News

A long list of Alligator recording artists’ music will be heard in a host of upcoming television programs and theatrical films, as follows:
-- “Deck the Halls With Boogie Woogie” (Katie Webster) in the WB Network’s “Everwood.”

-- “Turn the Heat Up” (Shemekia Copeland) in new film “The Thing About My Folks” (directed by Raymond De Felitta, starring Paul Reiser, Peter Faulk and Olympia Dukakis).

-- “Snatchin’ It Back” (Albert Collins) in ABC Television’s “Boston Legal.”

-- “Santa Claus” (Little Charlie & the Nightcats) in the ABC Family Channel's tv movie “Snow.”

Raful Neal was born in Baton Rouge in 1936, and began playing harmonica at age 14. Heavily influenced by Little Walter, Neal’s playing quickly earned him a reputation as the area’s premiere harpist. His vocal mixed swampy Louisiana blues with soul and R&B. Combined with his harmonica playing, Neal helped create a sound now known worldwide as Louisiana Swamp blues.

Neal formed his first band, The Clouds, when he was just 17. The group originally featured guitarist Lester Johnson (later known as Lazy Lester) who was soon replaced by the young Buddy Guy. Little Walter himself heard the band while he was in Baton Rouge and invited them up to Chicago to fill in gigs he couldn’t make. While Guy headed north, Neal stayed in Baton Rouge to raise his growing family.

Neal’s first single, “Sunny Side Of Love” came in 1958 on Don Robey’s Peacock label. A series of singles followed on regional labels like Witt and La Louisiane. During the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, Neal became a local legend, performing around the south and teaching his children the finer points of the blues. As his reputation grew, a 1987 single for the Fantastic label, “Man, Watch Your Woman,” was nominated for a W.C. Handy Blues Award.

His first full album, “Louisiana Legend,” was released on King Snake Records in 1988 and was later reissued by Alligator. A 1991 recording for Ichiban, “I Been Mistreated,” and a 1998 release, “Old Friends,” for the Club Louisianne label, helped Neal stay in the public eye. Neal appeared on a number of compilation CDs for the Telarc label, including “The Hoodoo Kings,” and “Superharps II.” These recordings kept Neal’s tour schedule full, as he performed from Baton Rouge to points all over the country.

Nine of Neal's 11 children inherited his blues-playing prowess and play professionally, including guitarist/vocalist/songwriter Kenny Neal, who played on “Louisiana Legend” and has made 10 albums on his own. Other famed musician family members include Raful, Jr., Fredrick, Darnell, Larry, Graylon, Noel, and Jackie. Raful was inducted into the Louisiana Blues Hall of Fame in 1995.

Born in 1926, Watts worked raking leaves to pay for violin lessons as a boy before learning to play trumpet and saxophone in his teens. In 1942 he enrolled at Florida A&M University and played in the school’s esteemed marching band with soon-to-be jazz legends Cannonball Adderley and his brother, cornetist Nat Adderley.

The Griffin Brothers, one of Dot Records' most popular touring R&B acts, hired Watts right after he finished college, and he toured with them for a time. In 1952, he joined famed baritone saxophonist Paul "Hucklebuck" Williams as a member of the house band for the groundbreaking TV show “Showtime At The Apollo.” Later on, he had a stint playing with Lionel Hampton's big band. He also played on late '50s tour packages behind the likes of Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Buddy Holly and the Everly Brothers.

Watts first recording came in 1954 on DeLuxe Records. A 1956 single for VeeJay Records preceded his two-year association with New York’s Baton label. The song “Hard Times (The Slop)” brought Watts to the pop charts in 1957. Countless tours and performances – as well as a string of singles for various labels - kept Watts busy through the 1960s and into the 1970s.

A comeback album in 1987, RETURN OF THE THIN MAN, for Kingsnake Records (re-released by Alligator Records in 1990) received massive critical acclaim brought Watts to his largest audience. A 1993 album for the Ichiban label, KING OF THE BOOGIE SAX, kept Watts’ visibility high.

Although Watts performed less frequently in recent years, he did headline a DeLand, Florida concert in 2001 to celebrate his 75th birthday. He received an honory doctorate in 2000 from Stetson University in DeLand. In May 2004, the African American Museum of the Arts in his hometown dedicated an amphitheatre named after Watts.

Watts is survived by his wife, son, daughter, sister, five grand children and two great grandchildren.