You can make a livin playin harp but as you can see from the
responses it sure can be quite challenging.
In this day n' age only three players I know of and have tremendous
respect for: Robert Bonfiglio and Tommy Morgan and Mickey Raphael
play ONLY harmonica for a living. Their income is from PLAYING
harmonica! I'd like to add Mike Turk but I'm not sure what he's up
to Lately or if he is teaching etc.....who am I forgetting in the
USA??
Internationally I'm sure there must be more and hopefully some more
in the US that I'm unaware of.....
Though I love players like Toots, Galison, Peloquin, Levy, Madcat,
Brendan, Randy S, Baker, Meurkens etc, they either double on others
axes, write or have harp related buisness' to generate a portion of
their income such as myself. However, we should point out these
players do quite well when paid for their expert Harmonica playing
services be it live or studio.
Dave Barrett, Gindick, Gruenling, Filisko, Yerxa, also seem to be
making a living or supplementing their incomes playing, performing
and teaching etc. I have tremendous respect for them and the great
work they do fo our instrument......
Then my list gets larger, if we think of diatonic players who JUST
play harp you can include Magic Dick and Lee Oskar and Jerry
Portnoy. WHEN they were with Full Time bands. Like War, J Geils,and
Muddy n' Clapton. Since then they have gotten into other endeavors
aside from just playin harp to supplement their income.
Two great players still with us that are retired but made a darn
good living with just Harmonica are Stan Harper and Blackie Shackner.
So I guess my point is, if HARP is your first love, don't be
discouraged do it!
You may have to add other music related skills ie: reading,doubling,
singing, teaching, recordIng, songwriting, contracting....but don't
sweat it as it will make you a better Musician and Harp Player in
the long run.
My situation as M.Fugazzi points out is rare indeed, but so Is
everyone's and you have to do what works YOU and your situation.
There IS no magic formula.
I'm 58 have a BA in Sociology and have played Music part time, full
time, had day gigs, did construction work, was a Juvenile Probation
Officer, played on Broadway, did Studio work with Bo Diddley to Cy
Coleman....played in bars and at some of the worlds largest
festivals, TV with DOLLY to Boy George....fronted BS&T and The
Original Blues Brothers Band on Vocals & Harp.
....It's all good and I was able to raise a family too thru all this
craziness! Now that my kids are grown I can travel more w/ my music.
Just like I NEVER think of myself as a either a diatonic player OR
chromatic player, a blues player OR a jazz player TB or PUCKERER ..I
carry THAT philosophy on with me in my life and music. No neat boxes
or genre labels are allowed in MY world of music.
It's just that I love the musical diversity and also LOVE that I can
make more money via that ecclectic approach to music. Some can
'specialize' and for them THAT is what works best..I applaud as well.
In the music Biz I play Harmonica, Sing, play Guitar, Piano. My
expertise is in Fronting and Leading bands of all styles. I keep
'entertainment' and the art of it HIGH on my list of priorties.
I hope thIs helps shed some lIght on this topic.......do what you do
WELL and the Money WILL follow. It matters not whether u play FT or
PT, Music will always be THERE for you to give you Joy!
Whether you are performing in a bar a wedding or carnegie
hall...give it your all and play like you mean it!!
Kudos to Mitch Kashmar for his diversity in gigs and also Charlie
Musselwhite and Toots for crossing over their Blues and Jazz with
mainstream artists exposing MANY more to the Harmonica....
My hat is off to the late Norton Buffalo for his amazing diverse
approach to music.....he was as huge inspiration for many of us.
My 8 cents,-)
Best,
Rob Paparozzi
www.robpaparozzi.com
Sent from my Verizon crackberry phone!
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