Will Shade
Blues harmonica player Will Shade was born on this day in 1898. Shade led the Memphis Jug Band which also featured Furry Lewis and a young Walter Horton. He also worked with Gus Cannon, Memphis Minnie and other Blues giants.
Leon “Cappy” Lafell
Leon “Cappy” Lafell was a master polyphonia player and an long-rime member of The Cappy Barra Harmonica Ensemble. Lafell was born on this day in 1913.
Little Arthur Duncan
Blues singer and harmonica player Little Arthur Duncan was born on this day in 1934. Duncan grew up in Mississippi and moved to Chicago in the early 1950’s. He often worked with Earl Hooker and worked in the Chicago Blues scene for most of his life.
Brian Golbey
English Country-Western singer-songwriter, fiddle and harmonica player Brian Golbey was taught the harmonica by his dad at the age of eleven. Golbey was born on this day in 1939.
Don Henry
Bass harmonica player Don Henry began his career in the Secret band that Johnny Puleo started.. In the 1950’s he put together The Don Henry Trio with Pete Pedersen and Fuzzy Feldman. Henry died on this day in 1995.
“Schoolboy” Cleve White
Blues guitar and harmonica player “Schoolboy” Cleve White died on this day in 2008. White taught himself how to play the harmonica at the age of six. He worked on and off in the Blues until he retired in the early 1980’s.
Richard Hayman
Harmonica soloist Richard Hayman was not only a magnificent harmonica player, but a world-class music arranger as well. His recording of “Ruby Gentry” is one of the great harmonica classics. Hayman died on this day in 2014.
That’s it for today. Have fun and practice!
