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Catfish Keith

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Catfish Keith
Pickin' tent MerleFest 2011
Background information
Birth nameKeith Daniel Kozacik[1]
Born(1962-02-09)February 9, 1962(age 62)[1]
East Chicago,Indiana, United States
GenresBlues[2]
Occupation(s)Singer, guitarist, songwriter
Instrument(s)Steel guitar
Years active1980s–present
LabelsFish Tail Records, various
Websitecatfishkeith

Catfish Keith(born February 9, 1962)[1]is an Americanacoustic bluessinger-songwriter and guitarist. He is best known as an exponent of theresonator guitar.He has released several solo albums, including 2001'sA Fist Full of Riffs.[3]

The Guardiandescribed him as "a solo revelation" who was "breaking new ground for blues.[2]Twice aBlues Music Awardnominee for 'Best Acoustic Blues Album', he has had ten number one independent radio chart hit albums.[4]

Early life and career

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Catfish Keith was bornKeith Daniel KozacikinEast Chicago,Indiana, and was first inspired by blues music he heard on the radio. These included songs byBuddy Guy,Howlin' WolfandMuddy Waters,although by the time he owned a guitar in his teenage years, he listened mostly toSon House.He attended high school inDavenport, Iowa,before setting out across the United States and beyond learning to sing and play his brand of the blues. He traveled to theCaribbean,where his musical education benefited from hearingJoseph Spence.[2]

His stage name originated from a diving partner in theVirgin Islandswho, having seen his efforts at swimming, nicknamed him "Catfish-Swimmin'-Around," and "Catfish-Steel-Guitar-Man."[5]Catfish Keith had his debut album,Catfish Blues(1984), released byKicking Mule Records.He continued to tour constantly and picked up playing tips from watchingJessie Mae Hemphill,Henry Townsend,Johnny ShinesandDavid "Honeyboy" Edwards.[2]

Keith married in 1988 and founded his own record label, Fish Tail Records. 1991'sPepper in My Shoesparked global interest in his work, and he toured both Europe and the United States. He appeared on the cover pages of the publicationsBlues Life,Blueprint,BlockandThe Guardian,and his follow-up effort,Jitterbug Swingwas nominated for aBlues Music Award.Further acclaim was afforded by the British magazine,Blues Connection,who named him "the new slide king of the National steel guitar."[2]

Cherry Ball(1993) sawDirty Linen's James Jensen state "Catfish will give you goose bumps and leave you howling for more!" A further Blues Music Award nomination was generated by the release ofFresh Catfishin 1995.[2]

AfterTwist It Babe!,his next release wasPony Run(1999).[2]Sweet Pea(2005) was praised byLiving Blueswho opined "the guitar playing is surely the main attraction here, and" Blotted Out My Mind "alone earns Catfish comparison toFrank Hovington,Elizabeth Cotten,and other virtuoso six-stringers. "[6]

In 2008, Keith was inducted into the Iowa Blues Hall of Fame.[7][8]

He is an endorser ofNational Reso-Phonic Guitars.[7]Catfish Keith has issued an instructional DVD entitledDynamic Country Blues Guitar.[9][10]

In 2019, his album,Reefer Hound: Viper Songs Revisited,won acoustic album of the year honors at the Blues Blast Music Awards.[11]

Discography

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Year Title Record label
1984 Catfish Blues Kicking Mule Records
1991 Pepper in My Shoe Orchard Records
1992 Jitterbug Swing Orchard Records
1993 Cherry Ball Fish Tail Records
1995 Fresh Catfish Orchard Records
1997 Twist It Babe! Orchard Records
1999 Pony Run Orchard Records
2001 A Fist Full of Riffs Solid Air Records
2003 Rolling Sea Fish Tail Records
2005 Sweet Pea Fish Tail Records
2007 If I Could Holler Fish Tail Records
2008 Live at the Half Moon CD Baby
2011 A True Friend is Hard To Hard – A Gospel Retrospective CD Baby
2011 Put on a Buzz CD Baby
2013 Honey Hole Fish Tail Records
2017 Mississippi River Blues Fish Tail Records
2018 Reefer Hound: Viper Songs Revisited Fish Tail Records
2019 Catfish Crawl Fish Tail Records
2020 Blues at Midnight Fish Tail Records

[2][12]

See also

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References

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  1. ^abcLarkin, Colin (1998).The Virgin Encyclopedia of the Blues(1st ed.). London, England:Virgin Books.p. 71.ISBN0753502267.
  2. ^abcdefghBelanger, Larry (February 9, 1962)."Catfish Keith – Music Biography, Credits and Discography".AllMusic.RetrievedDecember 8,2012.
  3. ^Nickson, Chris (September 25, 2001)."A Fist Full of Riffs – Catfish Keith: Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards".AllMusic.RetrievedDecember 8,2012.
  4. ^"Catfish Keith – £10.00".Chapel Arts. November 13, 2012.RetrievedDecember 8,2012.
  5. ^"Interview with Catfish Keith".Blues in London.RetrievedDecember 8,2012.
  6. ^"Sweet Pea Reviews".Catfishkeith.RetrievedDecember 8,2012.
  7. ^ab"Tenth Anniversary Weekender: Catfish Keith (Cluny 2)".The Cluny. Archived fromthe originalon December 4, 2012.RetrievedDecember 8,2012.
  8. ^Hotle, David."Catfish Inducted into Iowa Blues Hall of Fame".Catfishkeith.RetrievedDecember 8,2012.
  9. ^"Catfish Keith".Homespuntapes.Archived fromthe originalon June 11, 2013.RetrievedDecember 8,2012.
  10. ^"Learning Curve: The Country Blues Guitar of Catfish Keith".Catfishkeith.RetrievedDecember 8,2012.
  11. ^"2019 Blues Blast Music Award Winners – Blues Blast Magazine".September 13, 2019.RetrievedJanuary 16,2021.
  12. ^"String-Twanging Home of Catfish Keith".Catfishkeith.December 2, 2012.RetrievedDecember 8,2012.
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