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Son Seals

Son Seals will always be regarded as one of Chicago's--and the blues'--greatest artists. From his debut recording, when he burst on the scene as a fully formed and mature artist, up to his last recordings, his stature as a leading blues voice grew with each new album he released. His untimely death in December 2004 robbed the blues of a major voice. When guitarist/vocalist/songwriter Frank "Son" Seals unleashed his debut Alligator recording in 1973, his feral guitar work, scorching vocals and innovative songwriting immediately marked him as one of the major blues voices of his generation. At the time, many young blues players were simply covering the popular blues standards of the day. But Son was an original, writing most of his own material and playing his guitar with a fierce, raw intensity matched only by his ferocious vocals. Born in Osceola, Arkansas in 1942, Seals grew up immersed in the blues. His childhood home was a few rooms in the back of his father Jim's juke joint, The Dipsy Doodle (famous for blues in the front and dice in the back). With musicians like Sonny Boy Williamson, Albert King and Robert Nighthawk playing within earshot of his bed nearly every night, Son knew the blues before he began walking. Even with all the great bluesmen around the house, Son's father Jim was his greatest inspiration. Jim Seals had played piano, trombone, guitar and drums, touring with the famed Rabbit Foot Minstrels, the training ground of Ma Rainey and Bessie Smith. Because he was such a well- known musician, Jim was able to draw some of the biggest names to perform at his little club. By the time he was 13, Seals was an accomplished drummer, backing many of the artists who came through The Dipsy Doodle. At 18 he was leading his own band as a guitarist during the week and playing drums behind whomever was playing at his father's club on the weekends. Seals hit the road playing guitar with Earl Hooker in 1963, and soon after that as a drummer with Albert King (with whom he recorded the seminal Stax album Live Wire/Blues Power). He moved to Chicago in 1971 and began jamming with everyone from Junior Wells to Hound Dog Taylor to James Cotton and Buddy Guy. After Hound Dog Taylor's Alligator debut album hit and he began touring, Son took over Hound Dog's regular weekend gigs at The Expressway Lounge on Chicago's South Side.

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190
Album Review

Son Seals: Lettin' Go

Read "Lettin' Go" reviewed by Ed Kopp


In the four years since his last recording, Chicago bluesman Son Seals has faced enough adversity to inspire a thousand blues songs. Three years ago Seals’ ex-wife shot him in the face, forcing him to undergo reconstructive jaw surgery. Last year, diabetes forced Seals to lose half of his left leg.The indomitable Seals is back with a new recording and a new label. Lettin’ Go features some big-name guests, including guitarist Trey Anastasio of Phish (on one tune), ...

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116

Obituary

Blues icon Son Seals dies at 62

Blues icon Son Seals dies at 62

Source: All About Jazz

CHICAGO - Blues singer-guitarist Son Seals, one of the most distinctive voices to emerge in the genre during the 1970s, died Monday, Dec. 21, of complications from diabetes. He was 62.

Seals helped establish Chicago-based Alligator Records as the era's premier blues label with a run of albums featuring his tough songs, brooding vocals and spikey guitar work. He won three W.C. Handy Blues Awards, and received a Grammy Award nomination in 1980 for his work on the live compilation ...

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Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Son Seals Deluxe...

Alligator Records
2002

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Lettin' Go

Telarc Records
2000

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