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Harmonica Blues Harmonica Blues refers to any style of blues where the harmonica plays a central figure. Although the harmonica was present in many country-blues recordings, it became a dominant force in the '50s, when the instrument was amplified. Although who was the first bluesman to blow his harp into a cheap microphone plugged into an equally cheap public address system and distorting it beyond belief will be forever lost to history, the artist who made the genre known as Electric Harmonica Blues come to life was none other than Little Walter Jacobs. Its greatest single innovator, greatest selling artist, and the wellspring of the entire genre, Walter's tone became the sound to emulate and his legacy has persisted in defining the sound and style of the genre decades after his death. Not unlike Charlie Parker's shadow in modern jazz and Hank Williams, Sr. in country, Walter's influence has so saturated the genre that it has only been in the last decade or so that new players have turned to the other geniuses of the form (most notably {Walter Horton) for inspiration, finding new and innovative ways to express themselves on this humble instrument. ~ Cub Koda ~ All Music Guide ~ allmusic.com
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