How I made my profile: I used Dave & Jay’s amazing myspace editor.
Influences
BLIND WILLIE JOHNSON , LUTHER ALLISON , CHESTER BURNETT
Video of NEAL BLACK with Blues Piano Legend JOHNNIE JOHNSON (Inducted into the ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME ), formerly with Chuck Berry,Keith Richards , Eric Clapton . Featuring;James Wormworth/Drum
Gib Wharton /Bass
NEAL BLACK , Texas Blues Rock guitarist /vocalist has spent the last 30 years electrifying audiences around the world with his fusion of Blues , rock , Jazz, Country .. Referred to by one critic as " THE MASTER OF HIGH VOLTAGE TEXAS BOOGIE "
ROLLING STONE MUSIC CRITICS gave 4 STAR reviews to NEAL BLACK's first 2 releases , and JOHN SWENSON ( music journalist for "THE NEW YORK FREE PRESS") wrote " NEAL BLACK is one of the most important Blues songwriters /performers on the scene today".
NEAL BLACK has recorded 6 cd's for DIXIEFROG records (Europe) , his most recent " HANDFUL OF RAIN " released March 2007 was Number 1 on the France Blues Radio Airplay Charts .. NEAL BLACK has been with Dixiefrog records for 16 years (longer than any other Artist on the Label ). In the U.S.A his records are available on the FLYING FISH/DELUGE label ,, ALLEGRO distribution , and HARMONIA MUNDI distribution ,
NEAL BLACK is also featured on POLYGRAM RECORDS Compilation " BLUES STORY" where he appears on 4 Volumes of the Compilation series with legendary Blues artists like; MUDDY WATERS, FREDDY KING, ROY BUCHANAN, CHUCK BERRY and others..
In 2005 NEAL BLACK was nominated in France /Europe for the The Trophee du Blues as "Best Modern Electric Blues Guitarist "
NEAL BLACK's guitarist credits include performances on stage or in the studio with Blues /Rock legends like ; JIMMY DAWKINS , LUCKY PETERSON , JOHNNIE JOHNSON , THE CHAMBERS BROTHERS , PAPA JOHN CREACH , CHUCK BERRY , JOHN SEBASTIAN(ex- Doors , Lovin Spoonful) , DAN BAIRD ( ex-Georgia Sattelites), JULIAN VAUGHAN( Ex- BB King , Albert King ) GERARDO VELEZ(ex- Jimi Hendrix),GIB WHARTON ( ex- Van Morrison , Cassandra Wilson) HARVEY BROOKS (ex- Bob Dylan ), JON PARIS ( ex-Johnny Winter), JAMES WORMWORTH(ex-Donald Fagen,Johnny Copeland), TIM TINDALL ( ex-Bill Perry , Richie Havens ), JOSE FORS & FORSEPS ( Legendary Mexican Artist/Musician), ALABAMA SLIM, FRED CHAPELLIER ( France's Number one Blues Guitarist ) BILLY PRICE(vocalist for Roy Buchanan) ,and others..
NEAL BLACK has performed in 21 countries at major festivals /venues including ; MONTREAL International Jazz fest(Canada), WOODSTOCK 20th anniversary(New York), GUADALAJARA Blues (Mexico),NEW MORNING(Paris,France), ANTONE'S (Texas) , MONTREUX Jazz(Switzerland), RIVER BLUES FEST(Philadelphia), BRAGDOYA Blues ( Norway), LONESTAR ROADHOUSE ( N.Y.C) , PUISTOBLUES (Finland) , CASTLEBAR Blues
( Ireland), NEW ORLEANS Music Fest (Germany),CAHORS Blues Fest(France) ISOLA LIRI BLUES FEST (Italy) GASTROBLUES Fest ( Hungary) HELL BLUES Fest (Norway ) ,, and many others...
In the 1980's NEAL BLACK was a regular on the TEXAS BLUES SCENE opening shows for ; STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN , ALBERT KING, FABULOUS THUNDERBIRDS, OMAR & THE HOWLERS , JOHNNY COPELAND, GEORGE THOROGOOD , LEON RUSSELL, PAUL BUTTERFIELD , LOU ANN BARTON, RICK DERRINGER , LONNIE MACK, SIR DOUGLAS QUINTET , SAVOY BROWN , THE NIGHTHAWKS, and many , many others ,,
Also during this period NEAL BLACK studied music at The Southwest Guitar Conservatory under Jazz greats like ; BARNEY KESSEL , LENNY BREAU, HERB ELLIS and JACKY KING..
In the 1990's NEAL BLACK moved to NEW YORK CITY where quickly gained a reputation as a Top Guitarist/ Performer / Songwriter .. NEAL BLACK was a regular not only with his own project " THE HEALERS" but also was seen at many a late night JAM SESSION playing with POPA CHUBBY , JOAN OSBORNE , THE HOLMES BROTHERS etc ..
In 2000, NEAL BLACK headed to MEXICO , where spent almost 3 years touring the " HARD ROCK CAFE "circuit and performing Blues festivals there..
During his time in MEXICO , Neal recorded the Critically acclaimed "DREAMS ARE FOR LOSERS" . He was also a Professor of music at Pan American University and collaborated often on stage/Studio with Legendary Mexican/Cuban Artist & Musician , JOSE FORS & his Band FORSEPS...
2004- 2007, NEAL BLACK is currently living in the south of France , touring regularly throughout Europe with his band " NEAL BLACK & THE HEALERS" and working as a Producer/Songwriter /Guitarist for projects with other Artists including, BLUES CONSPIRACY, FRED CHAPELLIER, LEADFOOT RIVET, NICO WAYNE TOUSSAINT , MASON CASEY ,DRINKHOUSE PREACHERS, RANDY H,,
April 2007, NEAL BLACK's latest release" HANDFUL OF RAIN" was NUMBER ONE on the France Blues Radio Charts..
Hell Yeah Neal! Pleased ta meetcha I'm Sure! Love yer sound...I shit you negative! Strikes me as Canned Heat with a better singer! In fact, You are hereby inducted into the "AlcoHall of Fame" wether ya like it or not! I'd like ta hear ya cover that toon of mine someday, you could put it over the way I imagined it! Cheers y Saludos, Charlie "Martini" BFBB-AZ.
Hi Neal, Thanx alot for your friendship. Your last weeks Concert here in Cologne was fantastic. Hope to see you soon again. Greetings from Cologne, Germany Danny :-)
Hey Neal! "Thank You So Much" for adding us to your friends list! We sure love your music!!! Tommy turned me on to it but I assure you I have lost no time in catching up... I especially love to hear your "Handful of Rain" album late at night between the sheets! It's the best!!! Tommy sends all his love, as do I, and all our best wishes for a Happy and Prosperous New Year!!! Keep up the awesome work!
P.S. You can check our some of our wedding pics on my myspace profile...Could you believe unless you've seen it that Tommy actually wore a suit? ;0)
hey aqui pasando a saludar!! y aprovechando para invitarte a checar las fechas donde estaremos celebrando nuestros 18 años en diciembre.(Gdl,Edo. México, D.f. y Monterrey) pero empezando el siguiente año seguramente nos damos la vuelta a mucho más estados. estamos en contacto y buen fin de semana!!
Hi Neal, how are you? We had a nice talk after your gig at "Diavolo Rosso" in Asti, Italy. Then you had to move in Turin for the nex one (Folk Club). That was a cool acoustic performance. I hope to have the chance to listen your band electical way.
Bonjour, Le photo report de FRED CHAPELLIER & NEAL BLACK au 20eme THEATRE est en ligne sur Zicazic et un simple clic sur le logo ci dessous vous y conduira directement ... Enjoy !
Thank you for the add !!! I'm really fan of your music for a long time (the voice, the guitars sound, the lyrics, everythin'!). I hope to meet you soon in Nord-Pas de Calais (we've got so many good beers, need a guide ?) or in Paris. Best regards. Taz