Blues Royalty featuring John Primer & Kenny Neal

Bio

John Primer and Kenny Neal first met at Theresa’s Lounge on the south-side of Chicago in the mid 1970’s. At that time Kenny was the bass player for Junior Wells, Buddy Guy, and Phil Guy. John was in Junior Wells’ house band at Theresa’s Lounge playing guitar for Junior along with Sammy Lawhorn. Both John and Kenny’s blues foundations were built as students at Theresa’s—learning from Junior and other blues masters is their connection.

Kenny is from Erwinville, LA, but would stay in Chicago off and on while playing with different bands. John had been in Chicago since 1963 after moving from Camden, MS. The two would hang out and play together at Theresa’s Lounge, the place where all the blues players went to learn and network. It was at Theresa’s John met Kenny’s dad, Raful Neal, as well as a few of Kenny’s brothers who also played music at the Lounge.

Over the years John and Kenny both steadily progressed in their careers—often running into each other at festivals and while on tour. The two are like family with a friendship spanning over 50 years. Finally joining forces to combine their talents and styles is very exciting! They want to show the world what they can do together SO LOOK OUT! HERE COMES BLUES ROYALTY!

Together these two Blues Legends have played and toured with the likes of Muddy Waters, Willie Dixon, Magic Slim, Raful Neal, Buddy Guy, Junior Wells, Slim Harpo, Lucky Peterson, James Cotton, Lazy Lester, and The Downchild Blues Band. A Whose Who of the Blues. When you put John Primer & Kenny Neal together you’ll get a nice pot of Chicago & Delta Blues Gumbo mixed with Swamp & Cajun Blues and a hint of Southern Soul & Zydeco! You won’t be able to resist what you hear and you’ll be left wanting MORE!

John and Kenny decided to take this one step further and added longtime friends BB King Drummer and Bass player Tony “T.C.” Coleman and Russell Jackson to the mix to hold it all together.

Tony played and toured with The King for 25-plus years while Russell spent 7-plus years touring as part of BB’s Band. Tony and Russell, known to some as The World’s greatest Rhythm Section, have both had long careers and toured with many bands. Tony played and toured with the likes of Otis Clay, Bobby “Blue” Bland, Albert King, Albert Collins, Etta James, Katie Webster, and Buddy Guy, just to name a few while Russell has worked and recorded with the likes of Matt “Guitar” Murphy, Lucky Peterson, Katie Webster, Kenny “Blue Boss” Wayne, and Otis Clay.

Kenny Neal Awards and Honors…

Honors

2011 – Inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame
2005 – Official Statement to Kenny Neal, by the Governor of Louisiana
1993 – Washington, D.C., USIA Certificate of Appreciation for representing the U.S. with Kenny Neal’s Blues Band for tour in Africa

Winner

2019 – Blues Music Award for Contemporary Blues Male Artist of the Year
2011 – Jus’ Blues Music Foundation Contemporary/Traditional Blues Song Of The Year for “Hooked on Your Love”
2011 – Critic’s Poll Living Blues Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album of the Year
2009 – Monterey Bay Blues (M.O.B.B.A.Y.) Artist of the Year Award
2009 – Blues Music Award winner for Song of the Year, “Let Life Flow”
2009 – West Coast Blues Hall of Fame Awards for Blues CD of the Year “Let Life Flow” and Blues Band of the Year
2009 – Blueswax Album of the Year “Let Life Flow”
2008 – Blues Critic Awards Readers Poll, Blues Album of the Year “Let Life Flow” and also Contemporary Blues Artist of the Year
2008 – Jus’ Blues Awards “Junior Wells Harp Award”
2008 – Hometown Video Awards, Entertainment Talk Show
2007 – W.A.V.E. Award, Talk Show-Entertainment/Pro
2005 – W.C. Handy Blues Awards – Acoustic Blues Album
2003 – Slim Harpo Award in Baton Rouge
1994 – Theatre World Award “Outstanding New Talent” on Broadway
1989 – Big Bill Broonzy Award in Paris
1989 – JD Miller Award “Outstanding Performance”

Nominated

2016 – Grammy Nomination for Bloodline– “Best Contemporary Blues Album”
2009 – Grammy nominations in four categories
1999 – Grammy Nomination for Tribute to Howlin’ Wolf– “Best Traditional Blues Album”

John Primer Awards and Honors…

John Primer has received numerous awards and honors throughout his career.

1987—W.C. Handy Award honoree for best traditional blues album of the year for Magic Slim & the Teardrops’ Chicago Blues Sessions Vol. 3
1990—W.C. Handy Award winner for band of the year as a member of Magic Slim & the Teardrops
1991—W.C. Handy Award winner for band of the year as a member of Magic Slim & the Teardrops
1997—W.C. Handy Award nominee for traditional blues album of the year — The Real Deal
1997—Awarded the Theresa Needham Blues Award by the Theresa Needham Blues Center for outstanding service to the blues community
2009—Grammy nominee for best traditional blues album — Chicago Blues a Living History
2009—Blues Blast Music Awards honoree in best traditional blues album category — Chicago Blues a Living History
2009—Blues Blast Music Awards nominee in best traditional blues album category — All Original
2009—Blewzzy Award for best blues CD of the year — All Original
2009—Blues Blast Music Awards nominee for male artist of the year
2010—Honored as male blues artist of the year by Living Bluesmagazine
2010—Blues Music Awards nominee for traditional male blues artist of the year
2010—Guitarist on Pinetop Perkins and Willie “Big Eyes” Smith’s best traditional blues Grammy-winning Joined at the Hipalbum
2010—Blues Music Awards nominee for traditional blues album of the year — All Original
2012—Blues Blast Music Awards nominee for traditional blues album of the year — Chicago Blues a Living History: The (R)evolution Continues
2012—Blues Music Awards nominee for traditional male blues artist of the year
2012—Blues Music Awards honoree for traditional blues album of the year — Chicago Blues a Living History: The (R)evolution Continues
2012—Blues Music Awards nominee for blues album of the year — Chicago Blues a Living History: The (R)evolution Continues
2013—Blues Music Awards nominee for traditional male blues artist of the year
2013—Blues Music Awards nominee for acoustic blues album of the year — Blues on Solid Ground
2013—Lifetime achievement award honoree from the Mississippi Valley Blues Society
2013—Lifetime achievement award honoree from the Pennsylvania Blues Society
2013—Blues Music Awards DVD of the year honoree, Live at the Checkerboard Lounge, included John in action with Muddy Waters and the Rolling Stones
2014—Blues Blast Music Awards nominee for traditional blues album of the year — Knockin’ Around These Blueswith Bob Corritore
2014—Blues Music Awards nominee for traditional male blues artist of the year
2015—Blues Music Awards nominee for traditional male blues artist of the year
2015—Grammy nominee for best blues album — Muddy Waters 100
2016—Blues Music Awards honoree as traditional male blues artist of the year
2017—Blues Blast Music Awards nominee for traditional blues album of the year — Ain’t Nothing You Can Dowith Bob Corritore
2017—Blues Music Awards nominee for traditional male blues artist of the year
2017—Inducted as a legendary blues artist into the Chicago Blues Hall of Fame
2018—Blues Music Awards nominee for traditional male blues artist of the year
2019—Blues Blast Music Awards honoree as male blues artist of the year
2019—Blues Blast Music Awards honoree for soul blues album of the year — The Soul of a Blues Man
2019—Living Blues Awards nominee for most outstanding musician (guitar)
2020—Blues Blast Music Awards nominee for traditional blues album of the year — The Gypsy Woman Told Mewith Bob Corritore
2020—Blues Music Awards nominee for traditional male blues artist of the year
2020—Living Blues Awards nominee for blues artist of the year
2021—Living Blues Awards honoree as traditional male blues artist of the year
2023—Inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame
2023—Blues Music Awards album of the year nominee for Hard Times
2023—Blues Music Awards traditional album of the year nominee for Hard Times
2023—Blues Music Awards honoree for traditional blues male artist of the year
2023—Living Blues Awards nominee for Hard Timesfor male artist of the year
2023—Living Blues Awards nominee for most outstanding musician (guitar)
2023—Living Blues Awards album of the year nominee for Hard Times
2024–Grammy traditional blues nominee for Teardrops for Magic Slim: Live at Rosa’s Lounge

Filmography

2005 – Live at B.L.U.E.S(Chicago)
2012 – Live at the Checkerboard Lounge: Live Chicago 1981 (with Muddy Waters & the Rolling Stones)