(1936-2004)

Born June 6, 1936 in Baton Rouge, blues harmonica player Raful Neal succumbed to cancer on September 1. Neal was the father of 11 children (including a host of professional musicians--Kenny, Noel, Jackie, Larry, Darnell, Graylon, Frederick, Raful, Jr., and Ronnie, who died in April) and the cousin of Ernie K-Doe. He was first inspired to play the blues after witnessing harmonica master Little Walter. As Neal later related: “Not many people know it but Walter played the harp ups...