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Otis Grand, born Fred Bishti on February 14, 1950 in Beirut, Lebanon, was a guitarist known for his contributions to blues music. He began his career playing with local musicians at Eli's Mile High Club in Oakland, California. His debut album, Always Hot, was produced by Joe Louis Walker in 1988. By the late 1980s, Grand had relocated to the UK, where he gained popularity as a nightclub act and was voted 'Best UK Blues Guitarist' seven years running (1990–1996) by British Blues Connection magazine. Notable albums include He Knows the Blues (1992), which was nominated for a W.C. Handy Award, and Perfume & Grime (1996). Grand collaborated with various artists including Guitar Shorty, Joe Louis Walker, Curtis Salgado, and Sugar Ray Norcia. He received the Presidential Medal for Arts from the Republic of Lebanon in 2009. Otis Grand passed away on June 9, 2023.
