Alex Paclin, Chelyabinsk, Russia. He make his living playing music, good player and he is singer also. Mikhail Vladimirov, Moscow, Russia, actually my teacher
I also know some players who do nothing but playing music, and even who claim theirselves as harmonica players (usually they also sings too), but their harmonica scills are not as good as I wish to heat.
I also know some skilled players, who have some technique, but I'm not a fan of their music and they teach more than play.
OK, Joe Doyle--he's here in San Diego, I don't think he has a day job. Here he is with another local player, two for one, on the island of Catalina, city of Avalon--I know exactly where this spot is, I have played it myself!
Michael, Don't forget, Denton's own, Jeffrey Barnes. And, once upon a time, I paid good money to hear Mark Prados.
Last Edited by Thievin' Heathen on Dec 15, 2015 4:34 PM
Michael what are gonna do with this list please dont turn anyone into the union Lol i gotta pay my dues tomorow to get musical instrument insurance that i let lapse
The boundaries of pro, semi-pro, and amateur hobby players always confuse me. There are some semi-pros and amateur hobby players that I hear that play better music than some "pros" I hear on some recordings. Then there are the pros that play so well with such expression that I listen in awe.
Is it an issue of how many gigs a year someone plays, or if they rely on playing full time for all income, or what?
For example, Adam is a university professor, so I am certain that the majority of his income comes from that gig, not the music and harmonica workshops, though I am sure that he makes more with music than many. Is he still a pro, or is he semi-pro if his day gig earns more? He sure sounds like a pro to me. I don't know how many gigs he plays per year or how many recordings he sells.
This is just an example, there are many other really good players who have day gigs that bring in more money. There are full time players who don't play in the same class as Adam or other part timers. Are they pros, even if their playing is not outstanding?
To me a list like is not too useful unless it is just to learn about which players are competent at a journeyman level or better and who are gigging some. I enjoy a list like this on the basis of hearing about serious players, but I sure would like clarification as to what is a "pro". ----------
"what is a pro" Lotsa ways to go here-- It should be self evident that someone who tours, records and supports themselves through their harmonica activities qualifies as a pro--ladies and gentlemen, I give you Jason Ricci--but my feeling is that income, more than anything, determines whether someone is a professional. Of course, ability is commendable, but that alone should not mean professional. I am reminded of Tal Farlow, the jazz guitarist who took sabbaticals from the kick-me game known as professional show business, working as a sign painter. He was certainly as good a musician as any we could name (Django Reinhardt?). But during those hiatuses, his status as a pro could be considered to have changed. Notoriety is another indicator, but just 'cause you are famous doesn't mean you are pro--can I get an amen? I still play music for a living, but nowhere near as much as I used to. At least half of my income comes from working for Suzuki and doing private repairs. I believe that makes me a "professional harmonica technician" hehehe. Some on this list make more from teaching than gigging, that tempers their professional status, doesn't it?
Last Edited by Gnarly on Dec 16, 2015 8:32 AM
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.
The reason I started this thread is because there were a pile of "who's the best threads". I basically wanted to level the playing field and say, we're all doing this because we love it, who are some players you've enjoyed? I suppose I could have opened it wide and said, "Who plays harmonica?". I am honestly curious as to how many pro level players exist, because I sense it is not that many, maybe a couple of thousand. I am also curious about how many serious amateurs there are, not just people who own a harp.
Last Edited by Michael Rubin on Dec 16, 2015 8:57 AM
I saw the definition, but somehow it seemed such a wide and varied field that I sought clarity in more specific boundaries. If it was your intention to leave it vague to solicit a large number of names, I am sorry about getting too analytical about it. ----------
"Big Jim" Johnson Adam Gussow Aki Kumar Al Chesis Al Lamberson Al Smith Alain Messier Alex Paclin Alex Woodson Ana Radzic Andy J. Forest Andy Just Andy Santana Annie Raines Barbeque Bob Maglinte Beata Kossowska Ben Bouman Ben Hewlet Ben Maygarden Benjamin Darvill (Son Of Dave) Benny Harp Benny Rickun Beth Kohnen Bharath Rajakumar Big Blind Ray Big Rocking Daddy Bill Barrett Bill Noteman Bill Tarsha Billy Boy Arnold Billy Branch Billy Gibson Billy Watson Birdlegg Bob Corritore Bob Dylan Bonny B. Boris Plotnikov Brad Trainham Brandon Bailey Brandon Santini Brendan Power Brian Lee Brian Purdy Broderick Smith Bruce Springsteen Bruce Sunpie Barnes Bruce Willis Bud Boblink Buddy Greene Buzz Krantz Cara Cooke Carlos Del Junco Carlos Zialcita Charles Spranklin Charlie Barath Charlie Baty Charlie Mccoy Charlie Musselwhite Charlie Sayles Cheryl Arena Chris Bauer Chris Wilson (Oz) Christelle Berthon Clint Hoover Connor Frontera Corky Siegel Craig Bracken Curtis Salgado D.W. Gill Damien Masterson Dan Kaplan Dan Treanor Daniel Deardorff Daniel Roy Danny Wilson Darrell Mansfield Darrell Nulisch Dave Chavoya Dave Wellhausen David Barrett David Fairweather David Herzhaft David Klein David Naiditch David Rice David Waldman Deak Harp Delbert Mcclinton Dennis Gruenling Deron Cavaletti Don Wickham Doug Jay Doug Oyler Dov Hammer Emile D’amico Eugene Huggins Felix Cabrera Filip Jers Flavio Guimarez Fredrick Yonnet Gary Allegretto Gary Applegate Gary Sapone Gary Smith Gary Turk George Miklas George Stackhouse Gerry Hundt Gilles Garand Glenn Frey Good Rocking Daddy Graham Nelson Grant Dermody Greg Heumann Greg Izor Greg Mciltrot Greg Zlap Gregoire Maret Gregory Hommert Guy Davis Guy Forsythe Hakan Ek Hal Iwan Hal Walker Harpdog Brown Hash Brown Hatrack Gallagher Hawkeye Kane Heart2harp Hendrik Meurkens Hermine Deurloo Hook Herrera Howard Levy Huey Lewis Ian Collard Jackson Kincheloe James Conway James Cotton James Harman James King James Montgomery Jamey Garner Jamie Coventry Jan Verwey Jason Ricci Jay Gaunt Jay Summerour Jd Taylor Jeff Mason Jeffrey Barnes Jellyroll Johnson Jens Bunge Jerome Godboo Jerry Devillier Jerry Portnoy Jim Conway Jim Fitting Jim Liban Jim Mclauglin Jimi Lee Jimmy Gordon Jimmy Powers Jj Jameson Jj Milteau Joan Pau Cumellas Joe Doyle Joe Filisko Joe Leone Joe Powers John Fogerty John Frazer John Hammond John Mellencamp John Nemeth John Popper John Sebastian John Shirley Johnny Dyer Johnny Mars Johnny Sansone Jon Gindick Jose Ruiz Jp Allen Judy Smith Justin Vasquez Kaleena Hutchins Kat Baloun Keb' Mo' Keith Bennett Kelly Rucker Kenny Neal Kevin Purcell Kim Wilson Koei Tanaka Konstantin Reinfeld Larry Eisenberg Lazy Lester Lee Mcbee Lee Oskar Lee Sankey Little George Little John Chrisley Little Mike Markowitz Louis-Simon Lemieux Lynwood Slim Madcat Ruth Magic Dick Mario Forest Mark Dufresne Mark Feltham Mark Ford Mark Graham Mark Hummel Mark Lavoie Mark Prados Mark Wenner Mason Casey Matthew Skoller Memo Gonzalez Michael Fell Michael Peloquin Michael Pickett Michael Rubin Michal Adler Michel Herblin Mick Jagger Mick Zacklan Mickey Raphael Miguel Weissman Mike "Mouse" Mayosky Mike Alverez Mike Caldwell Mike Fugazzi Mike Milligan Mike Stevens Mike Turk Mikey Jr Mikhail Vladimirov Mitch Kashmar Neil Young Nic Clark Pascal Chatrain Pat O’brian Paul Davies Paul Green Paul Jones Paul Lamb Paul Lassey Paul Orta Paul Oscher Paula Rangell Pete Blasberg Pete Karnes Peter Harper Phil Caltabelotta Phil Duncan Phil Wiggins Pierre Beuaregard Pierre-Luc Dupuis Pt Gazell Rachelle Plas Randy Weinstein Ray Bonneville Rene Carlson Richard "Doc" Malone Richard Hunter Richard Leblanc Richard Sleigh Rick Cannon Rick Epping Rick Estrin Rj Harman Rj Mischo Rob Papparozzi Rob Roy Parnell Rob Stone Robert Bonfiglio Robert Plant Rod Piazza Roger Daltrey Roly Platt Ron Sorin Ronnie Shellist Rory Mcleod Roscoe Ross Garren Ryan Hartt Sam Friedman Sandy Weltman Scott Albert Johnson Scott Dirks Sean Maroney Sebastien Charlier Serge Dalex Sherman "Tank" Doucette Slim Heilpern Slimtones Smoky Greenwell Sonny Boy Terry Southside Johnny Southside Stevie Stan Harper Stan Zebec Steve Bailey Steve Baker Steve Cohen Steve Guyger Steve Judkins Steve Krase Steve Marriner Steve Power Steve Watne Steven Tyler Stevie Wonder Studebaker John Sugar Blue Sugar Ray Norcia Susan Rosenberg Tad Robinson Taj Mahal Ted Burke Ted Roddy Tex The Weeping Willow Thomas Dikon Tiffany Harp Timothy Corbett Tj Norton TJ Klay Todd Parrott Tom Austin Favell Tom Ball Tom Petty Tom Richman Tom Stryker Tommy Morgan Tony Glover Tony Smith Toots Thielemans Trip Henderson Victor Puertas Wade Schuman Wally Peterman Walter Daniels Walter Liniger Walter T. Higgs Walter White Warren Bee Watermelon Slim (Bill Homans) Wendell Ray West Side Andy West Weston Will Scarlett William Galison Willie Watson Winslow Yerxa Yves Lambert Yvonnick Prene Zhin Wong
Last Edited by Gnarly on Dec 16, 2015 4:17 PM
Probably need to add Taj Mahal, Keb' Mo', and Kenny Neal to the list. Harp is not the first instrument I think of for any of them, but each can sure play pretty when they pick one up.
