🎵 Live from Georgia, USA 🎵
The unmistakable wail of Neal Pattman’s harmonica, the deep soul of his storytelling, and the raw energy of The King Bees come together in this electrifying release:
🎤 Prisoner Blues – A Timeless Blues Legacy
📀 Coming soon exclusively on www.wolfrec.com
🎶 The Story of Neal Pattman: A True Blues Survivor
Born on January 10, 1926, in Madison County, Georgia, Neal Pattman overcame hardship from an early age. A tragic farming accident at age nine took his right arm, but with the gift of a harmonica from his father, Neal found his voice through music. Learning the Piedmont blues harmonica style from his father and grandfather, Neal preserved classic folk songs like Old Lost John, Fox Chase, and John Henry, keeping the tradition alive well into the modern era.
His signature harmonica style, complete with whoops and hollers, is reminiscent of fellow Georgia blues legend Sonny Terry. Neal’s playing and deep, resonant vocals brought forgotten blues treasures back to life, mesmerizing audiences across the U.S. and beyond.
🎧 The Album: Prisoner Blues
This release features Neal Pattman with The King Bees, performing both solo and with a full band. These authentic 1992 recordings, captured with the help of musician and UGA professor Art Rosenbaum, showcase Neal’s ability to weave together deep storytelling with rhythmic, expressive harmonica playing.
From traditional blues numbers to unique interpretations of John Lee Hooker and Muddy Waters, this album delivers a rare, unfiltered glimpse into the soul of Southern blues.
🏆 From the Clubs of Georgia to International Stages
Neal Pattman spent most of his life in hard labor, but his talent and passion for the blues took him far beyond the small clubs of Athens, Georgia. After meeting The King Bees in 1991 at The Rockfish Palace, a legendary Athens venue, his career took off. Together, they performed at some of the most prestigious blues festivals and venues worldwide, including:
🔥 Lincoln Center, New York City
🔥 Quai de Blues, Paris
🔥 Jazz Charlotte, North Carolina
But one of their most memorable stops was Dave’s CC Club, a legendary juke joint hidden up a dirt road in Tallahassee, Florida. A former clubhouse for a Negro League baseball team in the 1940s, it became one of the South’s most authentic blues spots—a perfect setting for Neal’s down-home blues mastery.
🎸 Neal Pattman & The King Bees: Keeping the Blues Alive
For Rob “Hound Dog” Baskerville and Penny “Queen Bee” Zamagni of The King Bees, traveling and recording with Neal Pattman was an unforgettable experience. Their collaboration helped bring Neal’s music to an international audience, elevating a deeply talented but often overlooked bluesman to the stages he deserved.
Neal Pattman’s legacy lives on through his music. Prisoner Blues captures the very essence of the blues—pain, resilience, and triumph—all wrapped up in the wailing harmonica of a one-armed bluesman who defied the odds.
📢 Stay Tuned for the Release!
💥 Prisoner Blues will be available soon on www.wolfrec.com! Be the first to hear this incredible piece of blues history by following Wolf Records for updates.