Son Seals
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Frank "Son" Seals (August 13, 1942 -December 20, 2004) was an American blues guitarist and singer.
He was born in 1942 in Osceola, Arkansas where his father, Jim "Son" Seals, owned a small club. He began performing professionally by the age of 13, first as a drummer and later as a guitarist. In 1959, he formed his own band which performed locally and he also toured with Albert King. In 1971, he moved to Chicago. Son has a son, also named Frank Seals who has 3 children. Traygona, Jasmine Seals and Jalen Seals. Frank's girlfriend also has a daughter named Tiffany.
Son had a host of dilemmas to deal with over his life. He survived all but 1 of his 14 siblings, was shot twice in the face by his ex which required extensive surgeries, had a leg amputated, lost his home and his belongings to a fire while he was performing live, had several of his prize guitars stolen from his home.
His career took off after he was discovered by Bruce Iglauer of Alligator Records at the Flamingo Club in Chicago's South Side. His debut, Son Seals, was released in 1973; the album included "Your Love Is Like a Cancer" and "Hot Sauce". He followed it up with 1976's Midnight Son and 1978's Live and Burning. He continued releasing solid material into the 1990s, even jamming with legendary rock band Phish in 1999.
Crime writer Andrew Vachss was a fan of Seals, and used his influence to promote Seals' music. Vachss gave Seals several cameo appearances in his novels and produced some of his later music.
He died from complications of diabetes in 2004.
