West Baton Rouge blues artist builds legendary career

Reggi Marion
·2 min read

PORT ALLEN, La. (BRPROUD) – Erwinville native Lil Ray Neal has been playing the guitar and singing the blues for nearly 50 years. He knew at an early age that he was born to do music.

“When most kids were given toys for Christmas, me and my brothers and sisters were given instruments,” said Neal.

Love for blues music started with his father, legendary bluesman, Raful Neal, with whom Lil Ray shares the same name.

“Couldn’t nobody tell me nothing about my dad. I wanted to be just like my dad, and I think I did a good job. My wife and my momma tell me all the time that I’m just like my daddy,” Neal shared.

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All of Neal’s ten siblings became blues singers as well. Neal said, “my oldest brother, he ended up going out with Buddy Guy.”

Neal hit the road with his dad when he was 15 years old. He later branched out on his own and performed on the same stages as other iconic blues artists. Neal said, “I’ve been with Bobby Rush, Little Milton, Big Mama and so many other people. I also became real good friends with B.B. King.”

B.B. King also gifted Neal one of his old guitars before King’s death in 2015.

“When you say B.B. you’re on top of the blues. It’s just an honor to know that I could walk in a room and B.B. will say hey Ray, how are you doing.”

Neal continues to perform at different festivals and events across the country. His nieces and nephews are continuing their legacy but in other genres.

“The younger ones they’re not doing the blues like we do now. They do the up tempo and they doing a little rap and stuff like that, but they’re still into music,” said Neal.

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