( from Lil' Rev's site ) I was born and bred in Milwaukee, Wisconsin with dual passions for music and education. I opted for the pragmatic route and earned a Bachelors Degree in Community Education from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. After college, I split my time as an educator between teaching music to grade schoolers at the Milwaukee Jewish Day School, and as an adjunct music historian and lecturer at The University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee.

His heroes include: Pete Seeger, Woody Guthrie, Josh White, Sonny Terry, Cicso Houston and Leadbelly.

I started playing guitar when I was four. At the age of thirteen I was introduced to the world of traditional acoustic music, when a friend and I stumbled into a concert at Folk Arts Rare Records in San Diego. About 20 people were sitting on the floor under the record bins listening to a kid named Tom Waits play his original songs.

”Rey is one of the greatest modern players of the metal-bodied resonator guitar.” Acoustic Guitar Magazine

Manitoba Hal is a unique performer, accomplished guitarist, songwriter and ukulele player. Using a combination of looping technology and other effects he creates a one-man-band performance that is truly one-of-a-kind. His takes on traditional blues songs are fresh and inventive and audiences everywhere are entertained by his stage banter and witty observations.