International Blues Guitarist Otis Grand Dies at Age 73

I was terribly saddened to learn of the passing of another great blues guitarist, Otis Grand, who died on June 9, 2023.  Grand, whose real name was Fred Bishti, was born in Beirut, raised in the San Francisco Bay Area but found his fame in Britain.  He was regarded as one of the best blues guitarists on the European circuit yet kept in touch with his many friends in the U.S. blues scene. Under appreciated in America, Grand also wrote and sang and put out several blues cds that were as good as any in the blues genre.  With exquisite taste in singers, side men and women and material, I have 2 or 3 of Grand's cds in heavy rotation on my disc player most weeks.  His collaborations with the cream of the crop of U.S. blues singers like Sugar Ray Norcia and Curtis Salgado capture some of their best work.  For those unfamiliar with Grand's work, here is one of my favorite Grand originals,"Finish Line", off of his cd "Nothing Else Matters" featuring Curtis Salgado on vocals and a stellar horn section that includes  the late great Bob Enos and Ritch Lataille from Roomful of Blues and Sax Gordon among others.

In  2013 Grand returned to the place of his birth, Beirut, Lebanon where he and his Blues 65 Band was the closing concert at the Zouk Mikael's International Music Festival under the stars in an ancient amphitheater.  A generous friend, Otis invited many of his American blues musician friends to play in his band and share in a most unique and special life experience.  Mr. Grand will be sorely missed.