Raful Neal (June 6, 1936 – September 1, 2004) was an American Louisiana blues singer, harmonicist and songwriter from the United States.
Neal was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and reared by his aunt and uncle on a tenant farm in Chamberlin, West Baton Rouge Parish. He began playing the harmonica at age 14. He played with Buddy Guy in a band called the Clouds. His first record, "Sunny Side of Love" (1958) on Peacock Records, was not successful.
Neal's first album, called Louisiana Legend, was initially issued by King Snake Records and later by Alligator Records in 1990. His 1991 album I Been Mistreated was released on Ichiban Records. Neal toured globally. In 1997, his harmonica playing was featured on the album Live: Swampland Jam by Tab Benoit. Neal's album Old Friends was issued in 1998.
Neal died of cancer 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.
See also
- Jackie Neal, a daughter
- Kenny Neal, a son
References
- ^ Biography, AllMusic
- Du Noyer, Paul (2003). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Music (1st ed.). Fulham, London: Flame Tree Publishing. p. 181. ISBN 1-904041-96-5.
- Colin Larkin, ed. (1995). The Guinness Who's Who of Blues (Second ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 278. ISBN 0-85112-673-1.
- ^ "Raful Neal | Album Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
- "Louisiana Legend - Raful Neal | Releases | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
- "Live: Swampland Jam - Tab Benoit | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
External links
- Raful Neal biography from LouisianaMusic.com
- Raful Neal biography from mp3.com
- Raful Neal biography from Alligator Records
- Raful Neal at Find a Grave
This article about a United States singer is a stub. You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it. |
- 1936 births
- 2004 deaths
- Musicians from Baton Rouge, Louisiana
- American blues singers
- American blues harmonica players
- Swamp blues musicians
- Louisiana blues musicians
- Deaths from cancer in Louisiana
- 20th-century American singers
- Blues musicians from Louisiana
- Singers from Louisiana
- 20th-century American male singers
- American singer stubs