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 Chicago mainstay Little Walter. At 17, Neal formed a band with Lazy Lester and played the local circuit. When Lester left for Chicago, Buddy Guy took his place. The year Neal got married, Little Walter performed in Baton Rouge and invited the band to move to Chicago. Buddy Guy did move to Chicago the next year, but Neal declined. He is perhaps best known for being the father of a brood of successful blues musicians, including Telarc recording artist Kenny Neal.

A leading figure of Baton Rouge’s blues scene, vocalist/guitarist Rockin’ Tabby Thomas had been playing for years. He had a hit on Excello Records in 1962 with “Voodoo Party” and little bits of regional success after that, but for the most part he had to work other jobs to support his family. In 1983, he opened his own blues club in Baton Rouge. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.