Harmonica Players

 Early Blues:


• Harmonicas Unlimited, 1924-1949 (Document DLP 503/504)
• "Harmonica Blues-the 20's & 30's"- includes great 1st position blues playing by DeFord Bailey, Jazz Gillum, and others.


 Blues:


• Sonny Boy (John Lee) Williamson I: early amplified player
• Sonny Terry (usually teamed with guitarist Brownie McGee): "Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 1" and "Sonny Is King"
• James Cotton: own band & with Muddy Waters (1952-1966), recommended: Muddy Waters' "Hard Again/I'm Ready/King Bee" (James plays on the "Hard Again" album), "Live & On The Move"(great double album) and "Best Of The Verve Years"
• Big Walter Horton: plays on the Willie Dixon album, "I Am The Blues", and numerous solo albums.
• Paul Butterfield: His classic album, "East-West" includes the classic instrumental "Work Song". Great playing with Muddy Waters on the "Father And Sons" album. Also his first, "Paul Butterfield Blues Band".
• Junior Wells: own band. "Live & Acoustic". with Buddy Guy
• Kim Wilson: with Fabulous Thunderbirds
• George "Harmonica" Smith
• Charlie Musselwhite
• Jimmy Reed: specialized in high end straight harp blues style (many of his songs are played on a key of "A" harmonica either in 1st or 2nd position)
• Others include: Little Sonny, Carey Bell, Sugar Blue, Jerry Portnoy (with Clapton on the "From The Cradle" album), Rod Piazza, James Harman, Harmonica Fats, William Clarke, Tom Ball, Howlin' Wolf, Lazy Lester, Mark Ford, "Big Mama" Thornton, Annie Raines, Snooky Pryor, Curtis Salgado, John Hammond, Jr. (neck rack & guitar), Slim Harpo, Paul deLay.
• Willie Dixon: "I Am The Blues" (Big Walter Horton plays on this recommended album). Various harmonica players including Sugar Blue accompany this singer/songwriter on his numerous recordings.


 Fathers of the modern blues harp style:

• Sonny Boy (Rice Miller) Williamson II: "His Best"
• Little Walter: "His Best" and other albums & early (until 1952) Muddy Waters band (Muddy Waters Chess Box Set includes Little Walter, James Cotton, Big Walter Horton and other harmonica players on most songs.)


 Rock-Blues & Pop:

• Norton Buffalo: Loving in the Valley of the Moon; Bonnie Raitt's song: "Runaway".
• Magic Dick: with J. Geils Band. His classic instrumental song, "Whammer Jammer", is on the "Full House Live" album.
• John Mayall: song "Room to Move" on the "Turning Point" album (click here for the "Room To Move" tab).
• Early Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin: occasional harmonica
• Lee Oskar: numerous solo albums including "Lee Oskar"; played harmonica for group War as well creating his namesaked Lee Oskar Major Diatonic harmonica.
• Mad Cat Ruth
• John Popper: Band "Blues Traveler". Albums "four" and "Straight On Till Morning" amongst others.
• Dave Gage: "Well You Can't, Now Can You" album featuring "Tap". The current release is called "Love You Just The Same".
• Huey Lewis (and the News)
• Southside Johnny (and the Asbury Jukes)
• Bruce Willis
• Tom Petty
• Steven Tyler (Aerosmith)
• Robert Plant (Led Zeppelin): "Led Zeppelin I" with "You Shook Me".


 Country/Bluegrass:

• Charlie McCoy: (father of modern bluegrass & country harmonica styles) "Harpin' The Blues" with "Basin Street Blues", and "Greatest Hits" plus plenty of other solo albums.
• Norton Buffalo: CD including two albums released in the 70's on EDSEL Records EDCD 431, session player on other albums, and duo albums with guitarist Roy Rogers.
• Mickey Raphael: with Willie Nelson
• Jimmie Fadden: with Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
• Fingers Taylor: with Jimmy Buffet and Coral Reefer Band
• Terry McMillan: with George Jones, Tanya Tucker, and Lacy J. Dalton.
• Mike Caldwell: with Lorretta Lynn.
• Clint Black
• Delbert McClinton


 Jazz:

• Toots Thielemans: many solo albums & "Oscar Peterson Big 6- Montreux Jazz Festival"
• Howard Levy: Bela Fleck (CDs up to about 1994 included Howard)
• Ron Kalina
• Hendrik Meurkens
• Les Thompson
• Mike Turk
• Richard Hunter
• Bill Barrett
• Marcus Milius


 Folk-Rock:

• Bob Dylan: most albums have simple 1st position and 2nd position playing on them. Try "Greatest Hits- Vol. 1", "Greatest Hits- Vol. 2", and "Blood On The Tracks" for starters.
• Neil Young: most albums have some simple 1st position playing. The "Harvest" album has the classic "Heart of Gold" on it (click here for the "Heart of Gold" tab).
• John Sebastian Jr.: Lovin' Spoonful. song: "Night Owl Blues".
• Bruce Springsteen


 Chromatic Harmonica:

• Stevie Wonder: "Eivets Rednow" album, others
• Toots Thielemans (see in Jazz section above)
• Other full-time and occassional chromatic players include: Larry Adler, the Harmonicats, Tommy Morgan, John Sebastian Sr, Ron Kalina, Mike Turk, Robert Bonfiglio, Eddy Manson, Harmonica Rascals, Little Walter, William Galison, Dave Gage, Cham-Ber Huang, Dave McKelvy, Bill Barrett, Marcus Milius.

* Recommended albums by artists are in italics. You can find many of these linked albums above "keyed" with the complete listing of songs, the keys they are in, and which harmonica to use for playing along at the CDs: Song Keys section at Harmonica Lessons.com.