Otis Grand
Otis Grand (born February 14, 1950, Beirut, Lebanon) is an American blues musician, best known for his album, "Perfume and Grime" (1996). Biography. Although born in Beirut, Grand has spent much of his life in the United States. He played with local blues musicians at Eli's Mile High Club in Oakland, California, and made contacts that would later prove useful; such as Joe Louis Walker who produced his debut album, "Always Hot" (1988). He later cited his early influences as being B.B. King, Otis Rush, Johnny Otis and T-Bone Walker. By the late 1980s, Grand was  based in the UK where he and his Dance Kings became a popular nightclub act. He was voted 'Best UK Blues Guitarist' seven years running (1990–1996) by the British "Blues Connection" magazine. In 1991, Grand co-starred with his backing band and Guitar Shorty, on the "My Way or the Highway" album. Joe Louis Walker also played on Grand's next album, "He Knows the Blues" (1992) alongside Calvin Owens, Alfred "Pee Wee" Ellis, and the singer Jimmy Nelson. The album was nominated for a W.C. Handy Award. "Nothing Else Matters" (1994) involved Curtis Salgado, Sugar Ray Norcia, and Kim  Wilson, whilst Walker and Salgado returned for "Perfume and Grime" (1996) which also utilised Luther Allison and Darrell Nulisch. In 1997, Grand guested on Joe Louis Walker's album, "Great Guitars". In March 2009, Grand appeared on stage at the Arts Centre in Cranleigh, Surrey, England. In addition to living in Lebanon and the United States, Grand has lived in France and currently resides in Croydon, England, Grand remains an incisive guitarist. His latest album, "Hipster Blues", was released on May 21, 2007.