Blues Harmonica History

BLUES HARMONICA HISTORY

This is roughly chronological. Where possible, the key of harmonica used and its position are noted. Youtube links to the tracks mentioned are provided, where available.

There is also a Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/36EqO9jyuu2EXu5PQ5XQJf?si=rRzHJ_Z_StmvN1eCyp7IsA

Here’s a YouTube link for excerpts from the Blues Harmonica History Night at The Met, Bury 16/01/2026: https://youtu.be/9MR80Le8KJg

The first ‘Blues harp’ recording (by a couple of months) was by Herbert Leonard on Clara Smith’s, My Doggone Lazy Man. on 31^st Jan 1924. D 1^st pos. Not great.

1920s:

Daddy Stovepipe (Johnny or Jimmy Watson) b. 1867 Mobile, AL, d. Chicago 1963.

Played with Rabbit Foot Minstrels & other minstrel/medicine shows early 1900s. Mostly a street musician. Ended up in Chicago 1948.

Recorded Sundown Blues/Stovepipe Blues for Gennett 1924

SUNDOWN BLUES Db 1^st pos

William McCoy Dallas ’27/’28

MAMA BLUES C 2^nd pos. https://youtu.be/VIuOTzgqPPE?si=h1b7VmKV6vSm7XA7

TRAIN IMITATIONS A 1^{st https://youtu.be/Fu7XuXHwhiU?si=uwl-2hWeYdhZtoYS}

CENTRAL TRACKS A 5^th – C#m https://youtu.be/SLckLyAryHs?si=QdBz6l9eZKHl3ua9

Eddie Mapp. B 1910 GA, d Atlanta 1931 murdered

DECATUR STREET RAG B 2^{nd https://youtu.be/0U8eHDHwKrY?si=8mLEcQJc1jSHX0cR}

RIDING THE BLINDS B 2^nd All rec 1929 NYC https://youtu.be/6oxeMbhjJ3w?si=xr8zgdsoOrW_uQlM

WICKED TREATIN’ BLUES B 1^st same melody as Reuben’s Train etc

Same sessions, James Moore with Slim Barton; Poor Convict Blues Db 2^nd. He recorded duets with Mapp.

DeFord Bailey b Tenn 1899, d Nashville 1982. Unaccompanied player. First black artist on Grand Ole Opry radio show 1925-1941. He played what he termed, “black hillbilly” music – old-time dance music, but his playing had blues elements. Melodically and rhythmically complex and sophisticated. He learned to play whilst recuperating from polio.

^{Recorded ’27 & ’28}

PAN AMERICAN BLUES A 2^nd

^{DIXIE FLYER A 2nd https://youtu.be/ZpWbsw22DyE?si=65XUgXqN0lPq0b0t}

^{UP COUNTRY BLUES A 2nd}

^{MUSCLE SHOALS A 2nd}

^{OLD HEN CACKLE A 1st}

^{ALCOHOLIC BLUES A 2nd}

^{ICE WATER BLUES A 1st}

^{Richard Sowell ROUBIN BLUES LOW F# 1st rec NYC 1927 with William Francis on guitar. Ref. Wicked Treatin’ Blues above.}

^{Ollis Martin – POLICE AND HIGH SHERRIF Db 2nd Birmingham Ala 1927. https://youtu.be/YUXhxh7Agv0?si=bCdrd5gvuEJV7yM2}

^{Blind Roger Hays. On My Way To Heaven. Db 1st. New Orleans 1928. Melody is used in other religious and secular songs.}

^{El Watson Bay Rum Blues B 1st. . NYC 1928. Made a track with Robert Cooksey same session. 2 harps. From Tennessee}

^{One Sock Blues. Same date. B 2nd. Recorded at first session in Tennessee with white Johnson Brothers. One (Charles) accompanies him on guitar on Pot Licker Blues. Perhaps one of the first integrated recording sessions – 1927. Ellis Williams possible pseudonym of El Watson as he was under contract to Victor. Buttermilk Blues rec Tenn 1929 D 2nd.}

^{Palmer McAbee. b. Alabama 1894. Recorded 2 tracks for Victor 1928. May have been white.}

^{Lost Boy Blues: Solo. Ab 2nd}

^{McAbee’s Railroad Piece Ab 2nd}

^{George Bullet Williams. b. Alabama 1890. Played with Bukka White in the early ’30s Recorded 4 sides 1928 Chicago for Paramount.}

^{Touch Me Light Mama, Frisco Leaving Birmingham & The Escaped Convict all around Ab 2nd. Middlin’ Blues Ab 1st. Lots of falsetto vocal to get unavailable notes. Drank himself to death.}

^{Blues Birdhead. (James Simon) Recorded 4 sides in Richmond VA 1929. Jazzy. Mean Low Blues Low F# 1st. Allegedly contains first ever recorded overblow. An E in hole 6 at 47s.}

^{Robert Cooksey. b. 1893 Tenn, d. 1936 NY. Recorded with Bobbie Lecan (guitar) in the 20s.}

^{Blue Harmonica rec NJ 1927 C 1st. Jazz/Popular song repertoire and Blues.}

^{Red Whitehead White Miss player. Recorded Booneville Stomp with Dutch Coleman guit for Vocalion in Chicago 1929. G 2nd}

^{Freeman Stowers from Texas. Recorded for Gennett in 1929 Railroad Blues solo Bb 1st https://youtu.be/SvHabhlDI9U?si=-z2tORCdJ5fymJVp}

^{Burl C, “Jaybird” Coleman b. 1896 AL, d. 1950 AL rec 27-30 Gennett, Silvertone, Black Patti, with Birmingham Jug Band for Okeh and Columbia 1930. Managed by the Klan in 1929. Field holler style, call and response vocal-harp.}

^{Man Trouble Blues Eb 2nd 1927}

I’m Gonna Cross The River Of Jordan between Eb -E 2^nd 1927 Ollis Martin (see above) on 2^nd harp.

1930s.

Noah Lewis

b. 1891 TN, d. 1961 TN in abject poverty from gangrene brought on by frostbite.

Subtle, sophisticated player. Great breath control, capable of playing at high volume. Also nose and mouth simultaneously. ‘Traditional’ pieces; train imitations and fiddle tunes, but in ensemble – inventive solos, paving the way for future Blues harmonica players. Played in Memphis a fair bit.

Big Walter played in the stompers briefly in his youth. Lewis must have been an influence.

Played in Cannon’s Jug Stompers with Gus Cannon. Recorded for Victor 1928.

Viola Lee C 2^nd

Minglewood Blues c 2^nd

Chickasaw Special D 2 ^{nd. Solo Memphis 1929}

^{Devil In The Woodpile vicinity of C, 2nd solo Memphis 1929}

^{Recorded with Sleepy John Estes and Yank Rachel in Memphis 1930}

^{Jed Davenport. Possibly born in Mississippi, moved to Memphis in late teens by the early 20s. Died there some time in the 60s.}

^{How Long Blues F 2nd Memphis 1929. Leroy Carr released the original in 1928.}

^{Beale Street Breakdown E 2nd Memphis 1930 with his Beale Street Jug Band.}

^{Will Shade (Son Brimmer) b. 1898 Memphis, d. 1966 Memphis}

^{Started playing around 1915. Formed Memphis Jug Band early 20s.}

^{Field Mouse Stomp F 2nd rec Jackson MS 1935 with Minnie Wallace (Memphis Minnie) on vocal, Little Son Joe on guitar.}

^{George Clarke. Recorded Prisoner Blues in Chicago 1936. C 2nd}

^{Alfred Lewis. Recorded Mississippi Swamp Moan in Chicago 1930. A 1st. Solo. Falsetto vocals and harp.}

^{Smith & Harper. Recorded Insurance Policy Blues for Brunswick in Chicago 1936.}

^{C 2nd. No one knows which is which.}

^{Hammie Nixon. b. 1908 Brownsville TN. d. 1984 TN}

^{Played with Estes from the 20s. Also with Son Bonds in the 30s.}

^{16 kids!}

^{Trouble, Trouble Blues D 2nd rec Chicago 1934 Son Bonds on guitar & vocal.}

^{Drop Down Mama E 2nd rec Chicago 1935 Sleepy John on guitar and vocal.}

^{Someday Baby Blues same as Drop. Also widely covered – Trouble No More}

^{Big Walter Horton. b. 1917 Horn Lake Miss, d. Chicago 1981. Moved to Memphis with mother soon after birth. Late ’20s briefly worked and recorded with Memphis Jug Band.}

^{Grief Will Kill You rec Memphis 1939 for Okeh/Vocalion. D 2nd.}

^{William McKinley “Jazz” Gillum b. 1904 Miss, d. (shot) Chicago 1966.}

^{Moved to Chicago in ’23. Recorded extensively for Bluebird 30s and 40s, often with Big Bill Broonzy. First position. Used the intro-solo-coda format adopted by subsequent Chicago players. Following discharge after WWII found his style had become dated and he faded from the scene.}

^{Just Like Jesse James A 1st Aurora Ill. 1938. Big Bill Broonzy, Washboard Sam. First recording of electric guitar in Chicago Blues.}

^{Rhythm Willie. b. Willie Hood c. 1910, d. Chicago 1954}

^{Jazzy, horn-influenced player. Predominantly 1st pos.}

^{You Can’t Stop Me From Drinking rec Chicago 1939. Peetie Wheatstraw – vocal, LonnieJohnson – guitar. G 1st}

^{Bedroom Stomp rec Chicago 1940 C 1st C minor}

^{Breathtakin’ Blues. Bb in G minor – 4th pos rec Chicago 1940}

^{16 recordings in total.}

^{Saunders Terrell – Sonny Terry. b. 1911 Greensboro NC, d. 1986 Mineola, NY}

^{Father played harp. Started playing at 8.Blinded by two accidents, 2nd when he was 16. Teamed up with Blind Boy Fuller in Durham, NC circa 1934. Recorded with Fuller for Vocalion/ARC NYC 37-38. 1938 – recorded for Lomax LOC and performed at Spirituals To Swing at Carnegie Hall. Fuller died in ’41. Met Brownie McGhee in ’39 and they worked together for decades. Big on the folk scene. Several film appearances.}

^{Pistol Slapper Blues rec. 1937 NYC with BBF. C 2nd}

^{Lost John rec Durham, NC 1938 for Lomax LOC Bb 2nd.}

^{Harmonica And Washboard Breakdown rec. 1940 NY with Oh Red. Vicinity of A 2nd.}

^{Brownie McGhee recorded Born For Bad Luck 1940 in Chicago for Okeh with Jordan Webb on harp C 2nd}

^{Terry’s first recordings with McGhee 1941 NYC inc: Workingman’s Blues A 2nd. Youtube}

^{John Lee ‘Sonny Boy’ Williamson. Aka Sonny Boy I}

^{b. 1914 Jackson, TN, d. 1948 Chicago, as a result of head injuries caused by street robbery.}

^{Played with Yank Rachell and John Estes in TN, also Sunnyland Slim. Started young. Influenced by Hammie Nixon and the Memphis players.}

^{Moved to Chicago aged 18 in 1934. Recorded for Bluebird from ’37 with Big Maceo, Tampa Red, Broonzy, Eddie Boyd (40s), recorded with Yank Rachell, Joe Williams, Robert Lee McCoy 1938.}

^{Recorded with Big Joe Williams for Columbia, Chicago 1941, ’47.}

^{Universally loved and respected, hugely influential as a harpist and a singer. Recorded over 100 songs. Many original compositions. Set the precedent for the position and role of the harp in subsequent Chicago Blues. Acoustic. Mostly 2nd pos.}

^{Lou Della rec. Chicago 1941 w. Yank Rachell vocal/guitar, Washboard Sam. C 2nd}

^{She Don’t Love Me That Way rec. Chicago 1941 w. Charlie McCoy guitar, Blind John Davis piano. Bb 2nd. Covered by Forest City Joe, Fred McDowell, Billy Boy Arnold}

^{Sloppy Drunk Blues rec. Chicago 1941 w. Blind John Davis piano, Ransom Knowling bass. Written and recorded by Lucille Bogan. She released in 1931, Leroy Carr released his version in 1930. F 2nd pos. Covered by Jimmy Rogers ’54. Also Big Joe, J.B. Hutto, all derived from Sonny Boy’s version.}

^{Stop Breaking Down rec. Chicago 1945 w. Tampa Red guitar, Big Maceo piano. C 2nd. Original by Robert Johnson. Sonny Boy’s version influenced subsequent Chicago versions. https://youtu.be/iiUSYC45Sr0?si=2Gs3Eoz4mWmsNBhI}

^{Recorded ‘Break ‘Em On Down with Big Joe Chicago 1941 Bb 1st. Also 1st position with Big Joe – Stack Of Dollars 1945 B.}

^{Hoodoo Hoodoo rec. Chicago 1946 w. Blind John Davis piano, Willie Lacey guitar. C 2nd. Shares the lyric ‘somebody done hoodooed the hoodoo man’ with the 1940 Louis Jordan song of that name, but nothing else. Famously covered by Junior Wells.}

^{Someday Baby rec. Chicago 1941 Big Joe vocal/guitar D 2nd. Recorded by Estes in Chicago 1935. Becomes Trouble No More – Muddy.}

^{You can hear elements of the harp in Sonny Boy’s Jump in Little Walter’s first recordings. Apple Tree Swing ( shows Louis Jordan influence) from 1947 covered by Sonny Boy 2 as Peach Tree. Cold Chills – John Lee uses the line for his song.}

^{Forest City Joe Pugh. b. 1926 Hughes, Arkansas. Close to Memphis, near Forest City, d. 1960, Arkansas. Car crash. First recordings were imitations of/tributes to John Lee Williamson. He was one of the best impersonators, instrumentally and vocally. Recorded for Aristocrat (precursor to Chess) 1947. Worked live with Muddy Waters. He briefly moved to Memphis. Back to Chicago 1949. Played with Otis Spann until 1954. No recordings. Discovered by Lomax in 1959. Field recordings in Hughes.}

^{Levee Camp Reminiscence rec 1959 Hughes. Bb 2nd. Unaccompanied.}

^{Leroy Williams. Recorded with Son House & Willie Brown for Lomax LOC at Lake Cormorant, Miss 1941.}

^{Government Fleet Blues E 2nd.}

^{Robert Lee McCoy – Robert Nighthawk. b. 1909 Helena AR, d, Helena 1967.}

^{Best known as a guitarist and singer. Very capable harmonica player. Recorded on this with ‘cousins’ Joe & Charlie McCoy as Big Joe & His Washboard Band/Big Joe & His Rhythm.}

^{If You Take Me Back rec. Chicago 1940 F 2nd}

^{What Will I Do? Rec. Chicago 1941 C 2nd.}

^{POST WAR}

^{Snooky Pryor. b. Lambert, Miss 1921, d. Missouri 2006.}

^{Took up the harmonica aged 14. Influenced by both Sonny Boys. In mid ’30s played around Vance, Miss., with other harp players including Jimmy Rogers who only played harp at the time. After discharge from the army in ’45 moved to Chicago. Played on Maxwell Street. He was one of the first to play amplified harmonica ( he claimed to be THE first). Also credited with ‘inventing’ 3rd position.}

^{Recorded for JOB label ’50s and ’60s, with Baby Face Leroy Foster, Eddie Taylor and brothers Floyd and Moody Jones. Floyd gave him the nickname, ‘Snooky’.}

^{Boogy Fool rec Chicago 1949 Bb 2nd acoustic}

^{Boogie Twist rec Chicago 1962 F 2nd amplified}

^{Sonny Boy Williamson II. b. Glendora, Miss. 1899 (1897-1912, poss. Greenwood or Money, Miss)}

^{, d. Helena AR 1965. Aleck or Alex ‘Rice’ Miller. Rice was a childhood nickname. Took to the road as a child, playing across the south in the ’20s. Worked with Arthur Crudup, Elmore James and Robert Johnson in the ’30s. AR, TN, MS. Helena 1941, first appeared on King Biscuit Time as Sonny Boy Williamson with Robert Jr Lockwood. Played this and other radio shows for the rest of his life. Recorded for Trumpet label Jackson, Miss 1951-54. Recorded in Detroit with Baby Boy Warren ’53-’54. Recorded for Checker/Chess 1955 – ’63. ’63’ – ’65 toured Europe; Folk Blues Festival ’63. Yardbirds ’63.}

^{Married Howlin’ Wolf’s half sister in the ’30s.}

^{He often played a Low C 12-hole Marine Band. They were introduced in the ’30s, probably.}

^{Played acoustically, nearly always 2nd position.}

^{Nine Below Zero rec. Jackson 1951 F 2nd}

^{Mighty Long Time rec Jackson 1951 Clifford Givens bass voc C 2nd}

^{From The Bottom rec Jackson 1954 BB King on guitar Bb 1st}

^{Steady Rollin’ Man rec Chicago 1958 Willie Dixon bass D 1st}

^{Help Me rec Chicago 1963 Bb 2nd}

^{Bye Bye Bird rec Chicago 1963. Matt Guitar Murphy on this and Help Me. Low C, 2nd.}

^{“Sonny Boy was a bad influence on my soul” James Cotton 1971.}

^{Little Walter – Marion Walter Jacobs. b. 1930 LA, d. 1968 Chicago.}

^{Playing from age of 8. Ran away from home aged 12. New Orleans first, ’42, Helena ’44. Chicago ’46.}

^{Early recordings:}

^{I Just Keep Loving Her rec Chicago 1947 w. Othum Brown guitar acoustic Bb 2nd}

^{Re-recorded for Parkway 1950 w. Muddy Waters guitar and Baby Face Leroy Foster drums. Acoustic. A 2nd}

^{Chance To Love rec Chicago 1951. A 1st. Jimmy Rogers.}

^{“My favourite singer” John Lee Hooker.}

^{Excellent work as a sideman to Muddy and Jimmy Rogers for Chess through the ’50s. Recorded the instrumental, Juke in 1952. Big hit, launched solo career.}

^{Recorded ‘Last Night’ in 1954 as a tribute to Henry Strong, protégé and friend. Strong played in Muddy’s band for a bit. Stabbed to death by girlfriend.}

^{Don’t Go No Farther rec Chicago 1956. Chromatic 3rd Eb. Muddy.}

^{One Of These Mornings rec Chicago 1959 A 3rd.}

^{Bo Diddley played guitar on the instrumental, Rollercoaster. Walter played harp on Diddley Daddy.}

^{Development of the Chromatic harmonica – F.A. Rauner Horizontal Slider Harmonica 1908. Hohner 260 chromatic, 10-hole 1910. Chromonica trademarked 1923.}

^{Little Walter’s first recordings on chromatic – 1953. That’s It. Not great. Also ‘Fast Large One’ same session. George Smith first chromatic recordings: 1955 – Telephone Blues and Blues In The Dark. James Cotton ’65-’67.}

^{Big Walter – Walter Horton. b. 1917 or ’21 Horn Lake, Miss. d. 1981 Chicago}

^{Started playing from the age of 5. Moved to Memphis in his teens. Stopped playing for most of the ’40s due to ill health. Started up again ’48, recording from ’51 onwards. He gave lessons to James Cotton and Little Water in the ’40s.}

^{Rec. with Joe Hill Louis ’51.}

^{Moved to Chicago ’52. Joined Muddy when Junior Wells was drafted ’52. Rec. with Muddy ’53. Fired. Went back to Memphis. Rec. for Sun. Easy, based on Ivory Joe Hunter’s, ‘I Almost Lost My Mind’ ’53. Back to Chicago ’54}

^{J.O.B., Cobra, Chess with Jimmy Rogers. Jesse Fortune.}

^{’60s rec with Shines, J.B. Hutto}

^{’72 Big Walter Horton with Carey Bell for Alligator.}

^{Little Water’s Boogie rec. Memphis for Sun 1952 w. Joe Hill Louis and Willie Nix. Alternate take. Bb 2nd}

^{Big Walter:}

^{Evening Sun 1953 w. Johnny Shines Chicago JOB vicinity of A 2nd}

^{One Kiss 1956 Chicago Chess Jimmy Rogers B 1st}

^{Walking By Myself 1956 Chicago Chess Jimmy Rogers D 2nd}

^{My Kind Of Woman 1967 w J.B. Hutto Chicago Testament G 3rd}

^{George “Harmonica” Smith. b. 1924 Helena AR, d. 1983 Los Angeles}

^{Learned harmonica from his mother aged 4. Moved to Cairo IL soon after. Left home to hobo ’34 – ’36. Moved to Chicago ’51. Joined Muddy ’54. Also worked with Otis Rush around this time. Recorded for Modern/RPM mid ’50s as Little George Smith. Moved to L.A. ’55. Worked with Muddy again in ’66 when he was playing the West Coast. Worked with Big Mama Thornton in the ’70s. Influence on Piazza and Clarke.}

^{Blues In The Dark rec. 1955 Kansas City RPM Ebm chromatic}

^{Junior Wells. b. Amos Wells 1934 West Memphis AR, d. 1998 Chicago}

^{Initially taught by his cousin, Junior Parker and Sonny Boy II. Playing well by age 7.}

^{Moved to Chicago ’48. Sat in with Tampa Red – Hurts Me Too. Began playing with the Aces: Dave & Louis Myers on guitars and Fred Below. Replaced Walter with Muddy ’52. Played on one session for Chess.}

^{First recordings as a bandleader for States Records. Late ’50s early ’60s for Chief and Profile; Messin’ With The Kid, Little By Little.}

^{1965 – Hoodoo Man Blues on Delmark with Buddy. Played and recorded with him into the ’70s. Chicago The Blues Today 1966}

^{Hound Dog rec Chicago ’65 Delmark Hoodoo Man D 2nd}

^{All Night Long rec Chicago ’66 Vanguard D 2nd}

^{James Cotton. b. Tunica, Miss 1935 d. 2017 Austin TX}

^{Mother played harmonica. Mentored by Sonny Boy II. Played in Wolf’s band early ’50s. First recordings for Sun ’53. Cotton Crop ’54 with Pat Hare}

^{Chicago ’55. Joined Muddy, stayed until ’65. First recordings with Muddy ’57. Formed Jimmy Cotton Blues Quartet with Spann ’65. This band on Chicago The Blues Today.}

^{Hard Again ’77}

^{Love Me Or Leave Me rec Chicago 1965 Vanguard D 2nd}

^{Howlin’ Wolf. b. Chester Arthur Burnett in Whites, Miss 1910, d. Hines, Ill. 1976}

^{Recorded for Sam Phillips 1951. Some released on Chess, others on RPM.}

^{Moved to Chicago ’52}

^{Riding In The Moonlight rec Memphis 1951 G 2nd}

^{How Many More Years rec Memphis 1951 C 2nd}

^{Jimmy Reed. b. Mathis James Reed , Dunleith Miss. 1925, d. Oakland, CA 1976}

^{Grew up with Eddie Taylor. Started recording with VeeJay in ’53. Hugely popular and influential. Many hits.}

^{Sun Is Shining rec. Chicago 1957 VeeJay A 1st}

^{Frank Frost. b. 1936 Augusta Arkansas, d. 1999 Helena, AR. Recorded for Sun. Sonny Boy taught him harp. Influenced by Jimmy Reed, Wolf.}

^{Ride With Your Daddy Tonight rec. 1967, Jewel Bb 2nd}

^{Joe Hill Louis. b. Lester Hill, Raines, Tennessee 1921, d. Memphis 1957. One-man band. First recordings for Columbia ’49. ’50s on Modern, Checker, Sun. Took over the Pepticon radio show from BB King around 1950. Died from tetanus.}

^{Love My Baby rec. Memphis 1953 Bb 2nd}

^{Doctor Ross. b. Charles Isaiah Ross, Tunica Miss. 1925, d. Flint, Michigan 1993.}

^{Grandparents were Native American. Learned harmonica as a child. Started recording 1951 for Sam Phillips. Released on Chess and Sun. Left-handed. One-man band. His last album was recorded live at Burnley Blues Festival in 1991.}

^{Shake ‘Em On Down rec. Memphis 1952 D 2nd}

^{Juke Boy Bonner. b. Weldon Philip Bonner Bellville TX 1932, d. Houston 1978}

^{One-man band. Recorded for Irma , Oakland ’54, ’57. Goldband 1960.}

^{I’m Not Jiving rec Lake Charles, LA 1960. G 2nd.}

^{Elmon Mickle. Driftin’ Slim, Model “T” Slim. b. Keo, Arkansas 1919, d. Los Angeles 1977.}

^{Learned some harp from Sonny Boy I as a youth. Played with Sonny Boy II in Little Rock AR in mid-’40s.}

^{Shake Your Boogie. Rec. as Model “T” Slim in 1966. A 2nd}

^{Slim Harpo. b. James Moore Lobdell LA 1924, d. Baton Rouge 1970. Recorded for Excello. Influenced by Jimmy Reed. Moody Blues supposedly took band name from one of his tracks. Stones, Yardbirds etc covered him. Swamp Blues.}

^{Hipshake rec 1966 Crowley, LA D 2nd}

^{Papa George Lightfoot. b. Alexander Lightfoot, Natchez 1924, d. Natchez 1971}

^{Wine, Women & Whiskey. Rec. 1954 New Orleans for Imperial. G 2nd}

^{Sammy Myers. b. 1936, Laurel MS, d. 2006 Dallas.}

^{Started out as a drummer for Elmore James. Played harp on Look On Yonder Wall. Legally blind. Based in Jackson ’60s – ’80s playing Chittlin’ Circuit. Joined Anson Funderburgh in ’85.}

^{My Love Is Here To Stay rec. 1957 Jackson Bb 2nd}

^{Jerry McCain. b. 1930 Gadsden, Alabama, d. 2012 Gadsden.}

^{Started out on Trumpet. Recorded with Excello ’56 – ’59. She’s Tough and Steady on Rex. Jewel ’65 – ’68}

^{Steady rec. 1960 Birmingham Bb 2nd}

^{Big John Wrencher. b. Sunflower, Mississippi 1923, d. Clarksdale, Miss 1977}

^{Learned harmonica as a child. Moved to Detroit ’47. 1958, lost left arm in a car accident. Moved to Chicago ’62}

^{I’m Going To Detroit 1964? Vicinity of A, 2nd.}

^{Kid Thomas. b. Louis Thomas Watts in Sturgis, Mississippi 1934, d. Beverley Hills 1970. He was involved in a car accident that caused the death of a child. He was exonerated, but the child’s father shot him dead.}

^{The Spell. Rec. for Federal 1957 A 2nd}

^{Big Mama Thornton. b. Willie Mae Thornton 1926 Montgomery, Alabama, d. L.A. 1984.}

^{Big Mama’s Shuffle rec 1966 with the Muddy Waters Band. A ‘duel’ with James Cotton on second harp. D 2nd}

^{Ace Holder. b. Alabama 1937, d. L.A. 1993}

^{This Love Of Mine C 2nd}

^{Billy Boy Arnold. b. 1935, Chicago. Still alive! He’s 90.}

^{He received some instruction from Sonny Boy I in 1948. He played and recorded with Bo Diddley in the early ’50s.}

^{I Wish You Would. Rec. for VeeJay C 2nd}

^{Eddie Kirkland. b. 1923 Kingston, Jamaica, d. 2011 Florida}

^{Played and toured with John Lee Hooker ’49 – ’62.}

^{Rec, Train Done Gone 1961 with the King Curtis Band}

^{Eddie Burns. b. 1928, Belzoni, Mississippi, d. Detroit 2012}

^{Came to Detroit in 1948. He recorded some excellent harmonica in the early ’50s. Later he focussed more on guitar. Burns played with John Lee Hooker.}

^{Notoriety Woman recorded in Detroit 1948. C 2nd}