Early life and education
Neals was born on February 8, 1974, in Detroit, Michigan, [4] and raised in Southfield, Michigan. [5] She sang and performed with her two sisters. As Neals reached adolescence, her father enforced standards for home life by telling her: "You have to get a college degree to live under this roof." [6] [7] She chose to study opera and enrolled at Wayne State University, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Music. [8] [9]
Career
Neals began her musical career in local clubs in Detroit, where she established her vocal styling and piano playing. [7] In the mid-1990s Barrett Strong signed Neals to his record company, Blarritt Records. [10] In 1997, her debut album, I Want More, was issued with Neals billed simply as Eliza. A follow-up album, I'm Waiting, was released two years later. [11] Neals was the co-songwriter and co-producer on Stronghold II (2008), the most recent album by Barrett Strong. [6] [7] Neals has identified Barrett Strong and Joe Louis Walker as her mentors and inspiration. [12]
Neals self-released four albums over a ten-year period. [13] She was given the 2015 Detroit Music Award for 'Outstanding Blues/R&B Songwriter'. [7] In 2017, Neals released '10,000 Feet Below,' writing or co-writing all but one of the 11 tracks. The exception was her rendition of Skip James's number, "Hard Time Killing Floor Blues". [14] Billy Davis and Paul Nelson were featured guitarists on the album, which was issued on E-H Records. [15] Neals won the 'Blues Artist of the Year' from the 'Detroit Black Music Awards' in 2018. Eliza Neals and the Narcotics (180 gram vinyl), credited to that 'band' was released in 2019. [13] The same year witnessed the July 4 release of the EP, Sweet or Mean, also on E-H Records. Popa Chubby oversaw the production of the collection, which included horn work by Ian Hendrickson-Smith and Michael Leonhart. [16]
Neals's next album was Black Crow Moan (2020). [4] Neals was quoted as saying it was "more sentimental; a lot of stuff coming from way, way back. I think it’s more heartfelt. More like a confessional". [17] It was recorded before the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, and featured guest appearances from Joe Louis Walker and Derek St. Holmes. [6] In 2021, Eliza Neals re-released Sugar Daddy written by Barrett Strong, featuring King Solomon Hicks on guitar, and airplay/rotation on Sirius XM Bluessville. While Black Crow Moan has been described as primarily ballad-driven to fit the times of 2020 [18] and partly reflected on the idols from her "growing up years," [19] Badder to the Bone (2022) has been described as a unique approach to blues. [20] Neals wrote or co-wrote every song, and she arranged and co-produced the collection in conjunction with Michael Puwal. [21] [22] The album had Neals providing both vocals and piano work, with Lance Lopez on guitar, Peter Keys on Hammond organ, plus Billy Davis playing guitar on the track "Got A Gun", while Paul Randolph played bass guitar on two songs. The album also featured Neals' cover of the Steve Winwood song, "Can't Find My Way Home". [23] [24]
She performed at the 2017 and 2019 Ann Arbor Blues and Jazz Festival. Neals has been the supporting act for performances by Barrett Strong, Joe Louis Walker, Popa Chubby, Peter Keys, George Clinton, Four Tops, Tony Joe White, Mike Zito, Tommy Castro, Walter Trout, Albert Castiglia, Micki Free, Victor Wainwright, and Solomon Hicks. [7]
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