The Best Harmonica Biographies & Autobiographies: A Player’s Guide
- Liam Ward
- Dec 1
- 15 min read
Want to know more about some of the world’s best harmonica players? You’re in luck - many of them have written (or inspired) excellent books that lift the curtain on the lives behind the licks.
🎁 Looking for harmonica-related gifts? - check out my free Harmonica Gift Guide
There’s been a real boom in harmonica biographies in recent years. I’ve been reading a stack of them, taking notes as I went, which eventually gave rise to the idea for this post.
Although many contain educational nuggets, these are not method books, tab collections or practical guides. Instead, the focus here is on biographies and autobiographies - the stories, personalities, struggles and triumphs of the musicians who shaped our instrument.
This isn’t a ranked list or a Top Ten type of article, it's just a collection of books I genuinely recommend - no one has paid me or given me a freebie to be included. If you choose to buy via the Amazon links, I do receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting my work!
So here goes, my reviews of the best harmonica biographies...
Contents
Jerry Portnoy – Dancing with Muddy
DeFord Bailey: A Black Star in Early Country Music
Blues with a Feeling: The Little Walter Story
Roly Platt – No Seriously, I Play Harmonica
Adam Gussow – Mister Satan’s Apprentice
Tommy Morgan – You Made HOW MUCH For Doing What?
John Popper – Suck and Blow...
Blowin’ Like Hell: The William Clarke Story
Howlin’ Wolf: Moanin’ at Midnight
Larry Adler – Me and My Big Mouth
John Mayall – Blues from Laurel Canyon
Harmonicas, Harps and Heavy Breathers
Be Of Good Cheer: Memories Of Harmonica Legend Pete Pedersen
Lee Brilleaux: Rock’n’Roll Gentleman
Jerry Portnoy – Dancing with Muddy: Muddy Waters, Eric Clapton, and My Lucky Life In and Out of the Blues (2025)
Some musicians are great artists but mediocre storytellers. Portnoy is that rare exception: a first-class player who can also write with flair, humour and emotional depth.
His journey takes us from the jailhouse to the White House, from a youth spent hustling pool halls via an eyebrow-raising anecdote about his father arranging a prostitute to take his virginity, through military conscription during the Vietnam War. His account of campaigning for a discharge, serving as a medic, and time in the Airborne Division is revealing (though it dragged slightly for me as I'm not into military stories).
Portnoy writes evocatively about mentoring from Sonny Terry and Big Walter Horton, early friendships with Rick Estrin, Paul Oscher and Kim Wilson (who he says "raised the bar for all of us") and the gritty realities of life on tour with Muddy Waters. At one point, the band even had to wrap their feet in newspaper to keep warm! As Portnoy puts it: "When you are called to the blues life, you take the vow of poverty."
One detail floored me: he didn’t start the harmonica until age 25, and just six years later he was in Muddy’s band. If that doesn’t give hope to late starters, nothing will.
There are occasional flat spots - the exhaustive documentation of touring schedules is perhaps the dullest section - but the book as a whole is rich, heartfelt, and full of gratitude.
It ends with a nod to the masterclass book/CD that first introduced many of us to Portnoy’s teaching.
Verdict: A beautifully written, deeply human memoir.
Recommended for: fans of Chicago blues, Muddy Waters devotees, and anyone wanting inspiration from a late-blooming harmonica success story.
Margie Goldsmith – Masters of the Harmonica (2019)
In this book, Margie Goldsmith offers a concise, focused collection of interviews with top modern harmonica players. It’s perfect for dipping into whenever you need a spark of inspiration.
Players include Joe Filisko, Sugar Blue, Charlie McCoy, Filip Jers and Howard Levy - but also several often-overlooked women players such as Cheryl Arena, Carolyn Dolan and Annie Raines.
A personal revelation was discovering harmonica teacher Lee Edwards - "the Yoda of the harmonica" - who, to my amazement, lives only 50 miles from me. His words are full of empathy and wisdom.
The book is mainly blues-focused but touches on country, folk and jazz, offering a broad snapshot of the modern harmonica landscape.
Verdict: Insightful, accessible and energising.
Recommended for: modern players looking for inspiration straight from today's harmonica masters.
David C. Morton – DeFord Bailey: A Black Star in Early Country Music (1991)
This empathetic biography resurrects the life of harmonica wizard DeFord Bailey - the Grand Ole Opry founding member, musical innovator and too often overlooked crucial figure in country music.
Morton draws from dozens of hours of interviews, preserving Bailey’s own words and personality. The book explains his mysterious departure from the Opry, his decline into obscurity, his years working as a shoe shiner and his later life in social housing.
Bailey described his style as "Black hillbilly music" - a tradition frequently ignored in histories that separate black blues from white country. The book also claims that the fox chase may have originated with Scottish/Irish pipers. After reading this, I spoke to a Uillean piper friend who knew of the pipe pieces but not the harmonica versions. Different worlds indeed!
Other gems: Bailey toured with Bill Monroe, who valued him for his huge public appeal, meaning harmonica does have roots in the early bluegrass world. We learn of racist treatment on the road, the ASCAP/BMI dispute that contributed to his Opry exit, and surprising trivia - like the fact that DeFord Jr. played bass with a young Jimi Hendrix.
Bailey turned down an extraordinary number of gigs and media opportunities, often demanding pay equal to the top earner in any project - understandable, perhaps, given the mistreatment he endured.
By the end of his life, he wanted people to know the real him, which is why he agreed to this book.
Verdict: A vital, compassionate biography restoring Bailey to his rightful place in American music history.
Recommended for: country, old-time and early-roots enthusiasts who want to understand the true origins of harmonica in American music.
Tony Glover, Scott Dirks & Ward Gaines – Blues with a Feeling: The Little Walter Story (2002)
This is the definitive study of Little Walter, the most influential blues harmonica player of all time. The authors’ meticulous research lays out his life year by year - sometimes in such detail that the narrative slows, but the payoff is enormous.
🎼 Want to learn Little Walter's best solos? Check out my Classic Song Studies
From a troubled upbringing to restless teenage years and itinerant adulthood, the book portrays Walter as brilliant, volatile, charismatic and self-destructive. We learn of Rice Miller literally saving his life, his relationships with older women and the development of the iconic Chess Records sound.
One priceless discovery for me was learning that Walter played guitar on many recording sessions. There are countless insights into the making of his classic tracks. As the authors note of his work with Muddy Waters: "He's not showboating: On the contrary, all of his talents are directed towards enriching Muddy's performance, adding previously unheard color and contrast."
Walter's amplified playing was revolutionary - but as a news clipping from the time put it: "The unique often seems obvious only after someone has had the courage to try it out."
The tragedy of Walter’s decline - brutal police beatings, multiple shootings, disfigurement, and likely brain damage - is handled with sensitivity by the three authors, who have collaborated seamlessly for this huge project.
One passage summarises Little Walter's genius perfectly: "Within almost every chorus there is some unique twist or turn of a phrase or a melody that no other harp player had yet played, nor was likely to play before hearing Walter do it first." And that quote refers to his later, supposedly “lesser” work!
Verdict: Exhaustive, authoritative and essential.
Recommended for: anyone serious about blues harmonica - this is required reading.
Shane Sager – Beyond Breath: The Journey of a Harmonica Player (2025)
Shane Sager’s book is nothing less than a modern harmonica manifesto - a kind of antidote to the dopamine-chasing, instant-gratification culture we live in. His writing blends harmonica wisdom with lessons from philosophy, creativity, and the psychology of practice.
Early on he asks: "What, then, is the highest achievement in playing the harmonica? Enthusiasm, the daily challenge of finding something tangible and exciting about our instrument. The highest achievement comes from a child's mentality and a creative work ethic - passion over material possessions, consistency over clout."
He rails against "shiny-object syndrome" and urges players to be musicians first and harmonica players second, and drives home the importance of developing your own voice: "The idea that there's nothing new to create is four thousand years old."
Sager’s humility is refreshing too: "I've been playing this instrument for fifteen years and still consider myself a total beginner."
This is not a biography so much as a philosophy of playing harmonica, approaching creativity, and understanding life.
Verdict: Insightful, encouraging and philosophically rich; a contemporary harmonica bible.
Recommended for: players seeking depth, purpose and long-term artistic growth.
Roly Platt – No Seriously, I Play Harmonica (2024)
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Roly Platt’s book is wry, silly and full of charm - a highly entertaining tour through decades of long-haul gigs across the Canadian live music circuit. He shares stories from both stage and studio, including sessions with Ronnie Hawkins, Jeff Healey and many others.
There’s plenty of practical advice for aspiring musicians scattered throughout the tales, but the real joy is Platt’s humour and warmth. I love it when a talented artist doesn't take themselves too seriously, and that's certainly the case with Roly.
Verdict: Light, fun and full of character.
Recommended for: anyone who enjoys life-on-the-road memoirs with a harmonica twist.
Adam Gussow – Mister Satan’s Apprentice: A Blues Memoir (1998)
One of my favourite harmonica books of all time. In this coming-of-age memoir, Gussow recounts his early harmonica journey, mentorship under Nat Riddles, and his unlikely - and now legendary - busking partnership with Sterling ‘Mr. Satan’ Magee.
Gussow is a superb storyteller: articulate, insightful, and often laugh-out-loud funny. The book blends musical discovery with romantic misadventures, the racial tensions of 1980s–90s Harlem, and the emotional intensity of street performance.
It had a huge impact on me when I first read it as a young man at a crucial moment in my own learning.
It's worth noting that Gussow is an academic as well as a musician, and has written several other excellent books including the following:
Verdict: Vivid, gripping and beautifully written - arguably the best-written book on this list.
Recommended for: blues fans, buskers, and anyone who loves a powerful personal narrative.
Tommy Morgan – You Made HOW MUCH For Doing What? (2022)
Tommy Morgan - born Tommy Edwards (he changed his name because a famous singer already had it) - lived one of the most extraordinary studio careers in harmonica history.
He toured the USA and Europe with Air Force bands, arranged for countless performers (including Miss Canada!) and carved out an astonishing studio résumé: 7,030 recording sessions in total. His precise intonation and exceptional sight-reading ability were, in his words, "the cornerstone of my studio career."
We get glimpses of the golden age of Hollywood soundtrack work, his collaborations with the Wrecking Crew, and brief moments in history like his recording the harmonica on Rainy Days and Mondays - a 20-minute job in which he wrote out the notes by ear and recorded the part on the spot.
The book itself is slim and somewhat disjointed - more a series of vignettes than a fully shaped memoir. Morgan sometimes ends stories abruptly, giving the impression the book was rushed out in his old age. Still, it offers a fascinating window into a unique musical life.
Verdict: Patchy but priceless; meticulous reading for fans of American studio history.
Recommended for: recording geeks, film soundtrack lovers, chromatic players.
John Popper – Suck and Blow: …And Other Stories I’m Not Supposed to Tell (2016)
John Popper is one of the most distinctive harmonica voices of the modern era, and in this wildly entertaining memoir he delivers exactly what you’d expect: a candid, chaotic, sharply funny account of life with Blues Traveler and beyond.
In his outspoken style, Popper shares stories of meeting rock and blues legends, presidents, and an absurd number of celebrities. He openly discusses his struggles with obesity, the death of his bandmate Bobby, and his evolution as an artist.
Other colourful highlights include having a harmonica belt custom-made at a bondage store, jamming with a bagpipe band in the Alps, backing up John McEnroe, and shooting a music video with a live Bengal tiger.
As for the harmonica itself, there are valuable insights into how he crafted his sound - inspired, in part, by seeing The Blues Brothers on Saturday Night Live.
I also have to say that Popper is endlessly quotable. Here's a view gems for starters:
"What I'm best at is avoiding work, and I worked very hard at it."
"The only way to find a sound is to play."
"Life by its very nature kind of hurts, and that's not a bad thing - it's just the experience of living. I think the objective of anybody playing music should be to take that, express it through sound, and share it with others."
"The drugs were a fun part of that time, and I heartily recommend them except for all the damage they do."
📖 To read more from John Popper, check out my John Popper Interview
Verdict: Chaotic, honest and highly entertaining.
Recommended for: fans of Popper, lovers of rock-and-roll memoirs, and anyone who enjoys outrageous stories told with heart.
Paul Barry – Blowin’ Like Hell: The William Clarke Story (2023)
Written by Clarke’s friend Paul Barry, this biography traces the colourful yet tragic life of the West Coast blues giant William Clarke. It includes vivid accounts of touring life, personal struggles with addiction, and - most striking of all - Clarke’s absolute dedication to the craft.
🎼 Want to learn some WC solos? Click here: Deal the Cards / Early in the Morning
He chased complete harmonica mastery with endless hours of practice and a relentless commitment to improvement. The book focuses on the man rather than gear or technique, making it a strong character study.
Verdict: Respectful, heartfelt and revealing.
Recommended for: fans of big-tone blues harmonica and students of Clarke’s powerful style.
James Segrest – Howlin’ Wolf: Moanin’ at Midnight (2004)
Though known more as an all-round entertainer, Wolf was an underrated harp player and this book is a great addition to printed blues history.
Segrest explores Wolf's traumatic childhood, rumours of violence and his time on the road with Robert Johnson, Rice Miller and others.
The book is packed with quotes from musicians who knew him, documenting his intense stage presence, promiscuity, heavy drinking, and deep internal conflict between religion and music. It also shows how - in West Memphis - Wolf was reshaping amplified blues at the same time Muddy Waters and Little Walter were doing so in Chicago.
🎼 Want to learn to play like Howlin' Wolf? Learn to play Wolf's iconic Sittin' on Top of the World
Fascinating contradictions emerge: his gentle offstage manner versus his aggressive business approach; his resentment at being pushed to record Willie Dixon’s pop-orientated songs; and his surprisingly tasteful and powerful harmonica playing (as Jerry Portnoy notes: “better to do one thing well than a whole bunch of things badly.”)
There are some unforgettable anecdotes: Wolf giving a transcendent performance that leaves a room stunned; gambling and gun stories; a bizarre urinal conversation with Charlie Musselwhite about JFK’s death; and the hysterically written fake rumour story that begins, “While dead, Wolf vacationed in West Point.”
The Wolf toured the UK, influenced countless rock acts, and even received a spontaneous standing ovation at a Rolling Stones concert late in life. Even at the very end, he gave everything to every song.
Verdict: A rich, deeply researched portrait of one of the blues’ towering figures.
Recommended for: blues historians, Wolf fans, and harp players wanting to understand the roots of amplified blues.
Larry Adler – Me and My Big Mouth (1994)
The second memoir from chromatic legend Larry Adler (following It Ain't Necessarily So), this is a lively tour through one of the most extraordinary careers in harmonica history.
We follow Adler from his early years learning piano in Baltimore, through his expulsion from school, to learning to play "mouth organ" (as he insists on calling it) from age nine.
If you're collecting facts about Adler, this is a great resource. He hated the sound of whistling - surprising for a harmonica virtuoso - and as a teenager had a scary confrontation with Al Capone.
Adler was always well-connected, mingling with stars, actors, royalty and composers. Blacklisted in the US, he fled to England, where he continued to thrive. He talks about lingering around stage doors for impromptu auditions, getting high with Dizzy Gillespie, wearing a tie instead of a belt (copying Fred Astaire), and even having an affair with Ingrid Bergman.
Memorable moments include lifting a young soldier out of PTSD in an Israeli hospital by playing Ode to Joy, playing tennis with Chaplin and Dali, and receiving one of the best compliments ever: Cary Grant telling him he envied the freedom of being a harmonica player - “you can put your career in your pocket.”
Is he arrogant? Tongue-in-cheek? A bit of both? Hard to tell, but he was certainly a trailblazer, determined to push the harmonica into orchestral and classical legitimacy.
Verdict: Quick, colourful, occasionally smug but always compelling.
Recommended for: fans of chromatic harmonica, Golden Age Hollywood, and musical iconoclasts.
John Mayall – Blues from Laurel Canyon: My Life as a Bluesman (2020)
Written not long before his death, Mayall's memoir is a career-spanning look at the father of the British blues scene. A multi-instrumentalist - vocals, guitar, keys, harmonica, even trumpet - he was never primarily a harp player, though he became one of its most recognisable British voices.
Mayall recounts his wartime childhood near Manchester (my own stomping ground half a century later), his teenage years picking cigarette butts from gutters, and youthful encounters with iconic musicians like Brownie McGhee. I am very jealous of the incredible American jazz and blues artists he saw in tiny UK venues - something no longer possible today!
This memoir reveals some surprising details, such as Mayall's writing a song called Brown Sugar about girlfriend Marsha Hunt long before the Rolling Stones did the very same. We read about Clapton living with him, Sonny Boy Williamson II telling him "you’ll never be a harp player" and his sometimes square, no-nonsense personality.
Mayall emerges as a determined facilitator of talent, someone whose organisational drive helped make the British blues boom possible. The book ends with the moving account of his cherished Laurel Canyon home burning down and hints at an unfinished follow-up covering the 1980s onward.
Verdict: A modest, grounded and revealing memoir from a scene-defining figure.
Recommended for: fans of British blues history and anyone interested in the origins of the UK harmonica scene.
Kim Field – Harmonicas, Harps and Heavy Breathers (1993)
A clear, logical and beautifully written history of the harmonica, weaving together profiles and interviews with many of the greatest American players of the twentieth century — both diatonic and chromatic.
Field starts with the Asian precursors to the modern harmonica, moves through Hohner's history in Germany, and then traces the instrument's adoption as a tool of ordinary people in the USA. Simply reading the opening chapters is enough to make you swell with pride at the reach and versatility of the harmonica.
Originally published in 1993 (my edition is the 2000 update), the book now begs for a modern revision. Larry Adler's quote - "I feel I'm a kind of footnote in musical history" - is made bittersweet by the fact he didn’t live to see the modern resurgence of classical and chromatic playing.
There are wonderful bits of trivia too: Gus Cannon claimed Noah Lewis’s volume might have come from being "so full of cocaine all the time". Please don’t try this at home!
Kim Field is that rare combination: passionate advocate, knowledgeable expert, and talented writer.
Verdict: Still one of the finest harmonica histories available.
Recommended for: players of all styles; an essential reference.
Jaine Rodack – Be Of Good Cheer: Memories Of Harmonica Legend Pete Pedersen (2006)
Pete Pedersen - chromatic master and member of the comedic musical troupe The Harmonica Rascals - was previously unknown to me. This book, compiled from decades of interviews, letters and diaries, preserves his voice with loving detail.
We learn about his early harmonica ensemble that changed its name every time it entered a radio contest, his role in arranging the Harmonicats' hit Peg o’ My Heart (possibly the first recorded use of reverb), and youthful misadventures with Hollywood stars.
Because the book stays so true to Pedersen's own words, there is repetition and a bit of unevenness, but it gives a valuable window into mid-century show business. The second half shifts toward the author's personal relationship with Pedersen, including his persistently positive attitude even through serious illness.
One standout line captures the spirit of harmonica culture that we know and love:
"I know of no other instrument that instills such camaraderie, generosity, dedication and fellowship."
Verdict: Imperfect but important; a heartfelt tribute.
Recommended for: chromatic enthusiasts and fans of harmonica ensembles.
Zoe Howe – Lee Brilleaux: Rock’n’Roll Gentleman (2015)
A late addition to the list only because I temporarily forgot I’d read it so long ago - certainly not because it lacks quality. This is a lively, engaging portrait of Dr. Feelgood frontman Lee Brilleaux, offering insight into his personality, his relationship with Wilko Johnson, and the raw energy of the band’s world.
Verdict: A gritty, affectionate look at an iconic figure.
Recommended for: pub-rock fans and anyone fascinated by British R&B history.
Other Harmonica Books Worth Checking Out
I am yet to read the following harmonica biographies, but I am very excited to dip into them in the future:
Harmonica Memoirs - Final Thoughts
From blues to country, rock to classical, street corners to world tours, these books offer an extraordinary panorama of harmonica life. Taken together, they reveal something universal about our instrument: its simplicity, portability and humble nature belie the depth of passion, creativity and humanity it inspires.
If you pick up any of these titles, I hope they bring you as much insight, joy and motivation as they brought me.
Happy reading — and happy harping.
I hope you've enjoyed this guide to some of the best books about harmonica players.
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