Best Harmonica Players I know of
Submitted by MasterSmurf on Wed, 09/17/2003 - 08:17
Tags:
- ~In no real Order~
- -John Popper~Blues Traveler: Yeah, he's amazing, and everyone knows it. I enjoy him, but for somereason I never want to call him the best. But big ups for Mr. Popper
- -Bob Dylan: Probably who most people think of whne they think Harmonica. He's the reason why it was for years only appropriate for every great frontman to play harmonica. Never enough to say about Dylan
- -Micky Raphael: Now, I don't know virtually anything about this guy. Maybe I should know more, but I can't find anymore. All I've seen him do is play with Dave Matthews at Farmaid and it was amazing. He is a virtuoso soloist and has amazing tone. Download....I mean but the video.
- -Muddy Waters: Good 'ol blues harmonica is always fun to listen to.
- -Robert Plant~Led Zeppelin: Listen to When the Levee breaks, and a couple others. He's isn't given enough credit for that. He's good.
- -John Lennon~Beatles: Darn fine for playing guitar, singing, and playing mouth harp all at once.....well minus the singing and harmonica at same time.
- -Steven Tyler~Areosmith: He's alright, just another harmonica playing frontman
Author Comments:
That's all I can think of. Anymore you would like to add?
I would add:
Lee Oskar of War
Stevie Wonder
Both are truly great harp players.
tdunnie
I'm surprised that you didn't mention:
Neil Young
Bruce Springsteen
Mick Jagger
Ryan Adams
I would consider all these to be harmonica gods.
Kim Wilson of the Fabulous Thunderbirds is a well, "fabulous" harp player.
Charlie Musslewhite is among the best ever.
Paul Butterfield was great.
I agree with dcstar on Neil Young & Mick Jagger and tdunnie on Stevie Wonder. All great players.
Bob Dylan-no argument there.
John Popper-no arguement either.
I don't think Muddy Waters really played harp on his records, I think he usually hired someone. He might have done the arrangements, but generally he just got the best player available, so I don't think of him as a player. If you like blues harp, you should check out some Sonny Boy Williamson. There were two of them , both legends of blues harp.
I don't listen to Dave Matthews so, I can't say anything about Micky Raphael.
I think Plant, Tyler and Lennon should be considered fairly average players. OK sometimes, but there are much better examples out there if you're looking for the best harmonica players.
Check out "Magic Dick" of the J. Geils Band some day. "Whammer Jammer/Hard Drivin' Man" in particular.
I will check those out and get back to you about them