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Biography
Infobox musical artist | name = Son Seals| image = Son Seals.jpg|Son Seals|200px| caption =| image_size =| background = solo_singer| birth_name = Frank Seals| alias =| birth_date = birth date|1942|08|14|mf=y|birth_place = Osceola, Arkansas|Osceola , Arkansas , United States | death_date = dda|2004|12|20|1942|08|14|mf=y|death_place = Chicago , Illinois | instrument = Guitar , human voice|vocals , banjo | genre = Electric blues cite book| first= Paul| last= Du Noyer| year= 2003| title= The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Music| edition= 1st| publisher= Flame Tree Publishing| location= Fulham, London| isbn= 1-904041-96-5| page= 181| occupation = Guitarist , singer | years_active = 1959–2004| label =| associated_acts =| website = Frank "Son" Seals (August 14, 1942 – December 20, 2004 http://thedeadrockstarsclub.com/2004b.html Thedeadrockstarsclub.com - accessed November 2009) was an United States|American electric blues guitarist and singer .
Career
He was born in Osceola, Arkansas|Osceola , Arkansas where his father, Jim "Son" Seals, owned a small juke joint . He began performing professionally by the age of 13, first as a drummer with Robert Nighthawk , and later as a guitarist. At age 16, he began to play at the T-99, a local upper echelon club, with Walter Jefferson, “Little Walter”, who was his brother in law. At the T-99, he played with many other musicians, such as Albert King , Rufus Thomas , Bobby Bland , Junior Parker , and Rosco Gordon . Their varying styles contributed to the development of Seals' own playing techniques. While playing at the T-99, he was also introduced to Country music|country - Western Music (North America)|western music by Jimmy Grubbs, who would ask Seals to gig with his group every now and then on both drums and guitar. At 19 years old, he formed his own band to fill in at a local club in Osceola called the Rebel Club. Shortly thereafter, a man from Little Rock, Arkansas came to find “Little Walter” for a gig at his club, but when he turned it down the offer went to Seals. The band members were “Old man Horse” (Johnny Moore) on piano, Alvin Goodberry on either drums, guitar, bass, or piano, “Little Bob” (Robinson) on vocals, and Walter Lee “Skinny Dynamo” Harris on piano. The band’s name was “Son Seals and the Upsetters.” Son Seals: Intensity is the Key, D. Thomas Moon, Living Blues, 2000, Issue 153, pp. 15-25, ISBN 00245232.
In 1971, Seals moved to Chicago . His career took off after he was discovered by Bruce Iglauer of Alligator Records at the 'Flamingo Club' in Chicago's South Side . His debut album , The Son Seals Blues Band , was released in 1973. The album included "Your Love Is Like a Cancer" and "Hot Sauce". Seals followed up with 1976's Midnight Son and 1978's Live and Burning . He continued releasing albums throughout the next two decades, all but one on Alligator Records. These included Chicago Fire (1980), Bad Axe (1984), Living in the Danger Zone (1991), Nothing But the Truth (Son Seals album)|Nothing But the Truth and Live-Spontaneous Combustion (1996). He received the Blues Music Award|W.C. Handy Award in 1985, 1987, and 2001.
Author Andrew Vachss was a friend of Seals, and used his influence to promote Seals' music. Vachss gave Seals several cameo appearance s in his novel s http://www.vachss.com/media/music/sons.html Son Seals, excerpted from Dead and Gone, by Andrew Vachss, Knopf, 2000. and co-wrote songs with him for his 2000 album, ''Lettin' Go . Keepin' On, Owen Cordle, News & Observer (Raleigh, N.C.), March 16, 2001. Vachss dedicated the novel Burke (character)|Mask Market '' to Seals' memory. Mask Market, by Andrew Vachss, Pantheon, 2006.
In 2002, Seals was featured on the Bo Diddley tribute album, Hey Bo Diddley - A Tribute! , performing the song "My Story" (aka "Story of Bo Diddley").
Seals had a number of problems in his life. He survived all but one of his fourteen sibling s; and he was shot in the jaw by his wife. Also, in 1999 part of his left leg was amputation|amputated , due to complications from Diabetes mellitus|diabetes . He lost belongings in a fire that destroyed his home while he was away performing live, and several of his prized guitars were stolen from his home. Veteran Guitarist Paying the Dues to Play the Blues, by Dave Hoekstra, Chicago Sun-Times, February 3, 2002. After his health problems Seals used a number of different accompanying bands, such as James Soleberg's, Jimmy Vivino's, and Big Jim Kohler's, while on the road.
The band Phish performed Seal's song "Funky Bitch", and brought him on stage on multiple occasions.
Seals died in 2004, at the age of 62, from complications of Diabetes mellitus|diabetes ; he was survived by his sister and fourteen children. Son Seals, Associated Press, December 21, 2004.
Discography
Year !! Album !! Label
1973
1976
1978
1980
1984
1991
1994
1996
2000
2002
See also
List of blues musicians
List of Chicago blues musicians
References
Reflist
External links
http://www.alligator.com/artists/bio.cfm? ArtistID=002 Alligator Records biography entry
http://www.google.com/musica? aid=ONsdkykbmoJ& sa=X& oi=music& ct=result Son Seals discography
http://www.vachss.com/media/music/sons.html Son Seals page
Persondata | NAME = Seals, Son | ALTERNATIVE NAMES = | SHORT DESCRIPTION = United States|American electric blues guitarist and singer | DATE OF BIRTH = August 14, 1942 | PLACE OF BIRTH = Osceola, Arkansas , United States | DATE OF DEATH = December 20, 2004 | PLACE OF DEATH = Chicago , Illinois , United States DEFAULTSORT:Seals, Son Category:1942 births Category:2004 deaths Category:Chicago blues musicians Category:Electric blues musicians Category:Deaths from diabetes Category:American blues guitarists Category:American blues singers Category:Musicians from Arkansas Category:Blues Hall of Fame inductees Category:Contemporary blues musicians
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