Young D.K. Harrell is good. Really good. With a polished guitar sound and soulful vocals, his sound is reminiscent of a Harrell’s idol B.B. King or a young Robert Cray.
Born D’Kieran Harrell in Ruston, Louisiana, Harrell says he first heard King when he was a toddler and immediately started singing along. He grew up singing in the church choir, and, when he received his first guitar at 12 years old, he began by studying and trying to imitate King’s licks. By the time he was 16, he was writing his own songs. His first paying gig was as a an invited guest to the B.B. King Symposium in Indianola, Mississippi, where, according to his media, Harrell played “The Thrill is Gone” on King’s iconic guitar, Lucille.
Harrell’s first album, The Right Man, released in 2023, garnered him the Blues Music Award for Best Emerging Artist. His new album, Talkin’ Heavy, will continue to build his reputation. From the first crisp notes on “A Little Taste,” Harrell’s talent is evident. Among the highlights are the title tune, “Grown Now” (which you can listen to below, the jubilant “Good Man,” “No Thanks To You,” and the rousing “Praise These Blues.”
About the author: Bill Wilcox is a roots music enthusiast recently relocated from the Washington, DC area to Philadelphia, PA and back again.