Bluegrass Harp was Walter 'Red' Parham

["Tim Bennett" <timbennett@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Do you know of any other bluegrass players of comparable ability? Excluding
>the modern guys...

Well, he's not really a bluegrass player. His style is similar in many
respects to DeFord Bailey, Doc Watson, etc. That fascinating twilight
zone where Anglo-American and African-American influences collide.

That's a very interesting response. I consider Walter Parham, DeFord Bailey,
and Doc Watson to be icons of bluegrass harmonica playing. They often played
bluegrass music. They certainly weren't limited to it... all of them could
play many different styles.

Since 'pure' bluegrass contains guitar, banjo, mandolin, fiddle, and upright
bass, harmonica players have always been somewhat on the fringe. Heros are
hard to find.

IMO anyone who gets up and plays 'Wreck of the Old 97' is playing bluegrass.
Even if they also play great blues, jazz, and country.

Tim Bennett
Indianapolis, IN