Mark Hummel 2020 Blues Harmonica Blowout Superstars of the Harp Featuring: Magic Dick (J. Geils Band), Lee Oskar (Lowrider Band), Jerry Portnoy (Muddy Waters & Eric Clapton), Duke Robillard (Roomful Of Blues Founder, Fabulous Thunderbirds, Bob Dylan), with Mark Hummel and the Blues Survivors Friday, January 10, 2020; 7:30 pm This show is being sponsored by Lee Oskar Harmonicas MAGIC DICK is the original harp (one of the largest harp manufacturers in the world!) man from the J. Geils Band, whose many hits flooded the airwaves during the 1970s and 1980s. Chart-toppers like "FreezeFrame," "Centerfold," "First I Look At The Purse," "Must a Got Lost," "Give It To Me," and Magic Dick's own "Wammer Jammer" were in the Top Ten off and on for 20 years and made them one of the few top bands that featured a harmonica prominently in the frontline. Dick went on to start "Bluestime" with J. Geils after the original band broke up, making two CDs for Rounder Records. Dick is one of the most famed harp blowers on earth, partially because “Wammer Jammer” was played on Armed Forces Radio in Vietnam all thru the late 60s 'til the war ended. The first song most boomers tried to learn on harmonica, along with “Room To Move.” Currently, Dick performs with international guitarist and singer, Shun Ng. L EE OSKAR was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, moved L to R: Magic Dick, Lee Oskar, Mark Hummel to the States in the late 60s, and along with Eric Burdon, went on to become a founding member Mark Hummel's Blues Harmonica Blowout started on a of a massively successful soul- Sunday night in 1991 at Ashkenaz in Berkeley with four funk-rock group that had hits like harmonica players – Rick Estrin, Mark, Dave Earl and "Slippin Into Darkness," "Lowrider," Doug Jay. Continuing annually for 28 years since then, "Cisco Kid," "World Is A Ghetto," it’s become a "who’s who" of older and younger players, "Spill The Wine," "Me And Baby Brother," and "Why Can't We black, white, male and female, national and international. Be Friends." All those songs and more were huge top ten From icons like Bobby Rush, Kenny Neal, Snooky Pryor, records that got national airplay coast to coast and stayed Carey Bell, James Cotton, Charlie Musselwhite, John high up in the charts for months. Oskar's unique approach Mayall, John Hammond, Little Sonny, Lazy Lester, Billy to harmonica has earned him the distinction of being voted Boy Arnold, Sam Myers, Corky Siegel, Magic Dick, Huey 1976's Instrumentalist Of The Year in three major music Lewis, Lee Oskar, Jerry Portnoy, Howard Levy and Paul publications, Billboard, Cashbox and Record World. Oskar Oscher to younger players like Sugar Ray Norcia, Jason also recorded two solo records, “Lee Oskar” and “Before Ricci, Son Of Dave, Aki Kumar, Curtis Salgado, Kenny The Rain” that made his name more famous. Lee is now Neal, RJ Mischo, Sugar Blue, Billy Branch, Annie Raines, performing as The Lowrider Band with old bandmates B.B. Aki Kumar, Andrew Alii, Carlos Del Junco, just to name Dickerson, Harold Brown, Howard Scott & Oskar. Lee went Photo by Matt Christine Photography a few. on to start the Lee Oskar Harmonica company in 1983, which is second only to Hohner Harmonicas in popularity and sales. As of late, R&B artist Pitbull has used Oskar’s music in his song “Timber” – Lee is credited on the track. www.harriscenter.net 2019-2020 PROGRAM GUIDE 39 Mark Hummel 2020 Blowout continued DUKE ROBILLARD Born October Ave. in LA where he saw three blues legends he would 4, 1948, is an American guitarist later work with on a regular basis; Charlie Musselwhite, and singer. He founded the band Brownie McGhee(w/Sonny Terry) and James Cotton. By Roomful of Blues in 1967 and 1985, Mark Hummel's Blues Survivors hit the road full was a member of the Fabulous time and continue 'til the present (Hummel's memoir, Big Thunderbirds. Although Robillard Road Blues: 12 Bars on I-80 recounts many road exploits). is best known as a rock and blues In 2014, Blind Pig Records released Remembering Little guitarist, he also plays jazz and Walter (a recording of a Hummel Blues Harp Blowout.) swing. He played in bands as Mike The CD was nominated for a Grammy Award and won two "Honey Bear" Robillard and worked for the Guild Guitar Blues Music Awards. Hummel's CD Golden State - Lone Company. He spent over a decade with Roomful of Blues Star Blues Revue was nominated for Best Traditional before departing and becoming the guitarist for singer Blues Album of the year at the Blues Music Awards in Robert Gordon and then a member of the Legendary Memphis, Tennessee. Hummel's newest CD, Way Back Blues Band. He started the Duke Robillard Band in 1981, Machine, will be released in January 2020 on Electrofi. eventually adopting the name Duke Robillard and the Pleasure Kings, with whom he toured throughout the BLUES SURVIVORS are: 1980s and recorded for Rounder Records. He became Bob Welsh – Piano/guitar, (Elvin Bishop, Charlie a member of the Fabulous Thunderbirds in 1990. He Musselwhite) formed a duo with jazz guitarist Herb Ellis and the swing Wes Starr – Drums (Asleep at the Wheel, Delbert trio New Guitar Summit with Gerry Beaudoin and Jay McClinton, Marcia Ball, Jimmy Vaughn, Anson & Rockets, Geils and even briefly in 2013, he was the guitarist for Bob Hal Ketcham, Jimmy Dale Gilmore) Dylan's tour and on Dylan’s Time Out Of Mind CD. RW Grigsby – Bass (Carleen Carter, Mike Morgan & Crawl, Gary Primich) JERRY PORTNOY was born in 1943 and grew up in the blues- rich atmosphere of Chicago's famous Maxwell Street Market during the golden age of Chicago Blues. He began his professional career in the late 60s and since that time has performed live and on television for millions of people around the world. During a career that includes six years as a member of the fabled Muddy Waters Blues Band, another six as leader of the Legendary Blues Band, four years at the head of his own band The Streamliners, and another four as a featured member of the Eric Clapton Band, his touring schedule has carried him to every state in the union and 28 foreign countries on six continents. MARK HUMMEL is a Grammy- nominated artist and has won two times for Album of the Year by the Blues Music Awards. The harmonica man / singer- songwriter / band leader / author / impresario was born in New Haven, CT but moved to Los Angeles. Hummel took up an interest in blues harp and rock-blues music in high school but soon discovered the originators like Muddy Waters, Sonny Boy Williamson and Little Walter. Soon after, Hummel frequented the Ash Grove club on Melrose L to R: Magic Dick, Mark Hummel, Lee Oskar 40 2019-2020 PROGRAM GUIDE www.harriscenter.net.