Harvey Blackston
b. September 8th, 1927 in Mac Dade (Louisiana)
d. January 3rd, 2000 in Los Angeles (California)
WEST COAST DOWN HOME HARMONICA
El Segundo
1962 - 1963 / 1967
Né dans les environs de Shreveport, il est l'ainé d'une famille de 13 enfants. Elevé par ses grand-parents, il grandit dans une ferme rurale. Ayant appris l'harmonica sous l'influence déterminante de Sonny Terry, il s'installe à Los Angeles en 1946 où il retrouve son père. A partir de la seconde moitié des années 50, il devient progressivement un harmoniciste renommé dans la ville. A partir de 1962, Harmonica Fats grave ses premiers morceaux pour les labels Skylark, Darcey et Dot. Il remporte un bon succès avec sa reprise du "Tore up" de Hank Ballard puis de "Mama mama talk to your daughter for me" dans lesquels on remarque sa voix rocailleuse et son efficace jeu d'harmonica.
Born on the outskirts of Shreveport, he was the eldest of 13 children. Raised by his grandparents, he grew up on a rural farm. Having learned to play the harmonica under the decisive influence of Sonny Terry, he moved to Los Angeles in 1946, where he lived with his father. From the second half of the 50's onwards, he gradually became a renowned harmonica player in the city. In 1962, Harmonica Fats began recording for the Skylark, Darcey and Dot labels. He has had good success with his cover of of Hank Ballard's “Tore up”, followed by “Mama mama talk to your daughter for me”, in which his gravelly voice and effective harmonica playing were particularly noticeable.
LOST SOUL TREASURES vol.5
Sounds of Soul
1970
LIVE AT CAFE LIDO
Pearl Til Black (only on cassette)
May - June 1990
I HAD TO GET NASTY
Bee Bump
May 1991
Harmonica Fats et le guitariste Bernie Pearl jouait déjà ensemble depuis le début des années 80. Pour ce premier album en studio, les deux hommes délivrent un bel opus de West Coast Blues. Leurs compositions valent largement une écoute attentive : "In love with three girls", "I had to get nasty", "Harmonica Fats blows" mais on apprécie aussi les excellentes reprises de "Louisiana blues" et de "Automobile blues".
Harmonica Fats and guitarist Bernie Pearl had already been playing together since the early 80's. For this first studio album, the two men deliver a beautiful West Coast Blues opus. Their compositions are well worth attentive listening : "In love with three girls", "I had to get nasty", "Harmonica Fats blows" but we also appreciate the excellent covers of “Louisiana blues” and “Automobile blues”.
TWO HEADS ARE BETTER
Bee Bump
July 1994
BLOW FAT DADDY BLOW
Bee Bump
December 1995
BLUES ON MY RADIO
South West Music Arts Foundation
May 1998