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I started a quest to find terrific blues music and incredible musicianship when I was just a little kid. I also have a tremendous appreciation of fine musical instruments and equipment. One of my greatest joys all of my life was sharing my finds with my friends. I'm now publishing my journey. I hope that you come along!


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Showing posts with label Lil Ray Neal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lil Ray Neal. Show all posts

Friday, November 1, 2024

Sam Joyner - Come What May - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Come What May, from Sam Joyner, and it's a cool mixture of blues, soul, and R&B music. Opening with It's That Mojo That Makes Me Stay, Sam Joyner on lead vocal and keys sets a funky rhythm. With cool slide guitar by Marc Stone, and a great bass line, this is a cool opener. Title track, Come What May (I'll Always Love You), is a solid soul track with great blues guitar riffs and super vocals by Joyner and a healthy sax solo by Brian Wingard. As Long As You Are Here has a strong funky groove featuring Joyner with the Saint Anthony Singers, keys by Kevin Hayes and deep funky bass and super rhythm guitar by Lil Ray Neal. My favorite track on the release. New Orleans flavored, Too Many Cooks has a super swampy funk with a strong bass line and slap drums. Joyner on keys and vocal give this track real juice. A strong guitar solo by Lil Ray Neal adds just the right amount of spice. Wrapping the release is Holmez Boogie, with a top notch piano boogie. Featuring Joyner on keys and BB King like guitar phrasing, this is a strong closer.


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Sunday, March 18, 2012

Feel So Bad - Lil Ray Neal with Blues Special Band


Born March 16, 1960, Lil Ray (Raful Neal III) the third eldest of ten siblings, has long been regarded as one of the finest blues guitarists in the business. Raised in Ervinville, Louisiana, he started playing at Spooner's, a country store/club owned by his grandfather when he was about 12 years old. His father played at that store with his band and during the break he would let Ray and his brothers get up to play.

Ray learned much with the likes of Buddy Guy and Harpo Slim hanging around but it was two of his school teachers that gave him the incentive to want to hone his craft as a guitar player. In the days leading up to summer break he would take his guitar to school and persuade Mr. Ronald Young and Mr. Edward Yearby to play. "Both were hell of a guitar players and I learned from just listening..you really didn't want to play, you just wanted to listen", Lil Ray recalls.

In 1976 the Neal family moved to Baton Rouge and within a few years Ray was playing regularly with his father. In 1980 his brother Kenny asked him and his brothers to join him in Toronto, Canada. Ray continued to play with Kenny in Canada until his visa ran out and he went back to Baton Rouge...but not for long.

Little Milton offered Ray a job with his band and it was back on the road. He'll be the first to admit that life on the road was hard but the valuable lessons he learned are still with him today. Ray is grateful that he had the opportunity to play with some of the greatest musicians that have ever took the stage.
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