Biography
Raful Neal raised a household of ten children in Baton Rouge, most of whom eventually took up the blues themselves, while simultaneously carving out a reputation as one of the city’s strongest harmonica players. His recorded legacy, however, lagged behind that standing until Alligator and Ichiban finally issued the albums that corrected the imbalance.
Born in Baton Rouge in 1936, Neal picked up the harp at fourteen after receiving lessons from local musician Ike Brown and absorbing the style of Chicago’s Little Walter. The Clouds, his first working band, counted guitarist Buddy Guy among its members. When Little Walter passed through town and heard the group, he proposed they cover the dates he could not fulfill in Chicago. Guy seized the opportunity and moved north; Neal chose instead to remain in Louisiana and concentrate on his growing family. His first appearance on record came in 1958 with the Peacock single “Sunny Side of Love,” released by Houston’s Don Robey, yet that promising debut brought no immediate follow-up sessions. Additional 45s surfaced later on Whit, La Louisiane, and Fantastic.
Louisiana Legend, Neal’s debut album, originally appeared on Bob Greenlee’s King Snake label before Alligator picked it up in 1990. The swampy I Been Mistreated arrived on Ichiban the next year, with sons Noel contributing bass and Raful Jr. adding guitar. Neal began traveling internationally, and in 1997 he supplied harmonica to two selections on Tab Benoit’s Live: Swampland Jam. The restrained but sturdy Old Friends surfaced in 1998. Raful Neal died on September 1, 2004, after a prolonged fight with cancer.
Born in Baton Rouge in 1936, Neal picked up the harp at fourteen after receiving lessons from local musician Ike Brown and absorbing the style of Chicago’s Little Walter. The Clouds, his first working band, counted guitarist Buddy Guy among its members. When Little Walter passed through town and heard the group, he proposed they cover the dates he could not fulfill in Chicago. Guy seized the opportunity and moved north; Neal chose instead to remain in Louisiana and concentrate on his growing family. His first appearance on record came in 1958 with the Peacock single “Sunny Side of Love,” released by Houston’s Don Robey, yet that promising debut brought no immediate follow-up sessions. Additional 45s surfaced later on Whit, La Louisiane, and Fantastic.
Louisiana Legend, Neal’s debut album, originally appeared on Bob Greenlee’s King Snake label before Alligator picked it up in 1990. The swampy I Been Mistreated arrived on Ichiban the next year, with sons Noel contributing bass and Raful Jr. adding guitar. Neal began traveling internationally, and in 1997 he supplied harmonica to two selections on Tab Benoit’s Live: Swampland Jam. The restrained but sturdy Old Friends surfaced in 1998. Raful Neal died on September 1, 2004, after a prolonged fight with cancer.
Albums
