In the mid-1800s, a German harmonica manufacturer named Hohner started exporting his product to North America. Being relatively inexpensive, relatively easy to play and extremely portable, the ...

“I Guess That’s Why They Called It the Blues” delivered a major critical and commercial hit for Elton John at a time when his career needed it. It came after a stretch when many wondered if John would ...

Don't be fooled by the harmonica. Sure, more musically inclined cowboys used to whip 'em out around the campfire, and cultures from Eastern to Western and everything in between have laced their ...

In Hear This, A.V. Club writers sing the praises of songs they know well. This week: Songs with prominent harmonica usage. When bands known more for hard-charging noise than toe-tapping hooks compose ...

To broach his uncertain future, Johnny Sansone first had to relinquish his familiar past. Photo by Timothy WhiteJohnny Sansone's new CD is an early contender for one of the best local albums of the ...

James Cotton, a Grammy Award-winning blues harmonica master whose full-throated sound backed such blues legends as Muddy Waters, Sonny Boy Williamson II and Howlin’ Wolf, has died at age 81. A ...

Norman Davis has played thousands of blues songs on his radio shows. But for some reason, an old tune by the late Big Mama Thornton jumped out at him one day while he was hosting his syndicated blues ...

Several decades ago, Blues Traveler was among the new generation of young jam bands following in the mighty footsteps of the Grateful Dead. As Blues Traveler celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, ...