Category Archives: Road Rambles

Special Guest: Nick Gravenites

November 7, 2022Harmonica Party, Road Rambles, UncategorizedBill Graham, Blues Clubs, Bob Dylan, Boz Scaggs, Charlie Musselwhite, Chicago, Elvin Bishop, Filmore, James Cotton, Janis Joplin, Mark Hummel, Muscle Shoals, Newport Folk Festival, Paul Butterfield, San Francisco Blues, Steve Miller, West Coast, Winterlandmarkhummel

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:19:40 — 55.0MB)

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#electricflag #sanfranciscoscene

Nick Gravenites played in clubs with Mike Bloomfield, Charlie Musselwhite and others. In 1967 he formed the Electric Flag with Bloomfield. Gravenites also wrote the score for the film The Trip and produced the music for the film Steelyard Blues.

Gravenites is credited as a “musical handyman”, helping such San Francisco bands as Quicksilver Messenger Service and Janis Joplin‘s first solo group, the Kozmic Blues Band. He wrote several songs for Joplin, including “Work Me, Lord“ and the unfinished instrumental track “Buried Alive in the Blues”. Gravenites was the lead singer in the re-formed Big Brother and the Holding Company (without Joplin) from 1969 to 1972. He also worked extensively with John Cipollina after producing the first album by Quicksilver Messenger Service.

Gravenites produced the pop hit “One Toke Over the Line” for Brewer & Shipley and the album Right Place, Wrong Time for Otis Rush, for which he was nominated for a Grammy Award.

Mark Hummel www.markhummel.com

Patreon https://www.patreon.com/markhummel

Accidental Productions https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOOnWFbj8SGiV34ixhO0Cwg

Special Guest: Tad Robinson

October 19, 2022Harmonica Party, Road Rambles, UncategorizedBB King, Blubrry, Blues, Blues Clubs, Charlie Musselwhite, Chicago, Harmonica, Kim Wilson, Peter Green, rock&roll, Soul Music, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Tad Robinson, West Coastmarkhummel

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 44:57 — 30.9MB)

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Tad Robinson (born June 24, 1956) is an American singer, harmonica player, and songwriter. Robinson was born and raised in New York City. He graduated the New Lincoln School and attended Indiana University‘s school of music and graduating in 1980. He played regionally with a group called the Hesitation Blues Band, then moved to Chicago, where he became the vocalist for Dave Specter & the Bluebirds, singing on their 1994 album Blueplicity for Delmark Records. In 1994, he released his first album under his own name on the same label; seven more have followed, five on the Severn imprint. Robinson has performed at notable festivals in several countries, including the United States, Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. He has been a Hohner harmonica endorsee since 1985.

Tad Robinson https://tadrobinson.com/

Mark Hummel www.markhummel.com

Patreon https://www.patreon.com/markhummel

Accidental Productions https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOOnWFbj8SGiV34ixhO0Cwg

Special Guest: Lee Oskar

October 5, 2022Harmonica Party, Road RamblesBlack Panthers, Blues, Copenhagen, Denmark, Eric Burdon, Eric Burdon and the Animals, funk music, funk-jazz group War, Harmonica, Holocaust, I80, Junior Wells, Lee Oskar Harmonicas, live music, Los Angeles, Lowrider, Pitbull, Ray Charles&influence, road dog, rock music, rock&roll, San Francisco 1967, Streets of New York, Summer of Love, Survivor, talk show, The band War, the best rock-blues-soul harmonica players, the harmonica whiz, The lowrider song, virtuoso, WAR, War&lowridermarkhummel

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 39:27 — 27.1MB)

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#leeoskar #summeroflove #sanfranciscomusic #lowridersong #blackpanthers

Born in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1948, Oskar was six years old when a family friend gave him his first harmonica. “I came from an area where every kid on the block had a harmonica”, he remembers. He grew up listening to Danish radio, enjoying all types of music and cites Ray Charles as the biggest influence from that period. At 17, Oskar decided that the United States was where a harmonica player should make his career. So he moved to New York at the age of 18 with little more than a harmonica in his pocket. With no money, Oskar played harmonica in the streets of New York. Eventually arriving in Los Angeles, via Toronto and San Francisco, Oskar soon met and joined forces with Eric Burdon who had recently disbanded The Animals and was searching for new collaborators. Together, the harmonica-playing Dane (born Lee Oskar Levitin ) and the British blues-rock singer made the rounds of the L.A. clubs, eventually hooking up with the soon-to-be members of War. Burdon agreed to the novel idea of pairing up Oskar’s harmonica with Charles Miller’s saxophone to form a horn section. This team-up set War apart from the start, giving Oskar room to display the full spectrum of his improvisational prowess. Oskar’s harmonica magic was always a vital element in War’s music and performances. Oskar continued with War for 24 years non-stop. At the end of 1992, during the time of dispute over the WAR trademark, Oskar took a few years to continue his solo career and to focus on his Lee Oskar Harmonica manufacturing.

Mark Hummel www.markhummel.com

Patreon https://www.patreon.com/markhummel

Accidental Productions https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOOnWFbj8SGiV34ixhO0Cwg

Special Guest: The James Cotton Band

October 5, 2022Harmonica Party, Road Rambles, UncategorizedBlues, Blues bands, Harmonica, Howlin Wolf, James Cotton, Muddy Waters, road dog, rock & roll, rock & roll 50's mix, rock & roll and, rock & roll gangster, rock & roll hall of fame, rock & roll led zeppelin, rock & roll music, rock & roll part 2, rock & roll s5, rock & roll songs, rock & roll soniye, rock + roll eden, rock music, rock roll all night, rock roll dance, rock roll queen, rock'n roll train, rock&rollmarkhummel

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 43:09 — 29.6MB)

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#jamescotton #harmonicablues #markhummel

The James Cotton Band sits down and talks with Mark about playing with Mark’s longtime friend and harmonic legend James Cotton. James Henry Cotton (July 1, 1935 – March 16, 2017) was an American blues harmonica player, singer and songwriter, who performed and recorded with many of the other great blues artists of his time and with his own band. He played drums early in his career but is famous for his harmonica playing. Cotton began his professional career playing the blues harp in Howlin’ Wolf’s band in the early 1950s. He made his first recordings in Memphis for Sun Records, under the direction of Sam Phillips. In 1955, he was recruited by Muddy Waters to come to Chicago and join his band. Cotton became Waters’s bandleader and stayed with the group until 1965. In 1965 he formed the Jimmy Cotton Blues Quartet, with Otis Spann on piano, to record between gigs with the Muddy Waters band. He eventually left to form his own full-time touring group. His first full album, on Verve Records, was produced by the guitarist Mike Bloomfield and the singer and songwriter Nick Gravenites, who later were members of the band Electric Flag. In the 1970s, Cotton played harmonica on Muddy Waters’ Grammy Award–winning 1977 album Hard Again, produced by Johnny Winter.

Mark Hummel www.markhummel.com

Patreon https://www.patreon.com/markhummel

Accidental Productions https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOOnWFbj8SGiV34ixhO0Cwg

Special Guest: Charlie Musselwhite Part 2

October 5, 2022Harmonica Party, Road RamblesBlues, cindy lauper&amp: at the Whitehouse, Elvin Bishop, INXS hires Charlie, rock & roll, rock & roll 50's mix, rock & roll and, rock & roll gangster, rock & roll hall of fame, rock & roll led zeppelin, rock & roll music, rock & roll part 2, rock & roll s5, rock & roll songs, rock & roll soniye, rock + roll eden, rock music, rock roll all night, rock roll dance, rock roll queen, rock'n roll train, rock&rollmarkhummel

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 44:05 — 30.3MB)

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#bluesharmonica #elvinbishop #chicagoblues #charliemusselwhite

Harmonica legends Mark Hummel and Charlie Musselwhite talk about Charlie’s years of touring and recording. Charlie talks about his collaborations with INXS, Cindy Lauper, Ben Harper, Dylan, The Band, and others. Charlie and Mark play a tune at the end of the show.

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Charlie Musselwhite www.charliemusselwhite.com

Patreon https://www.patreon.com/markhummel

Special Guest: Charlie Musselwhite Part 1

September 14, 2022Harmonica Party, Road Rambles, UncategorizedBB King, Blubrry, Bob Dylan, Charlie Musselwhite, Chicago, Elvis, Harmonica, Harmonica Blowout, James Cotton, Kim Wilson, Muddy Waters, Paul Butterfield, Peter Green, West Coastmarkhummel

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 38:07 — 26.2MB)

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#charliemusselwhite #elvis #chicagoblues #memphisblues #harmonicaparty

Charlie Musselwhite joins Mark Hummel’s Harmonica Party for a conversation with the legendary Harp player. Charlie talks about growing up in Memphis and going to the Amusement Park and movies with Elvis Presley and the Memphis Mafia. Charlie remembers his unique childhood that brought him to music and to the blues. Charlie tells Mark about the move to Chicago and trying to find a place in the blues scene, First working in a record store and sharing the stage with Chicago Blues legends Lew Soloff, Muddy Waters, Junior Wells, Sonny Boy Williamson, Buddy Guy, Howlin’ Wolf, Little Walter, and Big Walter Horton. Charlie Musselwhite recent recordings include Grammy nominated releases with Elvin Bishop #elvinbishop Ben Harper #benharper .

Please SUBSCRIBE to Mark Hummel’s Harmonica Party YouTube Channel. Mark Hummel Accidental Productions

Special Guest: Elvin Bishop

August 16, 2022Harmonica Party, Road Rambles, UncategorizedBB King, Berkeley, Blues, Charlie Musselwhite, Chicago, Gary Smith, Muddy Waters, Paul Butterfield, Rock and Roll, San Francisco Blues, West Coastmarkhummel

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 39:10 — 27.0MB)

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Mark Hummel’s Harmonica Party brings in Elvin Bishop singer, guitarist, bandleader, and songwriter. An original member of the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of that group in 2015 and the Blues Hall of Fame in his own right in 2016 Elvin talks about Mike Bloomfield, Paul Butterfield, James Cotton, Charlie Musselwhite. Elvin discusses searching for a singer for his hit Fooled Around and Fell In Love. Elvin talks about his days at The Fillmore for Bill Graham, and physics! #elvinbishop #paulbutterfieldbluesband #bigfuntrio

Please SUBSCRIBE to Mark Hummel’s Harmonica Party YouTube Channel. Mark Hummel Accidental Productions

Special Guest: Anson Funderburgh

July 30, 2022Harmonica Party, Road Rambles, UncategorizedBB King, Charlie Musselwhite, Chicago, Delbert McClinton, Harmonica Blowout, Kim Wilson, Stevie Ray Vaughnmarkhummel

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 57:14 — 39.4MB)

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Mark and Anson talk about meeting BB King and playing with Delbert McClinton, Boz Scaggs, and Beavis and Butthead creator Mike Judge.

Funderburgh was born in Plano, Texas, United States. Anson was with The Bee’s Knees in 1976 and recorded “Cold Hearted Woman”. In 1977 the Rockets began with Anson, Mark Hickman on Fender bass, David Watson on drums and vocalist Darrell Nulisch. In 1981, Funderburgh released the Rockets’ debut album Talk to You By Hand from New Orleans, Louisiana based Black Top Records. The band consisted of Anson, with Darrell Nulisch on vocals and harmonica. The album included a cover version of Earl King‘s song, “Come On“. Talk to You By Hand was also the first ever release by the record label.

In October 2012, was the first U.S. and European tour of Golden State / Lone Star Revue, an All Star package that included Funderburgh, Little Charlie Baty on guitar, former Rockets drummer Wes Starr, bassist Richard W. Grigsby and leader, harmonicist and singer Mark Hummel. The quintet was featured on Hummel’s 2014 release on Electro-Fi Records, The Hustle Is Really On, nominated for a Blues Music Award for ‘Best Traditional Blues Album’ in 2015.

Please SUBSCRIBE to Mark Hummel’s Harmonica Party YouTube Channel. Mark Hummel Accidental Productions

Special Guest: Country Joe McDonald

July 26, 2022Harmonica Party, Road Rambles, UncategorizedBerkeley, Bob Dylan, San Francisco Blues, The Fuck Cheer, West Coast, Woodstockmarkhummel

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 49:42 — 39.9MB)

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Country Joe and the Fish formed in Berkeley, California, in 1965. The band was among the influential groups in the San Francisco music scene during the mid- to late 1960s. The Woodstock festival’s most memorable moment was McDonald’s unexpected solo performance of “The Fuck Cheer”. The audience responded by chanting along with McDonald. McDonald’s rendition of propelled the song into the mainstream and was featured on the Woodstock film. The performance of the song was cause for The Ed Sullivan Show to ban Country Joe from ever booking the show. Joe discusses his early years and the forming of Country Joe and The Fish. The legendary stories become true as Joe tells timeless stories about friends, Bob Dylan Janis Joplin, Grace Slick, Barry Melton, Jimi Hendrix and others in a career that has spanned 60 plus years. “The guitar neck turned into a snake and I had no idea what was playing.”Joe tells the story of the band taking LSD and trying to perform at the legendary Matrix club in San Francisco.

Please SUBSCRIBE to Mark Hummel’s Harmonica Party YouTube Channel. Mark Hummel Accidental Productions

Special Guest: Billy Flynn

June 26, 2022Harmonica Party, Road Rambles, UncategorizedCharlie Musselwhite, Chicago, Harmonica, West Coastmarkhummel

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 45:52 — 31.5MB)

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Mark talks too long time friend and midwest blues guitar legend Billy Flynn. Billy Flynn was born in Green Bay, Wisconsin.[1][3] In 1970, a local blues club opened and Flynn was inspired by the music provided there by Luther Allison, Johnny Littlejohn and Mighty Joe Young. Flynn was fortunate to be spotted playing outside the venue by Jimmy Dawkins, who arranged for Flynn to play with him on stage.[4] Flynn joined Dawkins’s backing band in 1975, and he played and toured with them until the end of the decade.Flynn also worked locally during this period and played alongside Sunnyland Slim. In the early part of the 1980s, Flynn was a member of the touring ensemble Jim Liban and the Futuramics.[4] In the late 1980s, he joined the Legendary Blues Band. He also played with Mississippi Heat. In addition to his own work and works mentioned later, he has worked and recorded with Bryan Lee, Little Smokey Smothers, Mark Hummel, Willie Kent, Snooky Pryor, Big Bill Morganfield, John Brim, Jody Williams, Little Arthur Duncan, Deitra Farr, and Billy Boy Arnold.

Please SUBSCRIBE to Mark Hummel’s Harmonica Party YouTube Channel. Mark Hummel Accidental Productions