Member Since: 9/27/2006
Band Website: harmonicabuzz.com
Band Members: I got into music as a writer and when I think of the people I have played with it kind of blows me away. For gigs the guitar partners I use you can find on the top row of my friends.
I do most of my gigs with Jacob Clyde and we've really developed a great feel for each other's music. That's him in the videos kicking out The Blues are Better and doing some nice fingerpicking on Home (The Carpenter's Song)."Dig It" ... it's always a treat when I get to gig with Jen Sygit ... what a voice and a great songwriter ... I love her guitar tone too ... it's pretty cool when somebody like Jen plays your song.Mo' Kauffey really helped me get started gigging. It's been a while since we have, being he's been stuck in Canada, but we are hoping to do some more gigs soon.Mike Medicine Crow Iott is another great songwriter who knows his way around the guitar. All of the above I consider great songwriters and I really enjoy accompanying their songs.I've gigged with National Slide Guitar Champion Rollie Tussing, III and have gigged and recorded with National Thumbpicking Champion Alonzo Pennington ... it's kind of a dream of mine to somehow do a gig with those two.In someways it has been an advantage being a songwriter who doesn't really play guitar. When i hear a song one way, I try to find someone who is really good in that style." Michigan Mark DePree has added so much to my music. So has Sara Q, Dave Boutette, Jacob Clyde, Alonzo Pennington as well as long time friend Andy Springsteen.
Influences: Harmonica Buzz's "Links & Story" w/ YouTube Videos
It starts with The Ozark Mountain Daredevils in 1973 and then crystalizes with blues duo Cephas and Wiggins who I first saw play around 1983 or 84. Between that there are all sorts of roots and rock influences including Bruce Springsteen, the early J. Geils Band, Nick Lowe, Dave Edmunds, Chuck Berry and all the early rock guys like Fats Domino, Gene Vincent, Bo Diddley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Buddy Holly, Little Richard, and Carl Perkins. All those great Sun and Atlantic Records. Otis Redding, Sam and Dave, Eddie Floyd, Aretha, Soloman Burke, Carla Thomas and of course Ray Charles. Elvis Presley and Costello, Pete Townshend and The Stones. Ricki Lee Jones, Patty Loveless, Dwight Yokam, Steve Earle, Stacey Earle, Marshall Crenshaw, Peter Case and The Beat Farmers. Moving on to harmonica ... Little Walter, Junior Wells, Charlie Musslewhite, Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee and Lazy Lester. Continuing on with blues ... BB King, Freddy King, Bobby Blue Bland, Little Junior Parker, Professor Longhair, Duke Tumatoe, Jimmy Rogers and then there is my motto which is "When in doubt play Jimmy Reed." You couldn't be from Michigan with out being influenced by Bob Seger and Mitch Ryder and I wouldn't be real if I didn't add the influence of all the musicians I've played with Dave Boutette, Michigan Mark DePree, Sara Q, Alonzo Pennington, Jacob Clyde, Mo' Kauffey and Jen Sygit. Way up there personally is Eddie Pennington. Much admired is Steppin' In It from my home town of Lansing, Michigan and as far as songwriters go for me it's John Hiatt, Nick Lowe, all the people who wrote that great 60's R&B and course ... Chuck Berry.
Sounds Like: Roots & Blues Songwriter from Lansing, Michigan
"Harmonica Buzz loves to explore the multiple boundary-crossings among folk, blues, bluegrass and country music. His performance ... promises to drop listeners right into this thicket." Lawrence Constenino ~ Lansing City Pulse ~ 9/15/04
ACOUSTIC SOUL : Rhythm & Cool
Record Label: Blues and Twang
Type of Label: Indie