Kenny Neal – 2014 People to Watch

Occupation: Blues Musician
Hometown: Erwinville, La.
Age: 56

Kenny Neal has always thought about coming back home, and when he met industry veteran Alan Abrahams, he knew the time was right. “[Alan’s] vision and mine were pretty much the same,” Neal says. “It clicked.”

This year he’ll be front-and-center with the Kenny Neal Foundation and giving back to Baton Rouge. He’ll play more Louisiana blues festivals, including his own, the Kenny Neal Family and Friends Heritage Festival in Port Allen.

Perhaps the biggest reason 2014 will be the year for Neal is that, for the first time, he’s recording on his home turf.

“It’s so good to be doing it here,” he says. “It’s all coming together.”

Guests on the record will include Allen Toussaint, George Porter Jr., and Carter Beauford, Dave Matthews Band’s powerful drummer.

“I want to bring musicians [in Baton Rouge] together here as well,” he says. “I’m excited to come back because I’ll be able to produce different artists right here, from my own town, Baton Rouge.”

“My mother is an amazing woman. She had 10 kids by the time she turned 27. As far as musicians go, my dad. He was able to take a harmonica and feed 12 people for all those years.”

For more on Neal, visit kennyneal.net.