The Best of the Best Harmonica Players

by: Kyle Vallone

Here is my list of the Best of the Best Harmonica players. This list is subjective and for me personally it has changed over the years as my tastes have changed.

BLUES

Little Walter

The man who created the Chicago style of amplified harmonica, he could make his harp sound like a tenor sax; his tone is the sought-after style of sound for harmonica players.

Sonny Boy Williamson

Extremely influential player, and the first player to make the harmonica a lead instrument.

Sonny Boy Williamson II

Prolific songwriter, vocalist and harmonica player; the ultimate blues man, his true name and birth date remained a mystery for most of his life.

Sonny Terry

The most amazing acoustic harmonica player I have ever heard. Completely captures that deep-down South, backwoods sound. The most powerful rhythm and percussive player I have ever heard.

Big Walter Horton

The first power blues harmonica player.

Jimmy Reed

The master of less-is-more, with his pleading vocal and distinctive harmonica styles that made him one of the blues greats.

James Cotton

One of the best-known blues harmonica musicians in the world; he is recognized for the power and precision of his playing.

Junior Wells

A great vocalist, chromatic player and expressive diatonic player.

Charlie Musselwhite

Great second generation Chicago-style harmonica player; a real master.

John Mayall

A member of the great British blues invasion of the 1960s

Norton Buffalo

Great harmonica player from California who recently passed away. He was a master of many harmonica styles.

Paul Butterfield

Another late, great second-generation blues harmonica master from Chicago. He became famous in the 1960s.

Rod Piazza

A disciple of George “Harmonica” Smith. He fronts a great band called the Mighty Flyers who are constantly on tour. These folks are well worth seeing.

COUNTRY

Charlie McCoy

The greatest country western harmonica player of all time. Incredible tone and precision in his playing.

DeFord Bailey

DeFord became the most successful artist to share the tradition of hillbilly music with a wider audience. He was a heavy influence on Sonny Terry.

Wayne Raney

One of the great, early, country harmonica players.

Mike Stevens

A bluegrass harmonica player with a unique style.

Lonnie Joe Howell

Great country player in the Texas tradition who also written has some great books for learning harmonica.

FOLK

Bob Dylan

Incredible singer and songwriter and expressive harmonica player. He has inspired a lot of people to pick up the harmonica and learn to play (myself included).

Neil Young

Great songwriter and guitar player and harmonica player. His style is very expressive.

ROCK AND POP

Magic Dick

One of my favorites, he is extremely innovative. Magic Dick pushed the pocket of harmonica playing in the early 1980s.

John Popper

Very popular and talented, he uses a lot of high, fast blow bends in his unique style.

Lee Oskar

Former lead harmonica player for the pioneer funk/jazz group, War, which won him international renown for over two and a half decades (1969-1993). Oskar also has a great brand of harmonica.

Tagged with: best • harmonica • players

Responses to This Article

•   
  Dale W

  Country:

  We should add Mickey Raphael, Willie Nelson’s harpist.

  He’s been with Willie for over 3 decades.

  [Reply]

•   
  matt

  so toots t and howard levy don’t even make the list?!?!?!!

  [Reply]

•   
  Michael

  You can add Larry Adler who brought great recognition to the harmonica as a solo, virtuoso instrument and also brought classical and jazz into a new dimension — see his collaboration with producer George Martin on “The Glory of Gershwin”

  [Reply]

•   
  Joann

  I’d like to add Mike Douchette to the list. He traveled with Tammy Wynette and George Jones in the 80′s. Many credits with major artists and still plays on many major Country and Gospel projects.

  [Reply]

•   
  Joseph Teshuwah

  like to mention Phil Wiggins of Cephas and Wiggins for keeping the great Piedmont Blues tradition alive for the last close to 30 years. RIP John Cephas!

  [Reply]

•   
  danny boy coy

  accurate list…like it! Although I’ve been on stage with Norton & Cray, Sugar Blue is my all out favorite. Also: seen Johnny Winter a ways back where James Montgomery just totally blew me away. Kim Wilson has also blown me away. But on vinyl, I have to say Sugar, Sonny Boy, Little Walter are my fave’s to just sit and listen to.

  [Reply]

•   
  Gabriel Cubero

  stevie wonder

  [Reply]

•   
  James Lauderdale

  Alice Cooper played not only on his albums, but on lots of other albums. Due to recording contracts, he is not listed on most of the albums. But he is well-respected in Rock and Roll circles as a player.

  [Reply]

•   
  Lil Boy Blues

  How about Adam bussow or better yet Jason Ricci!!!

  [Reply]

•   
  Charles in Macon

  One of the best who can play any style on the harmonica, even classical, is Buddy Greene. Search for him on YOUTUBE.

  http://www.youtube.com/user/buddygreenevideos?blend=23&ob=5#p/u/0/RIouLeoF3QA

  How many of the above have played Carnegie Hall?

  Buddy has.

  [Reply]

•   
  Warren Butner

  What about Steve Cash,Ozark Mountain Daredevils-check out Chicken Train & If you wanna get to heaven!

  [Reply]

    

  JP Allen

  Right on Warren! jp

  [Reply]

•   
  Toby St. John

  You should definitely have Powell St. John on this list. DEFINITELY!

  [Reply]

    

  JP Allen

  Your right Toby…thanks. jp

  [Reply]

•   
  Don Meyer

  Please! Does no one recognize the genius e bestand technical abilities of John Popper (Blues Traveler). I’m an older guy-59 and certainly liked Mayal, etc.. but my ear tells me that John is the best.

  [Reply]

    

  JP Allen

  You got it Don. John Popper is one of my heroes, and he is on the list under Rock and Pop. jp

  [Reply]

•   
  Don Meyer

  Oh come on! are you gonna tell me that Bob Dylan was good at anything except poetry? Lee with War was very good but I would not place him in the same technical pot as John Popper. When I saw Mr. popper with a pick-up blues band in Somerville, MA. he blew me away(literally).

  [Reply]

    

  JP Allen

  Yes, Popper rips. Each have there on noteworthy style. Thanks for your input. jp

  [Reply]

•   
  john

  What bout Greg Fingers Taylor n Billy Gibson ??

  [Reply]

    

  JP Allen

  Indeed the list goes on beyond the page. Thanks for you input John. jp

  [Reply]

•   
  Mike

  Jerry Portnoy!!!

  [Reply]

    

  JP Allen

  Right on Mike. jp

  [Reply]

•   
  Cinnamon O Presley

  What about this young man, Bryn Scott-Grimes.
  Listen to “Squirrel Pumping Iron” and “Zeus”:
  http://brynscottgrimes.twohornedbull.ca/

  [Reply]

    

  JP Allen

  This guy’s awesome. Thanks Cinnamon. jp

  [Reply]

•   
  Joe Soow

  Alan “Blind Owl” Wilson from Canned Heat.

  [Reply]

    

  JP Allen

  Right on Joe. jp

  [Reply]

    

  lovintheblues

  Yes! Why is the Blind Owl consistently overlooked??? So unfair!

  [Reply]

•   
  jim crain sr.

  Please don’t forget about L D Miller. And Bob Littell who plays with Tommy Emmanuel. Out of sight harp man. Thanks, jim and rosie Still excited about our retreat with you in Kauai 2012.

  [Reply]

    

  JP Allen

  Right on Jim…what a time we had!! jp

  [Reply]

•   
  freedumring7

  The late Terry McMillen RIP… played with a tremendous amount of soul!

  [Reply]

    

  JP Allen

  Yes indeed. jp

  [Reply]

•   
  Jimmy J. from Tucson

  Don’t forget Mark Wenner of the Nighthawks.

  [Reply]

•   
  insert chaudiere

  I’m impressed, I have to say. Really hardly ever do I encounter a weblog that’s each educative and entertaining, and let me tell you, you may have hit the nail on the head. Your idea is excellent; the problem is one thing that not sufficient individuals are talking intelligently about. I’m very completely happy that I stumbled throughout this in my seek for one thing referring to this.

  [Reply]

    

  JP Allen

  I’m happy to hear you found it impressive and entertaining. thanks for you input. jp

  [Reply]

•   
  jim crain sr.

  Don’t forget about J P Allen to be included in that list as not only does he play out of sight, he teaches in the easiest and most fun way you can imagine. I know from personal experience as I have jammed with him in Kauai with me just being a beginner. Look up” Jump Down/Turn Around” on youtube and see what a neat guy he is to everyone. Thanks for your help pal, jim and rosie

  [Reply]

    

  JP Allen

  Hey Jim!! Thanks so much for the high compliment. Love you dude, jp

  [Reply]

•   
  Chuck

  Anther vote to please, please add Mark Wenner the founder and leader of one of the best blues “bar” bands ever; The Nighthawks. He’s been pumpin’ out the jams since the 1970s. He definitely fits to the second generation Chicago electric school, although they recently won an award for a traditional acoustic effort.. go figure…
  Oh and another unmentioned deserving of greater recognition. Jimmy Fadden of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. Porbably fits in the Country category. He has a great sound and is an excellent player. How many drummers you know who can play harp simultaneously.

  [Reply]

    

  JP Allen

  Thanks for your input Chuck….all phenomenal players. jp

  [Reply]

•   
  terry miller

  i should at least be in the top50

  [Reply]

Leave Your Comment Here...Say Something About this Article:

How To Play Harmonica
AND SOUND GREAT
(Do Your Notes Ever Sound Bad?)

FREE HARMONICA LESSON! Click Below

Your Email:
The Fastest and Easiest Way to Play Songs With Soul and Feeling!

 

Hi my name is JP Allen,

If you would like to receive your 5-lesson video series for free, please put your email address in the box above. I'm going to show you my favorite tricks for playing blues, rock and county music. Tricks that are pretty darn easy to learn but sound really cool.

Have you ever noticed that most beginners who play harmonica sound stiff? I have.

If you want to learn how to play the songs you love with soul and feeling, it's crucial to know what what's going on hidden inside the mouth.

Harmonica is an easy instrument, but if you don't know the shortcut secrets of what to do with your mouth, it can be pretty darn frustrating.

When you sign up for my harmonica newsletter, you will get:

Free videos that will teach you the tricks that have enable me to help tens of thousands of students.

A Free Special Report: THE BEST AND WORST HARMONICAS FOR BEGINNERS (bang for your buck)

Lot's of fun and entertaining harmonica videos that will bring a smile to your day.

I am in the business of teaching harmonica. That being said, when you sign up for my newsletter you're going to get much more cool free stuff than sales pitches.

If there's anything I can do to help you, feel free to email me at jp@harmonica.com Either I or one of my harmonica experts will get back to you pronto.

Warmly,

JP Allen
Harmonica.com

Anyone Can Play A Song And Sound Stiff. Imagine how great it's going to feel when you can play songs and sound good. Put Your Email In The Box Below And Let's Get Started
Best Email Address:

Trackback Links | RSS Comments Links