Singers trump instrumentalists. You have all been moved by a singer at some point in your lives (I hope!). Here are more great harmonica-playing singers:
I am a singer, so I can relate, but blues is not my only music. Seems to me that harp is a great call for a singer who wants to be in any band, but doesn't want to learn one of the other instruments one might find in a contemporary ensemble. Drums put you at the rear, that's not good show business--keyboards are a good call, especially if they aren't expecting Keith Emerson. Bass is great for singers, but you have to play all the time! Guitar seems to be popular for lead singers for obvious reasons.
But harmonica, you can have it (OK, "them", unless the band only plays in one key or you are advanced) in your pocket and simply "whip it out" when not singing and become part of the rhythm section, and if you have control of the instrument, function as a lead instrument as well (like SM in the clip I posted). I like harmonica for several reasons, and stealthiness is one of them. But it's easier to learn some keyboard theory than to get good on harp, past the simple stuff, and there are more keyboards on the recordings most singers are trying to recreate, unless they are blues singers, and all those guys are already into the blues instrumentation and so would be drawn to harp. So I feel most contemporary singers are not being attracted to harp, sadly. I play guitar quite well, but seem to have hijacked by the harmonica.
Kim Wilson is a fave and hasn't been mentioned yet. In that same vane...Sugar Ray Norcia, James Harmon would be right up there (of people still kickin it today). Nobody has mentioned the late William Clark yet. Love him...and of course Sam Myers. Saw William just before his death. OH...and I know there's a lot of love here for Rod Piazza as a harp player...but he remains one of my favorite blues singers too. ---------- www.bigroadband.com
Don't know how much harp he plays these days, but he still sings wonderfully. You will find him backing up Bonnie Raitt recently--and he's working with my buddy Billy Thompson.
Last Edited by Gnarly on Mar 31, 2016 8:51 PM
Guy Forsyth seems unmentioned: the man Alan Haynes calls "the Pavarotti of the blues."
However, I am reminded of a distinction I first saw drawn with regard to Van Morrison: an Irish writer said Morrison was a great singer, but not much of a vocalist. I see that distinction working in the people we have cited above: men like Junior Parker, Sugar Ray Norcia, and Curtis Salgado are great pure vocalists who can sing any song well. That's why I dragged Guy Forsyth into this, he's another, with operatic and show-tune elements. Then there are those who are primarily great blues singers, which is not a lesser category in the sense of making great blues, like Rice Miller, but they don't have the added dimension of being great pure vocalists as well, great at using their voice as a pure instrument.
The same distinction can be made in rock or country and so on, though great gospel or soul or jazz singers are usually great pure vocalists, aren't they? Anyhow, I think it's a useful element in great blues singing to identify: you play Muddy Waters or BB King for a voice teacher and they'll say, wow, great voice--meaning great pure vocalist.
Here's a shout for the Brits! This is one cool vid from Wes Weston in a Pub in Southend. This looked like a fun place to have a drink and listen to some blues. Tasty Vocals and Harp. Enjoy
