Kenny Neal

Kenny Neal

Kenny Neal, born in New Orleans and raised in Baton Rouge, began playing music at a young age. Learning the basics from his father, singer and Blues harmonica master, Raful Neal. Kenny is known as a modern swamp-blues master and multi-instrumentalist, that draws musically from the sizzling sounds of his native Louisiana.

If you want to experience the “Real Deal”, take time out to find Kenny Neal. Experience him LIVE and in person at the Clarkston Blues Concert Sept 25th. Tickets on sale now!

Multiple Award Winning Blues artist

Kenny has been honored with numerous awards such as:
• 2009 Monterey Bay Blues (M.O.B.B.A.Y.) Artist of the Year Award
• 2009 BMA (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”
• 2009 Grammy entries for Grammy Nominations in 4 catagories
• Blues Critic Awards 2008 Readers Poll, Kenny won Blues Album of the Year “Let Life Flow” and also Contemporary Blues “Artist of the Year”
• Jus’ Blues Awards 2008 “Junior Wells Harp Award”
• Hometown Video Awards 2008 Winner, Entertainment Talk Show “NEAL’S PLACE”
• W.A.V.E. Award 2007, Talk Show-Entertainment/Pro, “NEAL’S PLACE”
• 2005 W.C. Handy Blues Awards “Acoustic Blues Album”
• 2005 Official Statement to Kenny Neal, by the Governor of LA.
• 2003 Slim Harpo Award in Baton Rouge
• 1999 Grammy Nomination for Tribute to Howlin’ Wolf “Best Traditional Blues Album”
• 1994 Theatre World Award “Outstanding New Talent” on Broadway
• 1993 Washington, D.C., USIA Certificate of Appreciation for representing the U.S. with Kenny Neal’s Blues Band for tour in Africa
• 1989 Big Bill Broonzy Award in Paris
• 1989 JD Miller Award “Outstanding Performance”

Singing the blues

The man behind the music

Kenny Neal, born in New Orleans and raised in Baton Rouge, began playing music at a very young age, learning the basics from his father, singer and blues harmonica master, Raful Neal. Kenny is known as a modern swamp-blues master and multi-instrumentalist, that draws musically from the sizzling sounds of his native Louisiana. Family friends like Lazy Lester, Buddy Guy and Slim Harpo also contributed to Kenny’s early musical education.

In fact, it was Harpo who gave the crying three-year-old his first harmonica to pacify him. Along the way, he also mastered the bass, trumpet, piano and guitar. At age 13, he joined his father’s band and began paying his musical dues. Four years later, he was recruited and toured extensively as Buddy Guy’s bass player.

Kenny Neal – Blues man

In 1991, Kenny branched out into the world of acting when he starred as the lead in the much-acclaimed musical, Mule Bone, a lost play written by the famed African-American poet Langston Hughes and folklorist Zora Neale Hurston in 1930. Featuring music written by Taj Mahal, Kenny’s performances garnered a prestigious Theater World Award for “The Most Outstanding New Talent On and Off Broadway,” and he concurrently set two Hughes poems to music on the album Walking With Fire.

Kenny Neal rocks the house

Kenny Neal & Billy Branch