Blues guitarist Keb’Mo’ (born Kevin Moore in 1994) has been one the most successful artists in blues music.
Keb’ Mo, guitarist/vocalist, draws heavily from the classic country blues style Robert Johnson. However, he keeps his sound modern with touches of soulfulness and folksy storytelling. He is a skilled sideman and a talented frontman. He has used his slide, electric and acoustic guitar skills in jazz and rock bands. Kevin Moore was born in Los Angeles to parents who were of Southern descent. He was exposed to gospel music from a young age. Moore, then 21, joined an R&B group that was later hired by Papa John Creach for a tour. Moore also played on three Creach albums. Moore was able to open for rock and jazz artists like the Mahavishnu Orchestra and Jefferson Starship. This helped broaden his musical horizons.
Moore recorded a solo R&B-oriented album called Rainmaker in 1980 for Casablanca. It was quickly cancelled. He joined Monk Higgins’ group as a guitarist in 1983 and was able to meet a variety of blues musicians, which helped him gain a greater understanding of the genre. After that, he joined the Rose Brothers vocal group and began to gig around Los Angeles. Moore played the role of a Delta bluesman, Rabbit Foot in 1990. He then played Robert Johnson in Can’t you Hear The Wind Howl in a docudrama. In 1994, he released his self-titled album as Keb’ Mo’. It featured two Robert Johnson covers and 11 songs that Moore wrote or co-wrote.
Keb’ Mo was back with a full band on his second album, Just Like You. He tackled several songs that were rock-based and stretched his legs. Just Like You was the result of his gamble, earning him his first Grammy Award. Slow Down was Mo’s next album, which earned him another Grammy. Door followed two years later. In 2001, Big Wide Grin was followed by two albums, Peace…Back By Popular Demand and Keep It Simple. Red Ink Records issued Suitcase in 2006. The self-produced The Reflection was released five years later, in 2011. It was his first release on Yolabelle International’s label. The album featured guest spots from India. Mindi Abair and Mindi Abair were among those who recorded it. The Reflection was a success, reaching number two on Billboard’s Top Blues Albums Charts and winning a Grammy nomination as Best Blues Album. Keb’ Mo followed the record with BLUESAmericana. It was released in the spring 2014. The Hot Pink Blues Album, a live set that was recorded on the BLUESAmericana Tour, appeared in the spring 2016.