While discussing the best, it became clear to me that it is all subjective and there were VERY few names thrown about. So I wondered, how many pro harp players are there? Please add to the list and please alphabetize your additions (at least within your own post, you don't have to redo the whole list). For criteria, it is not about who is making a living, but who, of people who you have heard directly either by a recording or live, is by your estimation, a real good harp player. Feel free to include yourself and players of any kind of harmonica, diatonic, chrome, bass, chord, harmonetta, etc. The player must be alive. If anyone names a passed away player, someone please let us know. I was able to come up with a loose count of 184. Interesting, only around 90 of those are in my estimation household names within the harp community. My guess is I have left out some glaring omissions. My guess is everyone will have around 10 players that are unique to them. Please read the lists that came before yours to avoid repeats. Please forgive me if I left anyone out.
Last Edited by Michael Rubin on Sep 25, 2013 10:17 AM
Michelle Adler JP Allen West Side Andy Cheryl Arena Billy Boy Arnold Brandon Bailey Tom Ball Charlie Barath Bruce Sunpie Barnes David Barrett Charlie Baty Chris Bauer Warren Bee Christine Berthon Pierre Beuaregard Birdlegg Pete Blasberg Sugar Blue Bud Boblink Robert Bonfiglio Ray Bonneville Ben Bouman Billy Branch Hash Brown Jens Bunge Theo Burke Felix Cabrera Mike Caldwell Phil Caltabelotta Rick Cannon Mason Casey Sebastien Charlier Dave Chavoya Nic Clark James Conway Cara Cooke James Cotton Emile D’amico Walter Daniels Paul Davies Carlos Del Junco Grant Dermody Magic Dick Phil Duncan Bob Dylan Larry Eisenberg
Hakan Ek Rick Estrin Andy J. Forest Joe Filisko Mark Ford Guy Forsythe Sam Friedman Connor Frontera Mike Fugazzi William Galison Jay Gaunt PT Gazell Little George Jon Gindick Tony Glover Memo Gonzalez Jimmy Gordon Mark Graham Buddy Greene Dennis Gruenling Flavio Guimarez Adam Gussow Steve Guyger James Harman Benny Harp Deak Harp Stan Harper Slim Heilpern Trip Henderson Michel Herblin Hook Herrera Greg Heumann Walter T. Higgs Clint Hoover Eugene Huggins Mark Hummel Gerry Hundt Richard Hunter Kaleena Hutchins Hal Iwan Greg Izor Mick Jagger JJ Jameson Doug Jay Filip Jers
Jellyroll Johnson Scott Albert Johnson Steve Judkins Andy Just Dan Kaplan Mitch Kashmar David Klein Koe Buzz Krantz Steve Krase Aki Kumar Jimi Lee Joe Leone Lazy Lester Huey Lewis Howard Levy Jim Liban Gregoire Maret Sean Maroney Damien Masterson Ben Maygarden Lee McBee Charlie McCoy George Miklas Mike Milligan JJ Milteau RJ Mischo Charlie Musselwhite John Nemeth Sugar Ray Norcia TJ Norton Bill Noteman Darryl Nulisch Paul Orta Paul Oscher Lee Oskar Rob Papparozzi Rob Roy Parnell Todd Parrott Michael Peloquin Rachel Pias Rod Piazza Roly Platt Boris Plotnikov John Popper Jerry Portnoy
Brendan Power Annie Raines Bharath Rajakumar Mickey Raphael Konstantin Reinfeld David Rice Jason Ricci Roscoe Ted Roddy Susan Rosenberg Michael Rubin Jose Ruiz Madcat Ruth Johnny Sansone Andy Santana Gary Sapone Charlie Sayles Will Scarlett Ronnie Shellist Richard Sleigh Al Smith Gary Smith Judy Smith Ron Sorin Charles Spranklin Bruce Springsteen Tom Stryker Jay Summerour Bill Tarsha Sonny Boy Terry Toots Thielemans Brad Trainham Dan Treanor Mike Turk Hal Walker Steve Watne Dave Wellhausen Sandy Weltman West Weston Walter White Don Wickham Phil Wiggins Danny Wilson Kim Wilson Stevie Wonder Justin Vasquez Winslow Yerxa Fredrick Yonnet Neil Young Mick Zacklan Greg Zlap
Last Edited by Michael Rubin on Sep 25, 2013 8:46 AM
Michael, if and as any new names come up, can I suggest that you edit them into your original list(s)? That way, we don't end up with it all strung out through the whole thread.
I submit "Hatrack Gallagher" to your list. He has been one of my favorites for two decades. Doesn't get much credit. But then he doesn't seek it out, either. Underrated and understated.
If we're going to include rack players like Young, Springsteen, and Dylan among the list, then I'd submit some of the other classic rockers who have proven over the years to be pretty talented off the rack.
Roger Daltrey John Fogerty Glenn Frey John Mellencamp Tom Petty Robert Plant Steven Tyler
And since you've given the go ahead on it Michael, I would like to submit myself, not because I consider myself an outstanding harp player, but because I have for some time now considered myself a professional player in that I play on a weekly basis as my second occupation. ----------
Hawkeye Kane
Last Edited by HawkeyeKane on Sep 25, 2013 9:28 AM
Steve Baker Steve Cohen Jerry Devillier "Big Jim" Johnson Brian Purdy Wendell Ray Matthew Skoller Watermelon Slim (Bill Homans)
Last Edited by bluegate on Sep 25, 2013 9:58 AM
From the Pacific Northwest: Jeff Mason, Steve Bailey, Brian Lee, James King, Mark Dufresne, Jim McLauglin, Paul Green, Doug Oyler, Grant Dermody, Gary Turk.
From Australia: Jim Conway Big Blind Ray Ian Collard Peter Harper ("harper" : I think he is in Michigan now) Broderick Smith Pascal Chatrain That'll do for a start.
pat obrian tom richman big rocking daddy good rocking daddy tex the weeping willow slimtones alex woodson tom austin favell jimmy powers mike alverez the amazing billy watson jim liban matt skoller billy branch kelly rucker michael fell gary allegretto stan zebec
Bonny B. Little John Chrisley Bob Corritore Johnny Dyer Rick Epping D.W. Gill Heart2Harp RJ Harman Ryan Hartt Ben Hewlet Studebaker John Southside Johnny Mikey Jr Paul Lamb Paul Lassey Darrell Mansfield Johnny Mars Little Mike Markowitz Delbert McClinton James Montgomery Darrell Nulisch Benny Rickun Lynwood Slim Tony Smith Mike Stevens Rob Stone
Last Edited by Frank on Sep 26, 2013 5:44 AM
Boy, it depends on what you consider a pro. My friend John Frazer has played for money before, but I don't think he makes most of his money from it, nor does Steve Watne. I don't think Ted Burke plays out, but he certainly plays well. I performed a gig last week where they requested no guitar. So I played harmonica for three hours, some of it unaccompanied. Big money in LA, made it worth driving there from San Diego. I expect that makes me a professional harmonica player LOL. Gary Lehmann, available for wakes and weddings. You left off Bill Barrett, Joe Powers, and Randy Weinstein. George Miklas and Wally Peterman too, although I don't think either one of them makes more money from music than from their day jobs. Danny Gajovski plays out for cash, but probably makes more money by running Newharmonica.com. I certainly would include Wade Schuman, and what about Tommy Morgan?
Last Edited by Gnarly on Sep 25, 2013 10:52 PM
Michael gives lee-way for players that can make the list...
But I like to use the test blow.
While drinking a beverage... someone taps me on the shoulder and mentions that so and so is Pro Harp Player - if I don't spray a mouthful of my drink across the room...I'm probably in agreement :
Hendrik Meurkens Ross Garren Beth Kohnen Carlos Zialcita Hermine Deurloo Kat Baloun Beata Kossowska Ana Radzic Hermine Deurloo Jan Verwey Deron Cavaletti Jamie Coventry Keith Bennett Sherman "Tank" Doucette Pierre-Luc Dupuis Louis-Simon Lemieux Daniel Roy Gilles Garand Yves Lambert Mario Forest
A couple of corrections:
Michelle Adler should be Michal Adler
Christine Berthon should be Christelle Berthon
Rachel Plas should be Rachelle Plas ---------- Winslow
Brian Purdy?? Any music out there with him showing his harp skills? I can't find any?
Shouldn't a pro's music be available to the public?
I remember when he was a beginner less than ten years ago. I know he teaches at Jon Gindick's jam camp, he started doing that at advanced beginner level.
I just looked through my database and came up with 20 more. A lot of these come from customers who I never heard of and then one day they send me a CD or a link to a Youtube video and I am blown away.
Gary Applegate Craig Bracken (Australia) TIMOTHY CORBETT (www.gentlemantim.com) Serge Dalex (France) Daniel Deardorff Thomas Dikon (Virgina Beach, VA) Jamey Garner David Herzhaft Gregory Hommert Pete Karnes Jackson Kincheloe (Sister Sparrow and the Dirty Birds) Al Lamberson Richard Leblanc (Rick L. Blues - Canadian) Walter Liniger Alain Messier (France) Graham Nelson Tad Robinson John Shirley JD Taylor Miguel Weissman
Wow thats an old post .... and yes kinda pointless. But u missed the big ones. Sonny 1 and 2 ... little and big walter. Unless they were supposed to go without saying ... but i think alot of those names do
Edit: Ooooh. I'm Stuipid. ---------- I Hate to advocate Drugs, Alcohol, Violence, or Insanity to Anyone, But They've Always Worked for Me. •• Hunter S. Thompson ••
Last Edited by Killa_Hertz on Dec 16, 2015 9:45 AM
@florida trader. "Craig Bracken (Australia)" He is in Newzealand ,hey we are a small country(<4m pop) ) and together with Brendan Power that gives us two people on the list.;-)
