About Ori Naftaly.
Blues, soul and years of collaboration have shaped my path as a guitarist, songwriter, producer and teacher based in Memphis.
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Guitar, songs and collaboration.
The guitar brought me to Memphis. The people and the music made it home.
Blues, jazz, funk and soul shaped the way I hear and play music. I moved to Memphis in 2013 to build a life around that sound.
In Memphis, I co-founded Southern Avenue. Together we have made records, toured internationally and learned what it takes to bring songs to life night after night.
Today I bring that experience into my own production, songwriting and guitar projects, and into teaching. I value the feel of a performance as much as the craft behind it.
Explore selected work ↗A few turning points.
Moved to Memphis to build a musical life rooted in blues, soul and collaboration.
Southern Avenue released its self-titled Stax debut. The album reached No. 1 on iTunes’ Top Blues Albums chart and No. 6 on Billboard’s Top Blues Albums chart.
Southern Avenue won the Blues Music Award for Best Emerging Artist Album for its 2017 debut.
Keep On reached No. 5 on Billboard’s Top Blues Albums chart.
Keep On received a GRAMMY nomination for Best Contemporary Blues Album.
Southern Avenue joined the Outlaw Music Festival alongside Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan and John Mellencamp.
Southern Avenue released Family and won the Living Blues Readers’ Poll for Blues Band of the Year.
Family received a GRAMMY nomination. Southern Avenue won the Living Blues Critics’ Poll for Blues Band of the Year.
Recognition and chart positions are credited to Southern Avenue unless otherwise stated. Sources: Recording Academy · Concord Records · Living Blues 2025 · Living Blues 2026
Let’s make something meaningful.
Whether it's a record, performance, song or lesson, I'd love to hear what you're imagining.