Ken Saydak (born August 18, 1951, Chicago, Illinois, United States) is an American Chicago blues pianist and singer-songwriter. In a long career, he has played as a sideman with Lonnie Brooks, Mighty Joe Young, Johnny Winter and Dave Specter. Saydak has released three albums under his own name since 1999. Billboard once described him as "a gripping frontman".
Biography During the 1980s, Saydak played on tours and albums by Johnny Winter, including Winter's Grammy Award nominated LP, Guitar Slinger. Following this spell, Saydak became one of the members of the blues rock band, Big Shoulders, who issued two albums (produced by Saydak) before disbanding.
His debut solo album was 1999's Foolish Man released on Delmark Records. Saydak has also produced his own albums, as well as Zora Young's 2000 issue, Learned My Lesson. He has now appeared on over fifty albums.
The Chicago Sun Times reported "Ken Saydak has built an impressive body of work with his three solo albums and his studio work...It's My Soul is his best stand-alone project yet".
Discography
Albums Foolish Man (1999) – Delmark Love Without Trust (2001) – Delmark It's My Soul (2005) – Evidence
Other appearances 1976 – Mighty Joe Young – Mighty Joe Young – Keyboards 1983 – Hot Shot – Lonnie Brooks – Keyboards 1984 – Guitar Slinger – Johnny Winter – Keyboards 1985 – Serious Business – Johnny Winter – Piano 1986 – Third Degree – Johnny Winter – Piano 1988 – The Winter of '88 – Johnny Winter – Keyboards 1990 – Big Shoulders – Big Shoulders – Organ, piano, accordion, vocals 1991 – Nickel History – Big Shoulders – Organ, piano, accordion, vocals 1991 – Bluebird Blues – Dave Specter with Bill Smith – Organ, piano 1991 – Let Me In – Johnny Winter – Piano 1993 – Fortune Tellin' Man – Jesse Fortune – Organ, piano 1994 – Blueplicity – Dave Specter – Organ, piano 1994 – Gotcha! – Barkin' Bill Smith – Piano 1994 – One to Infinity – Tad Robinson – Organ, piano 1995 – Had My Fun – Karen Carroll – Organ, piano 1995 – Sweetheart of the Blues – Bonnie Lee – Organ, piano 1995 – Wild Cards – Al Miller – Organ, piano 1996 – Left Turn on Blue – Dave Specter – Organ 1996 – Long Way to Ol' Miss – Willie Kent – Piano 1996 – Live at Blue Chicago – Johnny B. Moore – Keyboards 1997 – 700 Blues – Lurrie Bell – Organ, Piano 1997 – Troubled World – Johnny B. Moore – Piano 1998 – Blues Spoken Here – Dave Specter and Lenny Lynn – Piano 1998 – Kiss of Sweet Blues – Lurrie Bell – Organ, piano 1998 – Make Room for the Blues – Willie Kent – Electric piano 1998 – Ready – James Wheeler – Piano 1999 – Knockin' at Your Door – John Primer – Organ, piano 2000 – Can't Take It – James Wheeler – Organ, piano 2000 – Learned My Lesson – Zora Young – Organ, piano, producer 2000 – Royal Blue – Koko Taylor – Piano 2000 – Speculatin''' – Dave Specter – Piano 2002 – In the House: Live at Lucerne, Vol. 1 – Bob Stroger – Piano, vocals, producer 2004 – Have a Little Faith – Mavis Staples – Choir, chorus 2004 – Chinatown – Paul Filipowicz – Piano 2008 – Tell Me Why'' – Alex Wilson – Hammond organ
See also List of Chicago blues musicians
References
External links Official website