HARP HEAVEN - PLAYER BIO'S
A combination of these players will be available for all Harp Heaven shows. Please note that all players will not be playing at every show. However, commitments to a lineup will be made prior to booking and publicizing the event.
CHARLIE McCOY – 73-year-old Country Music Hall of Fame member Charlie McCoy is a multi-instrumentalist, but is known mainly for his harmonica playing for a who’s who of music royalty. In addition to numerous cuts by Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan, Simon and Garfunkel, Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, Ringo Starr and countless others, Charlie has recorded 37 albums of his own and has had 13 singles on the Billboard charts. And he was musical director of the popular television show, Hee Haw for 19 years. It’s truly an honor to have him join us.
PAT BERGESON – A chromatic and diatonic harmonica player as well as a versatile guitarist, Pat's style incorporates jazz, blues and rock and he is known for his session work with a variety of artists including Lyle Lovett, Alison Krauss, Dolly Parton, Peter Frampton, Michael McDonald, Bill Frisell, Martin Taylor, Suzy Bogguss, Bill Evans and many others. He has toured with Shelby Lynne, Madeleine Peyroux, Wynonna Judd, Suzy Bogguss and then four years with Lyle Lovett and his Large Band. Pat has been a teacher and producer and has appeared on many movie soundtracks.
TIM GONZALEZ – Tim Gonzalez arrived in Nashville in 1992. His adventurous, rhythmic, soulful, melodic style has earned him gold and platinum status on the national charts with country artists Toby Keith and Ronnie Milsap. He has also performed or recorded with B.B. King, Grammy-winning Los Lonely Boys, Lynyrd Skynard and many others in various genres of music.
BUDDY GREENE – The 2014 SPAH Harmonica Player of the Year, Buddy Greene brings a wide variety of southern Americana influences to his music to create a unique musical hybrid of country, bluegrass, folk, gospel and traditional blues. In addition to his solid reputation as a singer-songwriter and guitarist, Buddy has established himself as one of Nashville's finest harmonica stylists. His live concerts are equal parts hymn sing, jam session, church house revival, and journey through his own musical history.
WILLIAM HOWSE – William Howse has established a playing style in the tradition of John Lee Williamson, Big Walter and Deford Bailey. And his vocals are reminiscent of Muddy Waters. He is one of the few true bluesmen around today. Through the years he's played with such artists as Lonnie Mack and Tinsley Ellis and many local and regional groups and has contributed harp and/or songwriting to studio albums by Gregg Allman, Johnny Jenkins and Jimmy Hall, among others. He gave a special performance at the dedication ceremony of the Tennessee Historical Marker commemorating harmonica great Deford Bailey, the first black musician to appear at the Grand Old Opry. And William's playing was featured on the soundtrack for the TNN production of "The Life and Times of Willie Nelson."
JELLY ROLL JOHNSON – Kirk "Jelly Roll" Johnson's distinctive, soulful style of harmonica has earned him critical acclaim, numerous awards, and a place among Nashville's top session musicians. His unique sound has been heard on over 50 gold and platinum albums by such artists as Trisha Yearwood, Etta James, Alabama, Lonestar, Tim McGraw, Shania Twain as well as three Grammy winning albums by Randy Travis.
MICKEY RAPHAEL – Known primarily for his many years with Willie Nelson, Mickey has also recorded with such diverse acts as Vince Gill, U2, Neil Young, Kenny Chesney, Elton John, Motley Crue, Wynton Marsalis and many more.
And other harmonica greats have been asked or expressed an interest in joining us for some of the shows.
We are in the process of attracting Harp Heaven sponsors and venue interest. We're open to suggestions and offers. Please contact John Haring at 615-974-4886 or jharing@crushworldwide.com.