Blues King And Provogue Recording Artist Eric Gales Scores Big-Time Grammy® Nomination For A Tribute To Ljk
|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
There is only one Eric Gales—an unmistakable tone, smoky powerhouse vocals, and a guitar voice that’s truly a force of nature. Also known as “Raw Dawg,” Gales is the blues-rock prodigy revered for his left-handed, upside-down playing style, a rare approach that has become one of the most recognizable signatures in modern blues. He picked up the guitar at age four, learning songs and licks from his older siblings, Eugene and Manuel—better known as Little Jimmy King—while absorbing the influence of titans like Jimi Hendrix, Albert King, B.B. King, and others. After emerging as a child star in the early ’90s, Gales’ journey has been marked by hard-earned resilience and a return to critical acclaim, driven by sheer will and undeniable talent. Adding to the legend: guitar icon Carlos Santana is his godfather.
Now, Eric Gales’ time is here. A rule-breaking, genre-fusing powerhouse, he’s been hailed by fellow musicians and fans alike as one of the best guitarists on the planet—and he’s just earned a major career milestone with a GRAMMY® nomination for Best Contemporary Blues Album for his latest release, A Tribute to LJK, recognized for the 68th Annual GRAMMY Awards®. It’s a thrillingly modern record for the here-and-now, but it’s also deeply rooted—an emotional and musical salute to family, Memphis spirit, and the bloodline that shaped him.
At the heart of this project is the legacy of his brother, Little Jimmy King, who died suddenly in 2002 at the age of 37. Like Eric, he was a left-handed guitarist who strung his instrument upside down, channeling a scorching Memphis blues sound that fused electric blues with soul grit, funk groove, and rock edge. With A Tribute to LJK, Eric looks his past squarely in the eye and turns it into something vital, fierce, and alive—bringing his brother’s music forward with the full force of his own modern command.
Gales knows the competition in the category is stacked, with nominated albums including Breakthrough by Joe Bonamassa, Paper Doll by Samantha Fish, Preacher Kids by Robert Randolph, and Family by Southern Avenue. Still, A Tribute to LJK stands apart as a heartfelt mission to preserve a legacy and reintroduce a powerful body of work to the world. As Gales explains, “This record has been a long time coming. I wanted it to be the ultimate tribute to my late brother, Little Jimmy King, to keep his memory alive and make sure people remember who he was and still is. All these songs, except one, are his originals. I wanted to deliver his tunes to the world through my eyes. And I wanted it to be badass—and that’s exactly how it turned out.” The album also features guest appearances by Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Josh Smith, Joe Bonamassa, and the legendary Buddy Guy—an all-star lineup that underscores the respect Gales commands across the blues and rock landscape.
Beyond the studio, Gales remains one of the most electrifying touring artists on the circuit, having performed internationally for years. He closed out 2025 with an ambitious run of dates—many of them sold out—in support of A Tribute to LJK, further cementing the album’s impact and the audience demand behind it.
His list of accolades continues to grow. In 2017, his project Bookends reached #1 on the Billboard charts, and his previous project Crown also hit #1—along with multiple Blues Music Awards, civic honors including keys to cities, and recognition that includes a star on the famed Beale Street. Gales’ artistry has also extended into film through the 2025 movie Sinners, in collaboration with composer Ludwig Göransson, spotlighting his guitar work in standout moments that blend blues fire with cinematic scope. With momentum like this, it’s no stretch to imagine even more doors opening in the year ahead.
No stranger to GRAMMY® attention, Eric Gales was previously nominated for his remarkable achievement Crown in 2022. With GRAMMY® Day arriving on February 1, 2026, there may be plenty of surprises—and Eric Gales could very well be one of them.
For more information, visit ericgales.com.
Media Inquiries: Jodi Jackson, JJ Entertainment | 323-356-0797 | Joddith@aol.com
