Catfish Keith
Pickin' tent MerleFest 2011
Background information
Birth nameKeith Daniel Kozacik[1]
Born (1962-02-09) February 9, 1962[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.com

Catfish Keith (born February 9, 1962)[1] is an American acoustic blues singer-songwriter and guitarist. He is best known as an exponent of the resonator guitar. He has released several solo albums, including 2001's A Fist Full of Riffs.[3]

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

Early life and career

Catfish Keith was born Keith Daniel Kozacik in East Chicago, Indiana, and was first inspired by blues music he heard on the radio. These included songs by Buddy Guy, Howlin' Wolf and Muddy Waters, although by the time he owned a guitar in his teenage years, he listened mostly to Son House. He attended high school in Davenport, Iowa, before setting out across the United States and beyond learning to sing and play his brand of the blues. He traveled to the Caribbean, where his musical education benefited from hearing Joseph Spence.[2]

His stage name originated from a diving partner in the Virgin Islands who, 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 by Kicking Mule Records. He continued to tour constantly and picked up playing tips from watching Jessie Mae Hemphill, Henry Townsend, Johnny Shines and David "Honeyboy" Edwards.[2]

Keith married in 1988 and founded his own record label, Fish Tail Records. 1991's Pepper in My Shoe sparked global interest in his work, and he toured both Europe and the United States. He appeared on the cover pages of the publications Blues Life, Blueprint, Block and The Guardian, and his follow-up effort, Jitterbug Swing was nominated for a Blues 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) saw Dirty 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 of Fresh Catfish in 1995.[2]

After Twist It Babe!, his next release was Pony Run (1999).[2] Sweet Pea (2005) was praised by Living Blues who opined "the guitar playing is surely the main attraction here, and "Blotted Out My Mind" alone earns Catfish comparison to Frank 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 of National Reso-Phonic Guitars.[7] Catfish Keith has issued an instructional DVD entitled Dynamic 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

YearTitleRecord label
1984Catfish BluesKicking Mule Records
1991Pepper in My ShoeOrchard Records
1992Jitterbug SwingOrchard Records
1993Cherry BallFish Tail Records
1995Fresh CatfishOrchard Records
1997Twist It Babe!Orchard Records
1999Pony RunOrchard Records
2001A Fist Full of RiffsSolid Air Records
2003Rolling SeaFish Tail Records
2005Sweet PeaFish Tail Records
2007If I Could HollerFish Tail Records
2008Live at the Half MoonCD Baby
2011A True Friend is Hard To Hard - A Gospel RetrospectiveCD Baby
2011Put on a BuzzCD Baby
2013Honey HoleFish Tail Records
2017Mississippi River BluesFish Tail Records
2018Reefer Hound: Viper Songs RevisitedFish Tail Records
2019Catfish CrawlFish Tail Records
2020Blues at MidnightFish Tail Records

[2][12]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Larkin, Colin (1998). The Virgin Encyclopedia of the Blues (1st ed.). London, England: Virgin Books. p. 71. ISBN 0753502267.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Belanger, Larry (February 9, 1962). "Catfish Keith - Music Biography, Credits and Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved December 8, 2012.
  3. ↑ Nickson, Chris (September 25, 2001). "A Fist Full of Riffs - Catfish Keith : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved December 8, 2012.
  4. ↑ "Catfish Keith - £10.00". Chapel Arts. November 13, 2012. Retrieved December 8, 2012.
  5. ↑ "Interview with Catfish Keith". Blues in London. Retrieved December 8, 2012.
  6. ↑ "Sweet Pea Reviews". Catfishkeith.com. Retrieved December 8, 2012.
  7. 1 2 "Tenth Anniversary Weekender: Catfish Keith (Cluny 2)". The Cluny. Archived from the original on December 4, 2012. Retrieved December 8, 2012.
  8. ↑ Hotle, David. "Catfish Inducted into Iowa Blues Hall of Fame". Catfishkeith.com. Retrieved December 8, 2012.
  9. ↑ "Catfish Keith". Homespuntapes.com. Archived from the original on June 11, 2013. Retrieved December 8, 2012.
  10. ↑ "Learning Curve : The Country Blues Guitar of Catfish Keith". Catfishkeith.com. Retrieved December 8, 2012.
  11. ↑ "2019 Blues Blast Music Award Winners – Blues Blast Magazine". September 13, 2019. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
  12. ↑ "String-Twanging Home of Catfish Keith". Catfishkeith.com. December 2, 2012. Retrieved December 8, 2012.
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