Big Al & The Heavyweights

The band’s next CD was recorded on the Bluziana Music record label and was entitled “Hey, Hey Mardi Gras”. Once again, number one Blues Brother Dan Aykroyd took notice and featured the song “Cajun Roux” on his House of Blues Radio Show garnering the band even more attention. “Hey, Hey Mardi Gras” was also nominated for a Nammy Award for Blues Album of the Year by the N. E. A. along with Delbert McClinton (who won), Johnny Jones, and Bonnie Raitt guitarist, Rick Vito.

After a web broadcast from the famous J & J Blues Bar in Ft. Worth, TX The band kept getting requests for a live CD. Hence, they recorded “Live Crawfish” which captures the band with all their energy and power. It was very well received and also featured on the House of Blues Radio Show.

“Late Night Gumbo Party” was recorded with noted blues producer, Fred James, at the helm. Fred has worked with KoKo Taylor, Johnny Winter, Charlie Mussellwhite and Son Seals. “Late Night Gumbo Party” once again caught the ear of Dan Aykroyd and he featured the song, “Hey, Hey Nanette” as the Blues Breaker of the Week. He also interviewed Big Al on the show. The CD charted at # 4 on the Living Blues play list charts. Here’s what Living Blues says in reviewing “Late Night Gumbo Party”, “If you’re missing the sultry, sticky Crescent City scene and want a quick fix, this CD is for you. ” Bruce Iglauer, the president and founder of Alligator Records produced the current Cd, “Nothin But Good Lovin”. It is the bands most eclectic record and has truly defined the band’s sound.

Over the last 20 years, the band has also been featured on national television, after the famed chef Emeril Lagasse heard the album “Hey, Hey Mardi Gras”. The producers of his show, “Emeril Live” reached out to the band, and asked them to perform on his Mardi Gras show, which happened to be the premiere show of the season, and ranked 7 for that week’s most popular cable television show reaching an amazing 43 million people nationwide! The results were amazing, requiring Bluziana Music to rush more copies of the album to meet sales orders. The band has also been featured on other Cajun and Creole episodes of “Emeril Live!”

Big Al and the Heavyweights have also been featured on Mardi Gras compilation CD’s, including “Ultimate Mardi Gras”, recorded by New Orleans based Mardi Gras Records.