As a service to Harmonica Masterclass students and general readers of this website, we have created an artist listing that details each album's title, songs, song keys, and key of harmonica used and position played.  This listing is compiled by volunteer Lance H. bigballin@grandecom.net (thanks Lance!); any comments can be emailed directly to him.  If you wish to contact him about the site, please stipulate in the subject part of your e-mail message "About Harmonica Masterclass Artist Listing" so that he doesn't mistake your e-mail for junk mail and delete it.

Names of major influential recording artists of blues harmonica are in blue, with the fathers of blues harmonica in red.  This is done so that those new to blues harmonica know which artists to focus on first as they build their recording collection. The other artists listed range from regional harmonica heroes to singers that were known to play harmonica.  This list and information is provided by Lance, but I (David Barrett) have chosen the color coding.  This labeling of artists is completely subjective and only reflects my personal views. I would love everyone to have all of these players of note, but we all have to start somewhere.  

If you feel we should add one or more names to the list, please let us know.  If you would like to have see an album deciphered that is not already done, please send a copy of the album/CD/Tape to: Harp Transcriptions, 1203 Ruth Ave., Austin, TX 78757.  ***Please note that all submitted material for transcriptions will not be returned.   Also, there are bound to be mistakes on the list, so please contact Lance at bigballin@grandecom.net if you feel any information needs to be amended.  Pictured at left is Gary Primich, notable blues harmonica player, singer and song writer.  Picture by Mark Fenichel from the 2000 Harmonica Masterclass Workshop, San Jose California.  


Artists are shown alphabetically by last name or stage name.  Click on the alphabet letter header to find more information about an artists in that listing.  At the very bottom of this list are players of note that were not specifically known as blues harmonica players.

A-B
Gaye Adegbalola (Saffire: the Uppity Blues Women. March 21st, 1944 )
Nelsen Adelard
Billy Boy Arnold (September 16th, 1935 – )
DeFord Bailey (Country. December 14th, 1899 – July 2nd 1982)
Tom Ball (October 24th, 1950 - )
David Barrett (February 6th, 1973)
Pierre Beauregard
Stanley "the Baron" Behrens
Carey Bell (November 14th, 1936 - )
Harvey Blackston, aka Harmonica Fats (September 8th, 1927 - )
“Big” Al Blake (Hollywood Fats Band. January 16th, 1945 - )
Sonny Blake
Billy Branch (October 3rd, 1951 – )
“Big” Leon Brooks (November 19th, 1933 – January 22nd, 1982)
Norton Buffalo (September 28th, 1951 - ) 
George "Mojo" Buford (Muddy Waters Band & Solo. November 10th, 1929 - )
Chester Burnett, aka Howlin’ Wolf (June 10th, 1910 – January 10th, 1976) 
Paul Butterfield (December 17th, 1942 – May 4th, 1987) 
Lester Butler (November 12th, 1959 - May 9th, 1988)
George “Wild Child” Buttler (October 1st, 1936 - ) 

C-D
Little John Chrisley (Rock/Blues)
Randy Chortkoff (no data available)
William Clarke (March 29th, 1951 – November 2nd, 1996)
Willie Cobbs (July 15th, 1932 - )
James Cotton, aka Jimmy Cotton  (July 1st, 1935 - )
Jed Davenport
Guy Davis (May 12th. 1952 - )
“Little” Sammy Davis (November 28th, 1928) 
Paul deLay (January 31st, 1952 - ) 
Carlos delJunco (May 17th, 1958 - )
Mark DuFresne (Roomful of Blues.)
Little Arthur Duncan (1934 - )
Richard Duran aka “Lynwood Slim” (August 19th, 1953 - )
Johnny Dyer (December 7th, 1938 - )

E-H
Rick Estrin (Little Charlie and the Nightcats. October 5th, 1949 - )
Joe Filisko
Mark Ford (October 21st, 1953 - ) 
Guy Forsyth
Frank Frost (April 15th, 1936 – October 12th, 1999) 
Bill “Jazz” Gillum (September 11th, 1904 – March 29th, 1966) 
"Studebaker John" John Grimaldi (November 5th, 1952 - )        
Steve Guyger (Jimmy Rogers Band & Solo)
Dennis Gruenling
John Hammond (November 13th, 1942 - ) 
Slim Harpo - James Moore
Ryan Hartt (no demographics unavailable)
James Harman (June 8th, 1946 - )
Harmonica Fats - See Harvey Blackston
Alfred Harris
James D. Harris aka "Shakey" Jake (April 12th , 1921 - March 2nd, 1990)
Harpin' Tracy Herron
Walter T Higgs
Big Walter Horton (April 16th, 1917 – December 8th, 1981) 
Howlin’ Wolf - See Chester Arthur Burnett
Mark Hummel (December 15th, 1955 - ) 

J-L
Marion Jacobs aka Little Walter (May 1st, 1930 – February 15th, 1968) 
Leslie Johnson aka “Lazy Lester” (June 20th, 1933 - ) 
Andy Just (December 5th, 1954 - ) 
Mitch Kashmar
Mark Kazanoff (1949 – ) 
Dieter Kropp (1961 - )
John Lee Williamson - See Sonny Boy Williamson I  
Alfred Lewis
Martin Lang (demographics unavailable)
Walter "Furry" Lewis (March 6th, 1883 - September 14th, 1981)
Noah Lewis (September 3rd, 1895 – February 7th, 1961) 
Walter “Furry” Lewis (March 6th, 1983 – September 14th, 1981) 
“Papa’ Alexander Lightfoot (March 2nd, 1924 – November 28th, 1971) 
John “Juke” Logan (no demographics unavailable)
Li’l Ronnie - See Ronnie Owens
Little Sonny (October 6th, 1932) 
John “Juke” Logan
Bill Lupkin (July 13, 1947) Recorded with Jimmy Rogers and Big Bill Morganfield
Lynwood Slim - See Richard Duran

M
Taj Mahal (May 17h, 1942 - ) 
Magic Dick (Rock & Blues. J Geils Band. May 13th - 1945 ) 
Johnny Mars (December 7th, 1942 - ) 
Lee McBee (Mike Morgan and the Crawl. March 23rd, 1951 - ) 
Little Mack
Jerry McCain (June 18th, 1930 - ) 
David Michelsen
Alec Rice Miller - See Sonny Boy Williamson II 
R.J. Mischo ( March 18th, 1960 - )  
Kevin Moore aka Keb' Mo’ (October 3rd, 1951 - ) 
James Montgomery
James Moore aka “Slim Harpo”  (January 11th, 1924 – January 31st, 1970)
McKinley Morganfield "Muddy Waters" (Guitarist/Singer that Used Many Famous Harmonica Players)
Charlie Musselwhite (January 31st, 1944 - ) 
Louis Myers (September 18th, 1929 - September 5, 1994) 
Sam Myers (Feburary,19 1936 - ) 

N-O
Kenny Neal (October 15, 1947 - ) 
Raful Neal (June 6, 1936 - ) 
John Németh
“Sugar” Ray Norcia
Darrell Nulish (September 14th,1952 - )
Gary Onofrio (Sonny Jr)
Paul Oscher (Muddy Waters Band & Solo. April 5th, 1950 - )
Ronnie Owens aka Li’l Ronnie (August 18th, 1950)

P
Papa Lightfoot 
Junior Parker (May 27th, 1932 – November 18th, 1971) 
Rob Roy Parnell
Rob Paparozzi (October 14th, 1952 - ) 
Neal Pattman (January 10th, 1926 - ) 
Michael Peloquin (1960  - )
Rod Piazza (The Might Flyers, Bacon Fat. December 18th, 1947 - ) 
Jerry Portnoy (Muddy Waters Band. The Streamliners. November 25th, 1943 - ) 
Steve Potter
Gary Primich (April 20th, 1958 - ) 
Snooky Pryor (September 15th, 1921 - ) 

R-S
Annie Raines (July 3rd, 1969 - ) 
Kid Ramos (Kid uses a number of great players on his albums.  See collections and multiple artists)
Jimmy Reed (September 6th, 1925 – August 29th, 1976) 
Rock Bottom
Cadillac Pete Rahn
Jason Ricci
Tad Robinson (June 24th, 1956 - )
Jimmy Rogers (Guitarist/Singer that Used Many Famous Harmonica Players)
Richard Rosenblatt
Johnny Rover
“Steamin’ ”Stan Ruffo (June 16th, 1951 - ) 
Bobby Rush (November 10th, 1940 - ) 
Otis Rush (Guitarist/Singer that Used Many Famous Harmonica Players)
Peter “Madcat” Ruth (April 2nd, 1949 - )
Curtis Salgado (February 4^th, 1954 - )
Andy Santana
Charlie Sayles (January 4th, 1948 - ) 
Corky Siegel (Siegel-Schwall Blues Band. October 24th, 1943 - ) 
Shakey Jake - See James D. Harris
Slim Harpo - James Moore
Lynwood Slim - See Richard Duran
Gary Smith
George "Harmonica" Smith (Muddy Waters Band, Bacon Fat & Solo - April 22nd, 1924 - October 2nd, 1983) 
Sonny Jr (Gary Onofrio)
Sugar Blue - See James Whiting

T-Z
Greg "Fingers" Taylor (June 3rd, 1952 - )
Big Mama Thornton (December 11th, 1926 – July 24th, 1984) 
Sonny Terry (October 24th, 1911 – March 11th, 1986) 
"Sonny Boy" Terry
Phillip Walker
Little Walter - See Marion Jacobs
Junior Wells (December 9th, 1934 – January 15th, 1998) 
John Weston (December 12^th, 1927 - )
James Whiting aka “Sugar Blue” (December 16th, 1949 - ) 
Phil Wiggins (May 8th, 1954 - )  
Arthur Williams (July 8th, 1937 - ) 
John Lee aka Sonny Boy Williamson I (March 30th, 1914 – July 1st, 1948) 
Alec Rice Miller aka Sonny Boy Williamson II (1899 – 1965) 
Alan Wilson (Canned Heat. July 4th, 1943 – September 3rd, 1970) 
Kim Wilson (Fabulous Thunderbirds. January 6th, 1951 - ) 
Howlin’ Wolf - See Chester Arthur Burnett

Various Compilations with Multiple Artists
Harp Attack – Junior Wells, Carey Bell, James Cotton & Billy Branch  (1990)
Superharps (Telarc, 1999) – James Cotton, Billy Branch, Charlie Musselwhite
Kid Ramos – Greasy Kid Stuff (Evidence, 2001)
Click on link above for more



Artists Not Primarily Known for Blues
Detailed below is a listing of notable non-blues artists that warrant a listen, even if you're a die-hard blues fan.  Artists are shown alphabetically by last name or stage name. Pictured at left is Lee Oskar, notable pop, jazz and world music diatonic harmonica player and arranger.  If an artist here has albums listed, their name will be underlined with a link to that listing page.

Larry Adler (Jazz & Classical. Chromatic. February 10th, 1914 – August 6th, 2001) 
Clint Black (Country. February 4th, 1962 - ) 
Donald Black (Scottish/Celtic. April 14th, 1946 - ) 
Robert Bonfuglio (Classical. Chromatic. September 6th, 1956 - ) 
Bob Dylan (Folk. May 24th, 1941 - ) 
Rick Epping (Irish country. August 22nd, 1949 - ) 
William Galison (Jazz. February 19th, 1958 - ) 
Richard Hunter (Jazz. April 1st, 1952 - ) 
Arlo Guthrie (Folk. July 10th, 1947 - ) 
Woodie Guthrie (Folk. July 14th, 1912 – October 3rd, 1967) 
Paul Harrington (Country)
Cham-Ber Huang (Classical. October 17th, 1925 - ) 
Howard Levy (Fusion. Sometime in 1951) 
Huey Lewis (Rock. The News. July 5th, 1950 - ) 
John Mayall (Early Rock & Blues - The Bluesbreakers. November 29th, 1933 - ) 
Delbert McClinton (Honky Tonk. November 4th, 1940 - ) 
Charlie McCoy (Country. March 18th, 1941 - ) 
Terry McMillan (Country. October 12th, 1953 - ) 
Jerry Murad (The Harmonicats. Classical & Pop. Chromatic. December 1st 1918 – May 11th, 1996) 
Lee Oskar (Fusion, Pop, Jazz, World Music, Etc. March 24th, 1948 -  ) 
John Popper (Rock. Blues Traveler. March 29th, 1967 - )  
Brendan Power (Various styles. February 20th, 1956 -  ) 
Mickey Raphael (Willie Nelson Band. 1951 - ) 
Richard Sleigh
Douglas Tate (Classical. October 28th, 1934 - ) 
Toots Thielemans (Jazz. April 29th, 1922 - )
Mike Turk (July 28th, 1951 - ) 
Stevie Wonder (Soul. May 13th, 1950 - ) 

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