HE looks American, he plays like an American, but Otis Grand was actually born in Beirut, Lebanon - not a place normally associated with the blues.

But the mighty guitarist, who plays at The Brook in Southampton on December 20, was heavily influenced by his early life in the USA.

Born Fred Bishti, he began playing guitar at the age of 13, citing his influences as B.B. King, T-Bone Walker, Otis Rush and Johnny Otis.

He started calling himself Otis Grand when he began playing with several San Francisco Bay area blues artists.

He moved to the UK in the late 1980s to form Otis Grand and The Dance Kings.

Otis comes to The Brook with a seven-piece line-up. Tickets cost £9. Box office: 023 8055 5366.