of Baton Rouge, and continues to record albums and tour with his band.