The road less traveled is the byway Al Blake has spent a lifetime traversing. Throughout his journey, Blake has sought out the essence of blues music and has presented it to his audiences with unflinching honesty, originality, verve and style.

That journey began for Al Blake in Oklahoma City where he first learned to play the guitar and harmonica. He encountered blues music on the radio and in the “chitlin’ circuit” nightclubs he would visit in his hometown. Freddy King’s performances in particular left an impression on Blake. The young Oklahoman and the Texas Cannonball even discussed the music that was central to both their lives. 

Blake moved to California in 1964 where he began to absorb the music that was being played by national touring blues musicians who frequented Los Angeles’ Ashgrove and Huntington Beach’s Golden Bear nightclubs.  In the early 70’s, he toured with Luther Allison before meeting up with some musicians whose impact on the young Oklahoman and the blues world at large would be profound.

One night at the Ashgrove in 1970, Freddy King introduced Blake to a young guitarist who was barely twenty years old, but who had already played with Muddy Waters, Albert King, J.B. Hutto, Jimmy Witherspoon and John Lee Hooker. His name was Michael Mann also known as Hollywood Fats.

Not long after that, at a Muddy Waters show at the Whiskey a Go Go on the Sunset Strip, Blake met pianist Fred Kaplan. Waters even let Blake and Kaplan sit in with him that night. Soon thereafter Blake and Kaplan began performing together as a duo.

Hollywood Fats soon began playing with Blake and Kaplan when he wasn’t touring. In 1976, the three were joined by the rhythm section of bassist Larry Taylor and drummer Richard Innes. The Hollywood Fats Band was born.

As the band’s principal songwriter, vocalist and harmonica player, Al Blake fronted an ensemble which is still considered one of the great blues bands of that or any era. It was for good reason that west coast based blues masters such as Big Joe Turner, Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson, Roy Brown, Margie Evans, Lloyd Glenn and Percy Mayfield sought out the Fats Band as accompanists. They also were the go-to back up band for national touring artists such as Johnny Shines, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Joe Willie Wilkins, Louis Myers, Otis Rush and others.

Their 1979 album, which was actually recorded three years earlier, simply known as The Hollywood Fats Band, and later re-titled Rock This House, has been re-issued several times over the past thirty plus years. It is considered a classic and an essential entry in any blues music library. Charlie Lange, the founder of Bluebeat Music, referred to the album as a seminal moment in modern blues.

In 1986, the virtuoso guitarist Michael “Hollywood Fats” Mann died at the age of thirty two from a heroin overdose. The blues revival which had been ignited in the 80’s and was revving at full throttle throughout the 90’s raced on by without The Hollywood Fats Band. As musicians, bands and recordings came and went, the legend of The Fats Band only grew and served as a barometer for excellence that many could aspire to, but very few, if any, could attain.

In the wake of the death of his friend and musical colleague, Blake stepped away from the business of making music for a time. He returned to the studio a decade later and recorded the 1997 album entitled Mr. Blake’s Blues. These recordings again paired him with other members of the now legendary Hollywood Fats Band. They were joined by guitarists Junior Watson and Kid Ramos for this fine album. Blake followed that recording with Dr. Blake’s Magic Soul Elixir. That 2002 release featured the same core of musicians along with one of Blake’s young protégés, Kirk “Eli” Fletcher on guitar.

The success of Soul Elixir led to the reforming of the Fats Band. As a tribute and out of respect for the fallen genius of the blues guitar, the band called themselves, The Hollywood Blue Flames. Starting in 2005, the group, led by Blake, also featured both Junior Watson and Kirk Fletcher on guitar. They made three exceptional albums on the Delta Groove Music label over the next few years. These three recordings, which were produced by Blake, Soul Sanctuary, Road to Rio and Deep in America continued the tradition of distinguished recordings that began with these musicians three decades earlier.

Every member of this band remains an in demand, “first call” musician and has participated in numerous recordings over the past several years. Blake himself has lent his songwriting and harmonica skills to albums by Philip Walker, Big Pete, Johnny Dyer and Bobby Jones. Blake has performed at major blues festivals all over Europe and from coast to coast here in America fronting The Hollywood Blue Flames and playing acoustic guitar with Kim Wilson’s Blues All-Stars. He has been part of Delta Groove Music’s “Harp Blast” on the blues festival circuit as well.

Now, Big Al Blake steps back into the spotlight. This album represents the most recent leg in his musical journey.  This record of mostly Blake originals features the timeless imagery, relaxed down home feel and stellar musicianship which is the hallmark of blues music at its very best. In presenting his music his way without regard to trends, fashions or flavors of the month this recording, like the previous work in his catalogue, has that quality that is sure to pass that often elusive test of time.

Blake is again accompanied by pianist Fred Kaplan on three of the album’s ten tracks. There are two tunes where the drumming of Richard Innes can be heard and one of these also has bassist Larry Taylor joining in. Two of the tracks include the multi-generational pairing of Blake and young guitarist extraordinaire, Nathan James. It is, however, the deeply informed voice, guitar and the harmonica of Al Blake that is imbued with a deep southern influence which resides at the core of this album.

The Blues According to Blake is certain to remind listeners why they fell in love with blues in the first place. This presentation of blues music does not have any artificial sweeteners or additives. It is not pre-processed fast food for the masses. It isn’t watered down, diet blues for the blues-light crowd either. It is an adult portion of the real thing.

This music will conjure up the soulful feelings that lie in the heart of musical traditions which are more than a hundred years old. Yet these recordings sound unique and fresh. It is because this music bears the signature and personal brand of one man and one long journey down that road less traveled. This is the blues according to Al Blake.

- David Mac   Note: These remarks were taken directly from the album’s liner notes which I was honored to be asked to write. The CDs package also includes quotes from noted African-American jazz and cultural critic, Albert Murray as well as renowned jazz trumpeter and Pulitzer Prize winning composer, Wynton Marsalis. The album also features the photography of Alex Gardner whose artistry you can enjoy in BLUES JUNCTION on a regular basis.