Born and raised in Ann Arbor, 36-year-old Laith Al-Saadi began singing at age four and began playing guitar at 13. At 15 he formed his first blues band, Blue Vinyl. In short order they opened for blues greats like Buddy Guy, Luther Allison, Son Seals, and Taj Mahal and toured the Netherlands. At the University of Michigan, Laith was a member of the Johnny Trudell Orchestra and freelanced with Detroit greats like Thornetta Davis, Jocelyn B, The Reefermen. Laith is a real road warrior who generally can be found playing at least five nights a week around Michigan and beyond. He has opened for artists like Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Leon Russell, Robben Ford, Johnny Winter, Hubert Sumlin, Olu Dara, Ten Years After, Mountain, The Yardbirds and—most notably—B.B. King at the House of Blues in Chicago. Laith has released three albums; his latest, "Real," was recorded with an all-star cast of L.A. session legends including Tom Scott on sax, Jim Keltner on drums, and Leland Sklar on bass. The soulful new album harkens back to the great musical traditions of New Orleans and Chicago with a splash of blues, country, gospel, and roots rock. Newly exposed to yet larger audiences at the 2015 Ann Arbor Folk Festival, Laith Al-Saadi is Michigan's own avatar of blues and roots music.