Texas Harmonica

Mar 29, 2011 Uncategorized Leave a comment
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Here is a link to a cool website that has info on the late harmonica great Don Brooks. Mickey Raphael states that listening to and meeting Don was his influence to really get going playing the harmonica.

http://ctmh.its.txstate.edu/artist.php?cmd=detail&aid=207&start=0&letter=

Mickey Raphael In Concert

Mar 27, 2011 Live Music Leave a comment
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There is a fantastic show on HDNet TV that is a tribute to Ray Charles that features Willie Nelson, Wynton Marsalis, Nora Jones and Mickey Raphael.
Mickey has loads of solo time and makes the most of his space. He is playing Lee Oskar harps in various keys to fit the songs. The songs featured are [...]

Don’t Let The Man Get You Down

Mar 22, 2011 Uncategorized Leave a comment
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I have written and erased this post a few times already. Everytime I start typing it comes out as a negative piece about how employers are draining the life out of the common worker by doing more with less people and blaming it on the economy. This has been on my mind since I read [...]

Katie Couric Plays Harmonica On Craig Ferguson Show

Dec 8, 2010 Uncategorized Leave a comment
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Here is Katie Couric Playing harmonica on Craig Ferguson’s show on December 7, 2010. She plays harmonica at the end of the clip.

Katie Couric Plays Harmonica

Dec 8, 2010 Uncategorized Leave a comment
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The Biggest Harmonica Myth

Dec 7, 2010 Harmonica Playing Leave a comment
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Years ago when the only harmonica worth while for playing
blues was the venerable Hohner Marine Band. It sounded great
but leaked air around the wood comb which made them play inconsistantly.
There were some musicians that would soak their harps
in a glass of water and there are even some stories
of soaking them in whiskey! I’m sure most [...]

John Steinbeck On The Harmonica

Oct 16, 2010 Harmonica Playing Leave a comment
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Here is a paragraph that pretty much sums up how fantastic a musical instrument the harmonica is. From the classic John Steinbeck novel The Grapes Of Wrath…
“A harmonica is easy to carry. Take it out of your hip pocket. Knock it against your palm to shake out the dirt and pocket fuzz and bits of [...]

Use my Handy Crossharp Harmonica Chart

Aug 27, 2010 Harmonica Lessons Leave a comment
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The question I get asked the most is how to figure out what blues harp or harmonica to use when playing with a band.  I have made a chart that takes all the guessing out of this.  Don’t be the guy on the bandstand frantically testing out harmonicas trying to figure which is the correct [...]

Blues Harp At The Fleetwood Blues Fest

Aug 25, 2010 Live Music Leave a comment
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Once again, one of my blues loving friends was able to get to a great blues show and wrote an article about it. My good friend Stevie Vegas who is a fantastic drummer wrote the following about the recent Fleetwood, PA Blues Fest. Wish I was there!
 

“This year I once again had the privilege to [...]

Little Walter Blues Harp Lick

Aug 22, 2010 Harmonica Lessons Leave a comment
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This is a video I made for You Tube a while ago. I love Little Walter’s playing and this is one blues harp lick he used often.