HARP ATTACK 40th Anniversary

JON ERBLICH, AKA ‘JOHNNY DIAMOND’ AND THE PRODUCER OF TONIGHT’S EVENT HAS BEEN ACTIVE IN THE LOCAL MUSIC SCENE FOR OVER 45 YEARS. HE FIRST GOT SERIOUS ABOUT LEARNING THE CRAFT OF HARMONICA PERFORMANCE AFTER SEEING JERRY PORTNOY BACKING MUDDY WATERS IN THE 1978 NEW ORLEANS JAZZ FESTIVAL. HE BEGAN PLAYING PROFESSIONALLY UNDER THE TUTELAGE OF JAMES CRUTCHFIELD, CLAYTON LOVE AND THURLMON McCAIN. HE HELPED FORMED THE VERY POPULAR JUMP BLUES GROUP ROCKIN LUCKY BAND IN 1982 WITH JOHN MAY AND JOHN ZOROYA, WHICH ENJOYED A 12 YEAR RUN AND WON THE ROAD TO MEMPHIS COMPETITION IN 1991. JON THEN APPEARED WITH THE BOTTOMS UP BLUES GANG FEATURING JEREMY SEGEL MOSS AND KARI LISTON FOR THEIR 15 YEAR RUN, TOURING COLORADO AND NEW ORLEANS. HE HAS FRONTED SEVERAL OF HIS OWN PROJECTS AND APPEARS REGULARLY WITH CHRIS SHEPARD, EMERSON MAGNANA, UVEE HAYES AND FRANK ‘SPANKY’ PERRY.

Jim McClaren was born in 1953 in St. Louis, MO. In grade school all the guys in his neighborhood, including Jim, were learning how to play the guitar (to be like the Beatles!) However, hearing Muddy Waters’ “Fathers and Sons” record featuring Paul Butterfield in 1969 changed everything for Jim. Now the goal was to play harp with the kind of emotion he felt from Paul Butterfield. Other early influences were Sonny Boy Williamson II and Jack Bruce of “Cream” fame.

With many hours spent alone working in the back of a bowling alley as a mechanic, he advanced on the harmonica quickly. In 1972 he started looking for a blues band to play in. This finally happened in 1978 when he joined the Soulard Blues Band. After a 23-year career with the band (which included 7 LPs and CDs, 2 European tours and numerous local awards) he left to start the Baker-McClaren Band. This was a group formed of star players from the St. Louis music scene.

These days Jim performs solo harmonica/guitar gigs, as a duo with Ribtip & Rogers and is a member of the Saint Louis Social Club – another all-star band of St. Louis’ finest musicians.

Jim was “Mr. November” on the 1986 Hohner Harmonica Artists Calendar. He’s played Hohner Marine Band, Special 20 and Golden Melody harmonicas throughout his career. His retired harmonicas (over 900) have been added to the National Blues Museum which opened in St. Louis April 3, 2016.

TOM PAPA RAY HAS PLAYED VARIOUS MUSICAL GENRES FIR OVER 50 YEARS—-be it Soul, Reggae, Jazz, Rock, & Country, but always informed by the Blues. He’s appeared in NYC, London, Jamaica & Canada, & New Orleans at the House Of Blues, playing in STL w/ Silver Cloud, Riot Act, Bennie Smith, Solomon Burke, Arthur Williams, John McVey, Murder City Players & other friends, wanting to give St. Louis the Blues… (recorded an album with Piano Slim)

Eric McSpadden, another veteran performer in the first Harp Attack in 1986 has been a very visible and revered harmonica artist and vocalist in town for over 50 years. Originally from Decatur, Il, where he had studied and played trumpet Eric moved to St. Louis in the late seventies with the encouragement of his cousin Gary. Eric is one of the founding members of Mojo Syndrome, which was formed in 1986 and had a long run locally and regionally. Eric has recorded several projects, particularly with his close friend and longtime collaborator Larry Griffin, and most notably on the video game “Call of Duty WWII” where he did voice overs. Eric has also performed and held the harmonica chair with Tommy Bankhead’s Blues Eldorados and the Rough Grooves band with Rich McDonough. He’s currently performing every Sunday at Yaqui’s with Irene Allen and Sharon Bear, and every Wednesday afternoon at Hammerstone’s with Margaret Bianchett and Mary Dee Brown.

Sandy Weltman is a virtuosic harmonica player whose sound defies boundaries. After studying under the renowned Howard “Flecktones” Levy, Sandy rose to international acclaim, earning top honors in the World Harmonica Competitions. Masterful on both diatonic and chromatic harmonicas, he navigates jazz, blues, Celtic, Klezmer, and Latin styles, creating a rich tapestry of sound. He has released six solo albums and played on hundreds of other recordings, establishing himself as a master of his craft.

Sandy’s artistry has taken him alongside legends like Bela Fleck, Leon Redbone, Cassandra Wilson and lots more. As the former St. Louis Symphony Pops’ Richard Hayman says, “He is a true musician. The ideas he hears and executes with flawless ease are astounding.” Sandy’s performances invite audiences into a world where the harmonica is a voice of pure passion.

Some have said he is the best-kept secret of the St Louis Blues scene… Son of Legendary St Louis Bluesman Big George Brock, who is a recent inductee into the National Blues Hall of Fame, Big George Jr is a Phenom in his own right burning a path into the St Louis Blues Scene and Fair and Festival circuit looking to break out into the National spotlight.

Big George Jr. currently appears with his own group, the NGK band and every Monday night fronting the Soulard Blues Band’s 50 year jam session at the Broadway Oyster Bar. When you hear BG Jr.’s playing and singing you will hear strong reverberations of his famous father.