Jeff Dale is an award winning songwriter and performer, born and raised on the south side of Chicago
A deeply rooted blues artist with more than four decades of experience, Dale has performed throughout the United States and internationally, with recent shows in Europe, Southeast Asia, and Central America. In recognition of his lifelong contribution to original roots music, the City of Los Angeles honored him with a Living Legend Blues Award.
Before he could shave, Dale was immersed in the sound and spirit of Chicago blues, experiencing live performances by Hound Dog Taylor, Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Koko Taylor and many others. “In the neighborhood where I grew up,” says Dale, “if you had your antennas up, you could feel the blues right there.”
That early exposure led to a lifelong blues lineage that includes accompanying legendary artists such as Pee Wee Crayton, David “Honeyboy” Edwards the last of the original Delta bluesmen, and Lowell Fulson. Unearthed tapes from a 1983 performance with Fulson led to the 2021 release Lowell Fulson Live! With Jeff Dale & The Blue Wave Band, which received extensive airplay, produced a #1 track on the Roots Music Airplay Report and earned a Blues Blast Music Award nomination.
Through decades of touring and recording, Dale collected stories, guidance and musical wisdom from giants of the genre including Muddy Waters, B.B. King, Willie Dixon, Etta James, Albert King and Clifton Chenier—relationships that shaped both his musicianship and songwriting voice.
After releasing two albums of original material in the 1980s with The Blue Wave Band, earning a Best New Blues Band award and a Cashbox Feature Pick for What It Is,—Dale reinvented himself in the 2000s with The South Woodlawners. Their debut album, Blues From The Southside Of My Soul (2009), was praised as “rowdy, loud, naughty-down-and-bawdy South Side Chicago style blues.”
Each subsequent release expanded his audience and critical acclaim. Blues Room (2011) garnered international rave reviews and airplay with the track “Stumblin’” featured on the FX television series, Justified. Good Music (2014) followed with additional awards, and widespread radio support.
In 2016, Dale produced a DVD/CD documenting the final recorded performance of David “Honeyboy” Edwards, I’m Gonna Tell You Somethin’ That I Know featuring Dale as accompanist. The film premiered at both the Clarksdale Mississippi Film Festival and the Chicago International Music and Movie Festival, winning Living Blues 2017 Best Blues DVD of the Year, All Music Guide’s Best of 2017, and international recognition as a priceless, historical document.
The Southside Lives (2017) a back-porch blues album of Dale originals featuring Handy Award-winning harmonica player Jeff Stone (his friend since third grade) earned an Independent Blues Award nomination. Blues Power (2019) became a Top 10 Roots Music Report airplay album, spinning on more than 150 stations worldwide.
Jeff’s album Blood Red Moon (2022) was named “Best of 2022.” His 2024, collaboration album with blues sax man Bobby “Hurricane” Spencer, The Hurricane Dale Thang has garnered hundreds of thousands online streams.
Summing up Dale’s essence, The Midwest Record wrote: “A Chicago cat that uses that connection to add authenticity to his blues, Dale is really doing his own thing -it’s not about homage or tribute, .... he’s playing from the gut.”
More quotes:
“Dale has done his part to preserve his legacy as both a versatile Chicago bluesman as well as a disciple of that stripped-down Delta sound.”
- Robin Zimmerman Chicago Blues Guide
“Jeff Dale knows how to sing very convincingly, and his raw and fat slide solos goes through marrow and bone.”
- Walter Vanheuckelom-Concert Monkey (Belgium)
“The Chicago native has a tough vocal style and pulls no punches. It is always good to hear an all-original album and Jeff’s fans will be sure to enjoy this disc.”
-John Mitchell-Blues Blast Magazine
