{{short description|American singer}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Neal Pattman | image = | caption = | image_size = | birth_name = | alias = Big Daddy Pattman | birth_date = {{birth date|1926|1|10|mf=y}} | birth_place = Madison County, Georgia, United States | death_date = {{death date and age|2005|5|4|1926|1|10|mf=y}} | death_place = Athens, Georgia, United States | instrument = Harmonica, vocals | genre = Electric blues<ref name="AMG"/> | occupation = Singer, harmonica player, songwriter | years_active = 1960s–2005 | label = Global Village, Music Maker, Bent Notes }}

'''Neal Pattman''' (January 10, 1926 – May 4, 2005)<ref name="Dead">{{cite web|author=Doc Rock |url=http://thedeadrockstarsclub.com/2005.html |title=The Dead Rock Stars Club 2005 – January to June |publisher=Thedeadrockstarsclub.com |date= |access-date=2014-01-27}}</ref> was an American electric blues harmonica player, singer and songwriter.<ref name="AMG">{{cite web |url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p34424/biography|pure_url=yes}}|title=Neal Pattman|author=Jason Ankeny|publisher=Allmusic |access-date=October 22, 2011}}</ref> Sometimes billed as '''Big Daddy Pattman''', he is best known for his self-penned tracks, "Prison Blues" and "Goin' Back To Georgia". In the latter, and most notable stages of his long career, Pattman worked with Cootie Stark, Taj Mahal, Dave Peabody, Jimmy Rip, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Guitar Gabriel, and Lee Konitz.<ref name="Dead"/><ref name="Obit"/>

==Biography== Pattman was born in Madison County, Georgia, United States, one of fourteen children.<ref name="AMG"/><ref name="Dead"/> He learned harmonica playing from his father, after an accident involving a wagon wheel at the age of nine left him with only his left arm.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.musicmaker.org/artists_profile/Neal-Pattman |title=Neal Pattman |author= |date= |publisher=Musicmaker.org |access-date=October 22, 2011}}</ref> Inspired by Sonny Terry's playing and distinctive whoops and hollers, Pattman played on the street corners of nearby Athens, Georgia. He found regular employment in the University of Georgia's kitchens, and gained further experience and local adoration for his regular live performances at various clubs and festivals.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://onlineathens.com/stories/050705/new_20050507054.shtml |title=Neal Pattman: 1926–2005, Athens loses a music icon |author=Don Nelson |date=May 7, 2005 |publisher=Onlineathens.com |access-date=October 22, 2011}}</ref> However, his more general renown was minimal until 1989, when he performed at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City.<ref name="AMG"/><ref name="Obit"/>

A meeting in 1991 with Tim Duffy, of the Music Maker Relief Foundation, led to Pattman playing with Cootie Stark, supporting Taj Mahal, on a nationwide Blues Revival Tour.<ref name="AMG"/> Playing with the British blues guitarist, Dave Peabody,<ref name="Obit">{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2005/jun/11/guardianobituaries |title=Neal Pattman; One-armed harmonica virtuoso |author=Tony Russell |date=11 June 2005 |publisher=Guardian.co.uk |access-date=October 22, 2011}}</ref> led to Pattman releasing three albums between 1995 and 2001. He also contributed to Kenny Wayne Shepherd's album and DVD, ''10 Days Out: Blues from the Backroads'', which was released in 2007.<ref name="AMG"/>

However, Pattman had already died of bone cancer in May 2005, in Athens, Georgia, aged 79.<ref name="AMG"/><ref name="Dead"/>

==Discography== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year || Title || Record label |- | 1995 || ''The Blues Ain't Left Yet'' || style="text-align:center;"|Global Village Records |- | 1999 || ''Prison Blues'' || style="text-align:center;"|Music Maker |- | 2001 || ''It Seemed Like a Dream'' || style="text-align:center;"|Bent Notes Records |}<ref name="Albums">{{cite web|author= |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/neal-pattman-mn0000382226/discography |title=Neal Pattman &#124; Discography |publisher=AllMusic |date= |access-date=2014-01-27}}</ref>

==See also== *List of electric blues musicians

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *{{IMDb name|id=3030569}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pattman, Neal}} Category:1926 births Category:2005 deaths Category:American blues harmonica players Category:American blues singers Category:Songwriters from Georgia (U.S. state) Category:Singers from Georgia (U.S. state) Category:Electric blues musicians Category:People from Madison County, Georgia Category:Deaths from cancer in Georgia (U.S. state) Category:20th-century American singers Category:20th-century American male singers Category:American male songwriters Category:20th-century American songwriters