Otis Grand
Encyclopedia
Otis Grand is an American
blues
musician
, best known for his album
, Perfume and Grime (1996).
. He played with local blues musicians at Eli's Mile High Club in Oakland
, California
, and made contacts that would later prove useful; such as Joe Louis Walker
who produced
his debut album, Always Hot (1988). He later cited his early influences as being B.B. King, Otis Rush
, Johnny Otis
and T-Bone Walker
. By the late 1980s, Grand was based in the UK
where he and his Dance Kings became a popular nightclub
act. He was voted 'Best UK Blues Guitarist' seven years running (1990–1996) by the British Blues Connection magazine. In 1991, Grand co-starred with his backing band and Guitar Shorty
, on the My Way or the Highway
album.
Joe Louis Walker also played on Grand's next album
, He Knows the Blues (1992) alongside Calvin Owens, Alfred "Pee Wee" Ellis, and the singer Jimmy Nelson. The album was nominated for a W.C. Handy Award. Nothing Else Matters (1994) involved Curtis Salgado
, Sugar Ray Norcia
, and Kim Wilson
, whilst Walker and Salgado returned for Perfume and Grime (1996) which also utilised Luther Allison
and Darrell Nulisch
.
In 1997 Grand guested on Joe Louis Walker's album, Great Guitars
. In March 2009, Grand appeared on stage at the Arts Centre in Cranleigh
, Surrey
, England
.
In addition to living in Lebanon and the United States, Grand has lived in France
and currently resides in Croydon
, England, Grand remains an incisive guitarist. His latest album, Hipster Blues, was released on May 21, 2007.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, best known for his album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
, Perfume and Grime (1996).
Biography
Although born in Beirut, Grand has spent much of his life in the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He played with local blues musicians at Eli's Mile High Club in Oakland
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, and made contacts that would later prove useful; such as Joe Louis Walker
Joe Louis Walker
Joe Louis Walker, also known as JLW is an American musician, best known as a electric blues guitarist, singer, songwriter and producer. A feature of his work is his recourse to older material or playing styles, which revealed his knowledge of blues history.-Career:Joe Louis Walker was born in San...
who produced
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
his debut album, Always Hot (1988). He later cited his early influences as being B.B. King, Otis Rush
Otis Rush
Otis Rush is a blues musician, singer and guitarist. His distinctive guitar style features a slow burning sound and long bent notes...
, Johnny Otis
Johnny Otis
Johnny Otis is an American singer, musician, talent scout, disc jockey, composer, arranger, recording artist, record producer, vibraphonist, drummer, percussionist, bandleader, and impresario.He is commonly referred to as The Godfather Of Rhythm And Blues.-Personal life:Otis, the son of Alexander...
and T-Bone Walker
T-Bone Walker
Aaron Thibeaux "T-Bone" Walker was a critically acclaimed American blues guitarist, singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, who was one of the most influential pioneers and innovators of the jump blues and electric blues sound. He is the first musician recorded playing blues with the...
. By the late 1980s, Grand was based in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
where he and his Dance Kings became a popular nightclub
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
act. He was voted 'Best UK Blues Guitarist' seven years running (1990–1996) by the British Blues Connection magazine. In 1991, Grand co-starred with his backing band and Guitar Shorty
Guitar Shorty
Guitar Shorty is an American blues guitarist. He is well known for his explosive guitar style and wild stage antics. Billboard magazine said, “his galvanizing guitar work defines modern, top-of-the-line blues-rock. His vocals remain as forceful as ever...
, on the My Way or the Highway
My Way or the Highway (album)
My Way or the Highway is the first major studio album released by blues guitarist Guitar Shorty , even though he had been in the business since 1950s...
album.
Joe Louis Walker also played on Grand's next album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
, He Knows the Blues (1992) alongside Calvin Owens, Alfred "Pee Wee" Ellis, and the singer Jimmy Nelson. The album was nominated for a W.C. Handy Award. Nothing Else Matters (1994) involved Curtis Salgado
Curtis Salgado
Curtis Salgado is a Portland, Oregon based blues, R&B, and soul singer-songwriter. He plays harmonica and fronts his own band as lead vocalist.-Career:...
, Sugar Ray Norcia
Sugar Ray Norcia
Sugar Ray Norcia is an American electric and soul blues singer and harmonica player. He is best known for his work with his backing band, The Bluetones, with whom he has released seven albums since 1980.-Biography:...
, and Kim Wilson
Kim Wilson
Kim Wilson is an American blues singer and harmonica player. He is best known as the lead vocalist and frontman for The Fabulous Thunderbirds on two hit songs of the 1980s; "Tuff Enuff", and "Wrap It Up."-Career:...
, whilst Walker and Salgado returned for Perfume and Grime (1996) which also utilised Luther Allison
Luther Allison
Luther Allison was an American blues guitarist. He was born in Widener, Arkansas and moved with his family, at age twelve, to Chicago in 1951. He taught himself guitar and began listening to blues extensively. Three years later he began hanging outside blues nightclubs with the hopes of being...
and Darrell Nulisch
Darrell Nulisch
Darrell Nulisch is an American electric blues singer and harmonica player. Prior to his solo career, he was a member of Anson Funderburgh and the Rockets and The Broadcasters...
.
In 1997 Grand guested on Joe Louis Walker's album, Great Guitars
Great Guitars
Great Guitars is a music album released by blues guitarist Joe Louis Walker in 1997. It was issued on the Polygram label as catalogue number 537141.Many of the songs on the album are duets with other artists...
. In March 2009, Grand appeared on stage at the Arts Centre in Cranleigh
Cranleigh
Cranleigh is a large village, self-proclaimed the largest in England, and is situated 8 miles south east of Godalming in Surrey. It lies to the east of the A281 which links Guildford with Horsham; neighbouring villages include: Ewhurst, Alfold and Hascombe....
, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
In addition to living in Lebanon and the United States, Grand has lived in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and currently resides in Croydon
Croydon
Croydon is a town in South London, England, located within the London Borough of Croydon to which it gives its name. It is situated south of Charing Cross...
, England, Grand remains an incisive guitarist. His latest album, Hipster Blues, was released on May 21, 2007.
Selected discography
- Always Hot (1988) - Indigo
- He Knows the Blues (1990) - Volt
- Nothing Else Matters (1995) - SanctuarySanctuary RecordsSanctuary Records Group Limited was a record label based in the United Kingdom and a subsidiary of Universal Music Group. Until June 2007, it was the largest independent record label in the UK and the largest independent music management company in the world...
- Perfume and Grime (1996) - Sequel
- Grand Union (1998) - Valley Entertainment - (with Anson FunderburghAnson FunderburghAnson Funderburgh is an American blues guitar player and bandleader of Anson Funderburgh and the Rockets since 1978...
and Debbie DaviesDebbie DaviesDebbie Davies is an American blues guitarist.She has been the featured guitarist in several female based bands including Maggie Mayall and the Cadillacs , and Fingers Taylor and the Ladyfinger Revue...
) - Hipster Blues (2007) - Bliss Street