Date Signed: March 2025
Label: Alligator Records
Type of Music: Blues
Management: Michael Kinsman - Hoodoo Productions, mkinsman2020@gmail.com
Booking: Intrepid Artists International
Legal: Bruce Newman, Newman/DeCoster
Publicity: Marc Lipkin, publicity@allig.com
A&R: Bruce Iglauer
Web: dkblues.com
D.K. Harrell is a young man in terms of age, but an old soul when it comes to attitude, work ethic, and influences. Some of his earliest musical inspirations came in the form of movies like The Blues Brothers, Cadillac Records, Ray, and Hail Rock ‘n’ Roll. It was through this media that he had some of his first exposure to artists like John Lee Hooker, Ray Charles, Muddy Waters, and Chuck Berry.
While film set him on his career path, the Louisiana-born blues man’s very first gig was in 2019 at the B.B. King Museum in Indianola, MS. Fast forward to 2022 where famed songwriter/producer/keyboardist and Little Village label founder Jim Pugh and San Diego Blues Festival producer Michael Kinsman caught Harrell performing a set at the International Blues Challenge. Although there were mixed opinions on Harrell’s heavy B.B. King persona, a recording deal was eventually offered and accepted. Pugh played with Harrell on the Legendary Blues Cruise and the two famously hit it off. That relationship resulted in Harrell’s debut recording for the Little Village label, "The Right Man."
Although "The Right Man" was the young singer-songwriter/guitarist’s maiden voyage, he exuded a Spartan work ethic, recording an entire album in just a few days. “You’re trying to be as professional as all these legends that are in the studio with you,” says Harrell on his first record. “But you’re a trainee and that’s your first time on the job.”
During this initial period, Kinsman became Harrell’s manager and assisted in paving the way for a relationship with Alligator Records. Harrell spoke with Alligator Records president Bruce Iglauer in 2023 and maintained a friendly rapport. The turning point happened when Harrell was on tour in Germany. Kinsman called him and confirmed that Iglauer wanted him on the Alligator roster.
“About 10 or 12 years ago, when I was first playing guitar, I was horrible. I can admit that,” says Harrell. “But I was so confident in myself that I actually sent Bruce a burned CD of videos of me playing at home. And he responded very politely, saying I had potential, but they weren’t looking for new artists at the time. I highly doubt he would remember that, but I was 13 or 14 then. So, being able to get in on the label all these years later is pretty cool.”
D.K. Harrell’s Talkin’ Heavy, his Alligator Records debut, is slated to drop on all platforms in June.
