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Dear Kenny Neal Friends, Kenny's father, Raful Neal, was a big hit at the Syracuse Rhythm and Blues Festival in 2002, and Kenny has had a loyal following in the northeast for years. Sadly, when Kenny returned from a successful European tour recently he learned that Raful has been diagnosed with bone cancer. For the past two weeks Kenny has been juggling his national tour with quick visits home to Baton Rouge. Kenny takes Raful to radiation and is checking in with the international medical community for the best possible treatment options. Most of all, Kenny just wants "..to be there for my Dad." A couple days ago Kenny checked in to see if I was headed to the Pocono Blues Festival, and he had run into another challenge when Kennard, his drummer, had to leave the road to get some medical care too. So I made the trip down to central PA delivering a fill-in drummer: Kenny Neal Jr, who rushed into Syracuse from Toronto when his dad called. Young Kenny is a talented musician working in the film industry, scoring movies and playing in the Toronto blues scene. Recently he completed a film "Biker Boys," and a soon-to-be released Canadian movie. On the way to the Poconos Kenny Jr. joined me for a little of the 31st Bluegrass Ramble Picnic in Little York, where he was mighty impressed with some close harmony and fancy picking. The Pocono Festival, held at Big Boulder Ski Resort, is one of the biggest in this part of the country. It runs for 3 days, and featured acts rarely seen up north, like Precious Bryant from Talbot County GA, as well as stars like Charlie Musslewhite, Taj Mahal, and Buddy Guy. Just before the Neal family began their set a husband and wife team of dedicated Blues lovers, George and Sharon Roberts, took the stage for a moving tribute to Raful Neal. George and Sharon, (Blues Power Connection BASSGT@aol.com) shared this message: BEFORE THE NEXT ACT COMES BEFORE YOU, PLEASE GIVE ME YOUR UNDIVIDED ATTENTION. BORN IN 1936, RAFUL NEAL GREW UP ON A FARM IN CHAMBERLIN, A LITLE TOWN OUTSIDE OF BATON ROUGE. HE PICKED COTTON AND CUT CANE TO HELP OUT IN THE FIELDS. BY THE AGE OF 10, RAFUL WAS PLAYING HIS HOME-MADE HARMONICA, MADE OUT OF A COMB AND A CIGARETTE PAPER. AT 14, HE CUT CANE FOR NEIGHBORING FARMERS TO EARN 75 CENTS FOR AN 'ATTA BOY' HARMONICA. YOUNG RAFUL, AND HIS HARMONICA, LOVED THE HAUNTING, WHALING HARP WORK OF LITTLE WALTER. RAFUL PICKED UP SONGS ON THE RADIO AND WOVE INTO THEM THE SOUNDS OF OTHER INSTRUMENTS, THEN MASTERING THE ART OF PLAYING SOLO HARMONICA. AT THE AGE OF 17, RAFUL AND LAZY LESTER (THEN KNOWN AS LESTER JOHNSON) FORMED A BAND AND PLAYED VARIOUS COUNTRY SALOONS. AS THE BAND BECAME MORE POPULAR, THE CROWDS GREW BIGGER. WHEN LESTER LEFT FOR CHICAGO, BUDDY GUY TOOK HIS PLACE UNTIL HIS OWN MOVE TO CHICAGO. RAFUL MARRIED!! ...AND MORE HISTORY WAS MADE. ONE OF THE MOST TALENTED FAMILIES WAS CREATED. KENNY, JACKIE, DARNELL, LIL RAY, FREDRICK, NOEL, RONNIE, LARRY, GRAYLON, CHARLENE, DARLENE, AND GRANDSON TYREE WHO HAS PLAYED SINCE THE AGE OF THREE. I AM SURE THERE IS MORE. THIS FAMILY IS SO TALENTED. I KNOW THE REUNIONS ARE A BLUES FESTIVAL IN ITSELF. RAFUL NEAL IS 'THE REAL DEAL.' A BLUES COMPOSER, SINGER, HARMONICA WHIZ, AND A GREAT FATHER. MR. NEAL YOU ARE A VINE WITH MANY STRONG BRANCHES, THAT KEEPS THE BLUES ALIVE. WE ARE PROUD TO HONOR YOU AT THE 2003 POCONO BLUES FESTIVAL. Kenny Neal and his son and brothers gave the crowd a fantastic show after that warm tribute, then Kenny rode half the night to catch a plane from Syracuse to Baton Rouge so he could be with his dad. Say a little prayer for Raful, and one for Kenny to help him keep up his strength while he keeps up his tour, with quick visits to Baton Rouge, to be with his dad. Senator Nancy Larraine Hoffmann |
Senator Hoffmann stands with Sharon Roberts, Kenny Neal, and George Roberts. Sharon and George Roberts are head of BPC, Blues Power Connections |
Kenny Neal started the show with a harmonica solo. From left to right is Fredrick on the piano, Kenny on the harmonica, Kenny Jr. on the drums and Darnell on the bass guitar. |
Kenny Neal, Jr. jams on the drums at the 12th annual Pocono Blues Fest. |
When Kenny started playing "Blues Falling Like Rain", it was pouring rain at the concert. The crowd enjoyed the irony of it. |