Harmonica Almanac – October 5

Rockabilly harmonica player Billy Lee Riley was born on this day in 1933. In addition to scoring several hits for the Sun Label in the 1950’s, he also worked as a sideman for Roy Orbison, Johnny Cash, Charlie Rich and others.

Rock guitar and harmonica player Steve Miller is best noted for his guitar playing, but he had one very smokin’ harmonica into for the song “Living in the USA”. Miller was born on this day in 1943.

Blues harmonica wizard Rick Estrin was born on this day in 1949. Estrin has been playing professionally since he was eighteen. He favors using the chromatic for playing has been a major force in modern Blues harmonica.
https://youtu.be/tjD83U_2-IM
Country singer and harmonica player Garley Foster played with The Carolina Tarheels in the 1920’s and 1930’s and with Doc Watson in the 1950’s and 1960’s. Foster died on this day in 1968.

Blues guitar and harmonica player Willie Borum died on this day in 1993. Borum learned how to play the harmonica from Noah Lewis and played in several jug bands around Memphis. He also played with Sonny Boy Williamson II, Robert Johnson, Will Shade and many other Blues greats.

That’s it for today. Have fun and practice!