- Doug MacLeod (musician)
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Doug MacLeod 
Doug Macleod
'storytelling bluesman'Background information Born April 21, 1946
New York, United StatesGenres Blues Labels Fresh! Website http://www.doug-macleod.com Contents
Life and career
Doug MacLeod was born in New York in 1946. Although now associated with his home in Los Angeles, he has lived and worked in North Carolina, St Louis, and Norfolk, Virginia where he was stationed in the United States Navy. He became acquainted with the blues in St Louis in his teens and started his “career” playing country blues on acoustic guitar, finding that singing eased a chronic stutter and helped him to eventually overcome it. Although predominantly associated with acoustic guitar, his skills were developed as a blues bass player, and honed by his subsequent journeys into jazz and electric blues.
Influences
MacLeod’s formative Blues instruction is attributed to a man he knew as Ernest Banks who also gave him the guiding principles of his music and performances;
“Never play a note you don’t believe”
“Never write or sing about what you don’t know about”
He also formed a strong friendship with George "Harmonica" Smith who not only became his mentor, but also the source or experience for many of his songs and stories in his live performances. Unable or unwilling to use his correct name, he always called him “Dubb” –a name also adopted by his loyal followers; the DubbHeads.Writing
MacLeod plays only his own compositions (of which he is credited with over 300) , but his music has also been recorded by many other artists including; Dave Alvin, James Armstrong, Eva Cassidy, Albert Collins, Pee Wee Crayton, Papa John Creach, Albert King, Chris Thomas King, Coco Montoya, Billy Lee Riley, Son Seals, Tabby Thomas, and Joe Louis Walker. He has also been a long-time contributor to Blues Revue magazine with his column “Doug’s Back Porch.”
Performance
MacLeod’s live performances preserve the tradition of the blues as a story-telling medium, expressed by his soulful voice and powerfully rhythmic acoustic guitar style. He usually plays a National Delphi guitar (accompanied by his left foot), with stories or introductions between pieces. The tales come from his early performances when he felt that he did not have enough music to fill a show. He has appeared in blues and jazz festivals and his own shows around the world, but particularly in the US and Europe.
Other activities
As well as writing and performing, he also teaches guitar and has released his own instructional DVD, and has hosted Blues radio shows; Blues Highway and Nothin' But The Blues (1999 to 2004), and was the voice for The Blues Showcase of Continental Airlines.
Recognition
He has been nominated many times for Blues Music Awards (Formerly W.C. Handy) with nominations in 2006 for “Best Song” (Dubb’s Talkin’ Politician Blues) and “Acoustic Artist of the Year”, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011. His portrait is displayed in the Delta Blues Museum in Clarksdale, Mississippi. He received the Golden Note award for Best Original Recording (for his album You Can't Take My Blues). His songs have featured in Grammy Award nominated albums; Albert King’s I'm in a Phone Booth, Baby (1984) ("Your Bread Ain't Done"), and Albert Collins' Cold Snap (1986) ("Cash Talking, The Working Man’s Blues").
Discography
- Brand New Eyes (Fresh! from RR) 2011
- The Utrecht Sessions (Black & Tan) 2008
- Where I Been (Black & Tan) 2006
- Dubb (Black & Tan) 2005
- A Little Sin (Black & Tan) 2002
- Live at XM Radio vol. 2 (Black & Tan) 2007
- Live at XM Satellite (Black & Tan) 2007
- Live in 1991 vol. 1 (Black & Tan) 1991
- Live in 1991 vol. 2 (Black & Tan) 1991
- 101 Blues Guitar Essentials (instructional DVD) (Solid Air Record / Alfred Publishing) 2006
- Whose Truth, Whose Lies[1] (Sledgehammer Blues (formerly AudioQuest Music)) 2000
- Live As It Gets (with John "Juke" Logan) (Mocombo Records) 1999
- Unmarked Road[2] (Sledgehammer Blues (formerly AudioQuest Music)) 1997
- You Can't Take My Blues[3] (Sledgehammer Blues (formerly AudioQuest Music)) 1996
- Come To Find[4] (Sledgehammer Blues (formerly AudioQuest Music)) 1994
- Ain't The Blues Evil (Volt/Fantasy) 1991
- 54th and Vermont (Stomp) 1987
- Woman In The Street (Stomp) 1986
- No Road Back Home (Hightone) 1984
Film appearances
MacLeod appeared in Resonate: A Guitar Story along with Catfish Keith, Bob Brozman and John Dowling. Resonate is a story of contemporary National Reso-Phonic guitar players.
References
- Official biography (The Storytelling Bluesman): [1]
- Official press kit: [2]
- Interviews and stories in audio format: www.dubbheads.com/tapes.html
- ^ "Whose Truth, Whose Lies". Valley Entertainment-Sledgehammer Blues. http://www.valley-entertainment.com/artists/doug-macleod/whose-truth-whose-lies.html. Retrieved 17 June 2010.
- ^ "Unmarked Road". Valley Entertainment-Sledgehammer Blues. http://www.valley-entertainment.com/unmarked-road-1.html. Retrieved 17 June 2010.
- ^ "You Can't Take My Blues". Valley Entertainment-Sledgehammer Blues. http://www.valley-entertainment.com/you-can-t-take-my-blues-1.html. Retrieved 17 June 2010.
- ^ "Come To Find". Valley Entertainment-Sledgehammer Blues. http://www.valley-entertainment.com/come-to-find-1.html. Retrieved 17 June 2010.
External links
- Official Website: www.doug-macleod.com
- Myspace profile: www.myspace.com/dougmacleod
- Fan site: www.dubbheads.com
Categories:- 1946 births
- Living people
- American blues musicians
- American blues guitarists
- American songwriters
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