Doug MacLeod

"Like all great blues men, MacLeod lives his music, and the songs are not just on the tips of his fingers and tongue, they are one with his being.” - Blues Music Magazine

"One of the great blues artists......period!" - Jorma Kaukonen.

MacLeod is known for his superb songwriting, guitar wizardry, warm soulful vocals, wit, and unforgettable live performances. At the heart of a Doug MacLeod performance is his knack for storytelling, bringing characters-from the faceless to the legendary-to strikingly real life.

Doug is a multiple Blues Music Award winner, including the 2024 Blues Music Award for Acoustic Album Of The Year Raw Blues 1 and the 2023 the Blues Music Award for Acoustic Artist Of The Year. In 2025 he received two BMA nominations for Acoustic Artist of the Year and Acoustic Album of the Year - Raw Blues 2

A Soul To Claim produced by Jim Gaines was named a Downbeat Magazine ‘Album Of The Year’ for 2022.

As a youth, Doug overcame abuse and a crippling stutter by turning to music. After picking up a guitar, and singing - he found his voice.

MacLeod's playing landed him sideman gigs with George 'Harmonica' Smith, Big Joe Turner, Pee Wee Crayton, Eddie 'Cleanhead' Vinson, Lowell Fulson, and Big Mama Thornton. Over 40 years, 29 studio albums, several live records, compilations, two blues guitar instructional DVDs, and a live performance DVD, MacLeod has consistently earned raves. His songs have been covered by many artists including Albert King, Albert Collins, Joe Louis Walker and Eva Cassidy. MacLeod's songs have been featured in many TV movies and the hit show In the Heat of the Night. August Wilson requested his soulful slide guitar playing in the Los Angeles opening of "Gem of the Ocean”.

Doug says the most important lessons he learned as a young musician came from Ernest Banks a one-eyed country bluesman from Toano, VA.
"Never play a note you don't believe” and "Never write or sing about what you don't know about.”

As Blues Hall Of Fame artist Pee Wee Crayton's widow Esther once told Doug, "You have a message and you'll send that message mainly to the people who don't go to church." Amen.