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Bob Bogdal


 Born: Syracuse, New York September 2nd 1959



In the 1980's BobBogdal was under the instruction of master harmonica player and teacher Tom Townsley. It was here in Syracuse, NY isolated in the middle of the snowbelt that Bob was compelled to follow the path of the blues. In 1986 Bogdal played harmonica at Legend's in Syracuse during an open mic and has been playing ever since. Bob played with the Fat Bobs from 1990 to 1996 and could be seen at Dinosaur Bar BQ and other northeast clubs.

Not totally satisfied with the Chicago style of blues, Bob pushed southward moving to Ft. Lauderdale in 1996 and started on a mission to explore the deeper and more primitive aspects of the blues. While in Ft. Lauderdale Bob teamed up with Street People and could frequently be seen from Daytona to the Keys playing their style of original material.

In 2001 while playing the Sound Advice Blues fest Bob met Richard Johnston IBC Winner 2001, one of the world's foremost hill country authorities. Richard asked Bob if he would come to Memphis and play harmonica. While on the road with Johnston he would pay close attention to Richard and bandmate Mark Simpson. After shows and back at the house they would teach him the hill country guitar style.

Now three years later Bob has emerged with his own CD reflecting his personal vision into the mystery we call the Delta. The passion and history of the area unfolding and nurturing his original mission, Bob became absorbed into the trance like qualities of Hill Country Blues. His release "Underneath the Kudzu" 2005 is described as a haunting and personal poetic recollections of this period of transformation. In 2004 and 2005 Bob appeared with Daniel "Slick" Ballinger IBC runner-up 2005 for a number of shows.

Bob is currently performing as a Duo with powerhouse performer Elam McKnight,Elam is a uniquely authentic modern version of the Mississippi blues. He has wowed audiences as a powerful duo with master harmonica player Bob Bogdal at this years Folk Alliance in Memphis, as well as SXSW in Austin. Elam McKnight’s “Devil Minded Woman” was voted by fans as the Best Blues song in the Musician’s atlas sponsored 7th Annual Independent Music Awards. He was selected from more than 35,000 fans as top blues song of the year. Elam and Bob were also chosen as 2009’s Solo Duo Representative of the Sonny Boy Blues Society (Helena, AR) for the International Blues Challenge. This event is sponsored by the Blues Foundation (Memphis, Tn) and has hundreds of acts from around the world. Reviews

Live Festival Review by Illinois Blues.com" By Bob Kieser 2008 

When we finally made it to the Acoustic stage we got our first look at Elam McKnight & Bob Bogdal. This young duo won the Sonny Boy Blues Society solo/duo Blues challenge and will be competing in Memphis in February at the International Blues Challenge. It was easy to see why they won and I think you should check them out in Memphis. They played a great set of real Delta Blues to an enthusiastic crowd. Afterwards they greeted the crowd and sold a few CD's and signed autographs. 

"Hill Country Blues meets Neil Young meets Joni Mitchell meets Memphis Blues" From reviewer on Tower Records. 

Blues Revue - Tom Hyslop 2005 

The debut by guitarist - harmonica player Bob Bogdal peels away the fun quotient in favor of stripped-down Hill Country blues tackling serious subjects: "Cure This Disease" reflects on our Botox and Viagra-crazed society, "Underneath the Kudzu" gives a native New Yorker's perspective on the South's history and legacy, and "The Calling" relates to an experience with a snake-handling Pentacostal congregation. A few songs break the mold: "Circus with No Rings" is more Dylanesque than bluesy, and, as its title suggests, "17 Women in 13 States" lightens the mood. His songwriting and arranging skills are there, giving Underneath the Kudzu a haunting, lingering prescence. 

Graham Clarke Blues Bytes - for Underneath the Kudzu 2005 

Bogdal's lyrics which seem to be largely autobiographical, capture the true quality of the hill country sound and the blues itself. Fans of the hill country sound will find much to savour here. 

Rick at Tweedsblues.net 

His "Underneath the Kudzu" is an intensely personal collection of poems and recollections set to etherial Mississippi hill country music. He has managed to capture the beauty and underlying sorrow that a person feels when they experience the lands east of the 51 highway.