Tag Archives: Berkeley

Special Guest: Elvin Bishop



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: Country Joe McDonald



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


East Bay Blues Vaults: The musicians, clubs and characters.



Mark tells his story of arriving in Northern California and his journey into the San Francisco Bay Area Blues scene. Mark talks about the musicians, clubs and colorful characters that populated the area and how a young harmonica player from Southern California was able to enter and thrive in this vibrant scene. Mark’s new CD is culled from his extensive collection of recordings from 1976-1988. With contributions from Brownie McGhee, Sonny Rhodes, Boogie Jake, JJ Malone, Cool Papa, Mississippi Johnny Waters and many more.

Now Available from Mark Hummel  & Electro-Fi Records

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Special Guest Steve Freund Pt. 2



Mark sits down for Part 2 of his talk with with blues guitar legend Steve Freund. Steve talks about moving to California and working with Paul Butterfield, Boz Scaggs, James Cotton among others and producing Mark’s album Heart of Chicago.

Special Thanks to Bob Corritore for his photographs

Steve Freund’s Website

Mark Hummel’s Website

Produced by Accidental Productions

For a video version please visit  Mark Hummel’s Harmonica Party on YouTube

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Road Dogs



Mark talks about life on the road for blues musicians, and his book Big Road Blues: 12 Bars on I-80 and plays music from his new CD The Wayback Machine with Deep Basement Shakers

Contact Mark and check out his website

Contact Jeff and check out his website

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Remembering James Harman



Mark talks about the roots of blues and his friend James Harman.

James Gary Harman (June 8, 1946 – May 23, 2021) was an American blues harmonica player, singer, and songwriter. The music journalist Tony Russell described Harman as an “amusing songwriter and an excellent, unfussy blues harp player”.

James Harman’s CD “Fineprint”

Mark Hummel

Please check out our sponsors and affiliates.  

Seydel Harmonicas 

Electro Fi Records

Mountain Top Productions & Records

Accidental Productions