Brother Yusef

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Brother Yusef

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Brother Yusef is a self-taught musician and has been described as a master solo guitarist and a uniquely passionate vocalist. His performances are raw, honest, and as real as the genre has ever aspired to be. Honed over thirty years, he calls his multifaceted style fattback blues for its a rich mix of Delta, Chicago, and Texas blues alongside a hard-driving Louisiana stomp. Fattback Blues combines "traditional" fingerpicking and slide guitar playing with the contemporary feel of urban blues, rock, and funk. He uses his right-hand thumb to beat out a percussive bass-line and shuffle while the index finger plays rhythm and lead lines, creating a full band sound with a solo guitar.

Brother Yusef was born in Bakersfield, California, in June 1963. Four years later, he moved with his family to South Central Los Angeles, California, before settling in Altadena, California, in 1969.

Brother Yusef began playing the guitar at the age of 19. His music interest first peaked as a young child while attending Holiness Church services with his grandparents in Bakersfield. The loud music of the church both scared and excited him. The atmosphere he remembers as being a lively and open celebration. Drums, electric guitars, singing, and dancing filled every space of the little church. Another musical inspiration came when Yusef witnessed the Jackson 5 performing on television. His focus was not so much a young Michael Jackson singing and dancing, but the two older brothers, Tito and Jermaine, and the “cool” visuals of them playing the electric guitar and electric bass guitar. His dreams of being a musician born.

With his close friend and fellow budding musician, Yusef started experimenting with a variety of musical styles. He studied blues, jazz, reggae, funk, and rock before deciding the blues was to be his calling.

Brother Yusef approaches the blues from a musical, spiritual and social context. He is quoted as saying, “for African Americans, blues is survival, healing, and freedom.”

Performing at various blues and music festivals, social dance events, Brother Yusef has gained worldwide recognition. He takes his audience on a musical journey, from a backwoods jook joint, to the fiery emotions of the sanctified church.

Data provided by Discogs

Top Tracks

Most popular songs on Last.fm · click ▶ to preview on Spotify

1

I Got the Blues

Brother Yusef

2

Where You Want Me to Go

Brother Yusef

3

Bakersfield Blues

Brother Yusef

4

Love & The Blues

Brother Yusef

5

Blues Is My Story

Brother Yusef

Tour Dates

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Releases

1 release · data from Discogs

Setlists

16 live performances · data from Setlist.fm

All · 16
2022
2019
2018
2017
2015

Setlist data provided by Setlist.fm

November 3, 2022

Holland America Lines-MS Koningsdam

San Diego, California, United States


November 2, 2022

Holland America Lines-MS Koningsdam

San Diego, California, United States


October 30, 2022

Holland America Lines-MS Koningsdam

San Diego, California, United States


October 29, 2022

Holland America Lines-MS Koningsdam

San Diego, California, United States


August 5, 2022

The Woods at Mammoth Lakes

Mammoth Lakes, California, United States

Missing a show? Setlists sync automatically every 7 days.

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Brother Yusef has released 1 album since 2003. Notable releases include Blues By Request. Explore their complete discography on this page.

Brother Yusef's most-played tracks include I Got the Blues, Where You Want Me to Go, Bakersfield Blues, Love & The Blues, Blues Is My Story. Listen to these songs and explore more from their catalog on this page.

Brother Yusef is a self-taught musician and has been described as a master solo guitarist and a uniquely passionate vocalist. His performances are raw, honest, and as real as the genre has ever aspired to be. Honed over thirty years, he calls his mul... Read the full biography on this page.

You can find Brother Yusef vinyl records, CDs and collectibles on eBay. Browse the selection of new and used releases available for purchase.

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