Performer: Catfish Keith


Catfish Keith

Cutting-edge blues singer, songwriter and slide guitarist Catfish Keith was born in East Chicago, Indiana in 1962. He first heard blues as a child while living in "The Harbor," a working-class, steel mill town, hearing Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, and Buddy Guy on the radio. When he picked up the guitar as a teenager, he was inspired to pursue the deep delta blues after being converted by Son House. Following high school in Davenport, Iowa, Catfish hit the road, embarking on a lifelong quest as a solo performer of American roots music.

Catfish Keith is a solo revelation, playing subtle versions of lost blues songs using the classic small acoustic and national steel guitars on which he invokes the hard, complex picking and chord work of the original country bluesmen.

The extraordinary thing is that he makes each song sound new: tough songs are delivered with a smile and a nod of reverence with vocals that pursue the black edge of the music and the often overlooked sly humour of the ancients of Memphis. See him if you can.

Visit Catfish's website: catfishkeith.com

12.20.2006. 16:38