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Artist
The Hoodoo Kings
8+ albums
bluesNew Orleanslouisiana
about
In bringing together elder bluesmen Eddie Bo (died in 2009), Raful Neal (died in 2004) and Rockin’ Tabby Thomas (died in 2014) with a band of younger cohorts, The Hoodoo Kings captured the simmering essence of Louisiana. Hoodoo Kings was produced in 2001 by Randy Labbe, and their backing band consisted of guitarists Greg Hoover and Denny Breau, bassist Dan Corbett, drummer Darren Thiboutot and backup vocalist Kelly Jones. On their Telarc release, Bo, Neal and Thomas visited New Orleans (Professor Longhair’s “Big Chief”), played songs by Louisiana’s Sonny Landreth and Lenny McDaniel, and jammed on their own Crescent City originals (“I Am the Hoodoo King” and “Hard Times”). Other highlights included new arrangements of the Sonny Curtis classic “I Fought the Law” and Bob Dylan’s “If I Don’t Be There By Morning” (previously covered by Eric Clapton). Vocalist/keyboardist Eddie Bo was born in 1930 in New Orleans, Louisiana. As a session musician and recording artist he scored Top 40 R&B hits with “Hook and Sling” and “I’m Wise” (made famous by Little Richard under the name “Slippin’ and Slidin’”). During the 1950’s, Eddie Bo led a group of stellar New Orleans sidemen around the country backing such vocalists as Ruth Brown, Joe Turner, Johnny Adams and The Platters. Known for his big barrelhouse style, he had become the dean of New Orleans piano. Born just outside of Baton Rouge in 1936, Raful Neal took up harp at age 14, schooled by local player Ike Brown and influenced by Chicag
