Otis Grand

Otis Grand (born February 14, 1950, Beirut, Lebanon)[1] is an American blues musician, best known for his album, Perfume and Grime (1996).

Otis Grand
Otis Grand at Djurs Blues Festival, Denmark
Background information
Born (1950-02-14) February 14, 1950
Beirut, Lebanon
GenresBlues
Occupation(s)Guitarist, singer, songwriter
InstrumentsGuitar, vocals
Years activeEarly 1980s – present
LabelsSequel, various
WebsiteOfficial website

Biography

Although born in Beirut, Grand has spent much of his life in the United States.[2] 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.[3] By the late 1980s, Grand was based in the UK where he and his Dance Kings became a popular nightclub act.[2] He was voted 'Best UK Blues Guitarist' seven years running (1990–1996) by the British Blues Connection magazine.[3][4] 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.[2] The album was nominated for a W.C. Handy Award.[5] 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.[2]

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.[6]

In addition to living in Lebanon and the United States, Grand has lived in France and currently resides in Croydon, England,[3] Grand remains an incisive guitarist.[2] His latest album, Hipster Blues, was released on May 21, 2007.[7]

Discography

References
  1. "Otis Grand | Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved January 28, 2014.
  2. Russell, Tony (1997). The Blues: From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray. Dubai: Carlton Books Limited. pp. 114–115. ISBN 1-85868-255-X.
  3. "Otis Grand Biography". Music.us. Archived from the original on March 7, 2012. Retrieved December 1, 2009.
  4. "An interview with Otis Grand". Blues Music Now!. Archived from the original on March 1, 2012. Retrieved December 1, 2009.
  5. "Biography". Otisgrand.com. Retrieved December 1, 2009.
  6. "Eclectic Live Music presents Otis Grand's Big Blue". Forum.surrey-online.co.uk. Retrieved December 1, 2009.
  7. "Hipster Blues – Otis Grand | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. May 21, 2007. Retrieved January 28, 2014.
  8. "Otis Grand | Discography". AllMusic. February 14, 1950. Retrieved January 28, 2014.
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