The harmonica has been the backbone of countless genres of music from country to folk to blues and so many others. It can sit to the side and add texture to a song, but it’s not afraid to step up front and be the star of the melody line. We will celebrate the instrument by presenting four of its finest practitioners in an evening of music.
Joining us for this incredible night, along with an all-pro house band, are:
CHARLIE McCOY – 77-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 for this great evening.
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.
JELLY ROLL JOHNSON – Recipient of the 2018 SPAH Lifetime Achievement Award, 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.
TIM GONZALEZ – A two-time winner of the NIMA Best Live Blues Performer Award, 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 Skynyrd, John Schneider and many others in various genres of music.