Lenny "The Mule" Mulé
Inducted in 2001
Lenny "The Mule" Mulé was born April 3, 1948 in
Brooklyn, New York. He learned to play harmonica
at the age of 12 and then studied drums from age
16 to 19. He began playing drums in garage-blues
bands and worked in an all black soul band in
the early 1970's. He started learning piano in
1973 for a college requirement while working
part time at a piano factory.
In 1975 he moved to State University at New
Paltz, New York, where his roommate, Rob Rio, a
19 year old budding piano star, was a great
influence on his early and life-long playing. He
earned a degree in Cinema Studies in 1980 and
then moved to Boulder, Colorado, where he soon
became a street musician on the Boulder Mall.
This experience enabled him to join the Blues
Survivors in 1981. They played all over Colorado
and New Mexico, often playing shows with many
Chicago Blues Bands, such as Buddy Guy and
Junior Wells, Legendary Blues Band, George
Harmonica Smith, and Will Clarke. All during
this band playing time he began to play solo
piano in Denver, Boulder, Fort Collins, and even
in a Sushi bar in Aspen, Colorado. In 1983, the
Blues Survivors, thanks to George Sells,
recorded a blues record, which was Mulé's first
recording session.
In 1984, Sam Calabreese, owner of Zachary's
brought Mulé to Phoenix to play solo in his
restaurant. He moved to Scottsdale in 1985 and
played mostly solo piano at Zachary's, Long
Wongs, Backstage, Casey Moore's, and Tooters.
In 1987 he was one of the original members of
Chico Chism's Blues Band. They recorded some
demos and studio recordings, and a live
performance at the Tempe nightclub, Chuy's, in
1988. In 1989 and 1990 he played solo piano for
Balboa Cafe and the Backstage and the Alley Cat.
In 1991 and 1992, he played with the Blue
Dynamos and recorded some live music at the
Herberger Theatre.
In June, 1993, he began a beautiful association
with Baby Kay playing solo on alternate weekends
at Baby Kay's in Phoenix. During this time he
also played some band gigs at the Rhythm Room,
and some solo gigs at the Blue Note and Blue
Moose.
Parts of 1994 and 1995 were spent playing with
Jimmy Morello in the Sting Rays, and recording a
demo. Most of 1996 to April 1997 were spent
playing solo at both Baby Kay's in Phoenix and
in Scottsdale.
April to November, 1997 were spent recovering
from various illnesses. Since November 1997, he
has spent his time working weekends at Baby
Kay's in Phoenix, while taking the summers off
for working vacations in Colorado.
|
|
