Born in East Chicago, Indiana, 1962 Catfish first heard blues music while living in "The Harbor," a working-class, steel mill town, where Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, and Buddy Guy were staple sounds on the radio. But it was the country blues of Son House he heard as a teenager that inspired him to delve deep into delta blues. Following high school in Davenport, Iowa, Catfish hit the road, embarking on a lifelong adventure as a solo performer of American roots music.
He travelled to the Caribbean, soaking up a wealth of island sounds, rhythms of Jazz, Calypso, Reggae and especially the music of Joseph Spence. Though he grew up on the Mississippi River, Catfish earned his moniker from a West Indian lobster diving partner who, after seeing him swim, dubbed him "Catfish-Swimmin'-Around," and "Catfish-Steel-Guitar-Man."
In 1984, Catfish recorded his first album, Catfish Blues, receiving great reviews and selling well. This enabled Catfish to play and tour continually, learning directly from legends such as Johnny Shines, David Honeyboy Edwards, Jesse Mae Hemphill and Henry Townsend.
In 1991 Catfish and his by now wife and manager Penny Cahill released Pepper in My Shoe! On their own record label “Fish Tail Records” to tremendous acclaim, and resulting in extensive touring in the UK and Europe. The Guardian called Catfish "a solo revelation" who was "Breaking new ground for blues." Catfish packed houses with his dynamic, foot-stomping stage show. Pepper in My Shoe! was followed by Jitterbug Swing which was nominated for a W. C. Handy Award for "Best acoustic blues album of 1992." The British Blues Connection nominated Catfish for "best oversees artist," calling him "The new slide king of the National steel guitar."
Catfish Keith's fifth solo album, Fresh Catfish, was nominated for a W. C. Handy Award for "BEST ACOUSTIC BLUES ALBUM OF 1995" prompting Mark E. Gallo of Blues Review to write "Catfish Keith is hands down one of the finest acoustic bluesmen in America." You can find out more about catfish on his web site catfishkeith.com. With 12 album releases behind him Catfish continues to record and tour.

• Blues