[Harp-L] Paul Oscher retrospective on the Happy Hour Harmonica podcast

[Neil Warren]

Episode 123 is now out, a retrospective on Paul Oscher, with guests: Jerry Portnoy, Steve Guyger and Louis Erlanger.
You can find it on this link:https://www.harmonicahappyhour.com/s1e123

Or by searching for 'Happy Hour Harmonica' on your smartphone's podcast player.
Paul Oscher was the first white harmonica to join a major black blues band, and in turn, the first white harmonica player in the Muddy Waters band (podcast guest, Jerry Portnoy, was the second).This made Paul Oscher a leading figure in promoting blues to the white audience, and inspiring many of the white harmonica players that followed. And being part of the Muddy Water's band gave Paul the best schooling in how to play authentic Chicago blues, something he learnt so well, and continued to play and love all through his life.Paul also played guitar, and piano (learning directly from living in the same basement as Otis Spann, in Muddy's house).After leaving Muddy's band Paul moved to New York and became an influential figure in the blues scene there. He released numerous albums under his own name, including some solo albums where he played various harmonicas, including extensive use of the bass harmonica, as well as guitar, piano and vocals.He moved to Austin, Texas, in 2011, where he became a neighbour of James Cotton. His last album release was Cool Cat in 2018.He sadly died of the Coronavirus in 2021.His legacy lives on.