Yup, he's a fabulous harmonica player, but I don't think he gets enough credit for that singing voice of his....flows like honey and very expressive. The man was the 'whole package'...
First saw him on Austin City Limits in the late 70s; knew immediately that he was one of the best harp players of his generation. RIP Norton Buffalo...
I met Norton Buffalo at Folsom Prison while I was doing six years on an unjust conviction. He had arranged to give harmonica lessons to which I got the opportunity to attend. Now about 40years later I’m still playing.
Harmonica among top 3 favorite instruments to listen to, all the way from Toots Thielmans to Stevie Wonder. But I think this man outshines all of them. Amazing!
Norton and I were in High School together (before he changed his name) - he played trombone in the school band, but he had a bandolier of harmonicas that he played in several garage bands around Richmond, CA. I was off in the Navy when I read about a rising star in the Steve Miller Band, some harp blower from the East Bay...
That is so cool that you were classmates back in high school! I read that he played the trombone too in his school’s jazz bands. Do you remember if he ever played harmonica in the school besides at talent shows? I figure he must have been in the choir or school musicals too.
@@BoazKimMusic he mostly kept the harmonica playing to the garage bands, not in school very much. We didn't share any classes except for band (concert, marching, jazz) and Pep Band (not a class.) I don't think he was in any of the choirs. I was a year ahead of him, don't know what he did in his senior year.
@@BoazKimMusic not as much as before the covid plague, and I'm getting old - but I do get some gigs. I have played in many parts of the world, had a good run.
tremendous human being , and amazing performer ,.. left us way too early , but we are very fortunate to be able to enjoy norton and his music ! thank you ,f or posting !
Thank you for uploading these two great Norton Buffalo! He definitely was one of the best harmonica players but more importantly a phenomenal musician and performer.
Wow, I just found this posting, thank you so much for putting this up! Can see that you had a similar experience to me with Norton being such a fine person to meet and know. I just found an older recording also and going to copy some of what I left there in the comments. I started playing harmonica in 1974, played in some Bluegrass Bands and been on my first albums as a studio player. In 1977 arrived in N. County San Diego right when Bonnie Raitt's " version of "My Little Runaway" was on the radio several times a day, with this knockout harmonica solo. I had to find out who and met someone who was there in the studio to watch Norton do the recording, using his 4 harmonicas, which with us harmonica players is really one of the coolest harp solos ever recorded. So, with that I purchased Norton's first album and the second one followed the next year. By then I was part of starting what became a well-known San Diego Band "Tall Cotton" and was playing full-time. I studied Norton's playing intently, learning many of his solos note-for-note. The next year 1978 he was playing at "The Roxy" in LA and I attended. He was nice and chatted with me and a friend out front on the sidewalk and then took me on stage as a fellow harp player and gave me a tour of his Microphone (it's the pistol looking "Shure 545S" that you see here that was customized to control volume on mic. Also his amplifier with changed speaker, reverb unit, etc. Soon after I owned all the same gear! Norton was so welcoming and kind to spend this time with me....he could see although I was a full-time pro too I was barley legal to be in the club and was helping me out. I left to move north and left music full-time so did not see Norton until 2007+/- in Oregon. I had emailed him (which we had then!) and he recalled the night we met. He played and I went to meet him again. By then he has playing different amps, mics, harps, etc. and we chatted about that. Once again, Norton was gracious and giving, just as nice a person as you could meet. By learning tips, tricks, riffs from Norton it truly helped me pick up so many studio gigs in CA, OR, Austin studios over the years and other playing as he was so versatile in styles. One of the guitars players in my Swing, Jazz, Blues, R&B band of 10 years also had played with Norton, as one of the "Knockouts". In this recording, 4 years after I met Norton, the band is so relaxed and tight....same people mostly. Thanks again for posting this!
@gabrienln3613 wow just read yrs about Norton..you are a lucky fella ! I ONLY just found him (uk) on the tube ..I am a beginner at 75 on harp so don’t think I will be able to emulate ! But hey...worth dreaming !! Want to add much more but thanks for yr great comments and some history....wish I could hear some of yours too..!?
Hi Gabriel. That’s amazing to hear how much Norton mentored you over the years. Learning his solos note for note is excellent and requires a lot of technique for sure. I do the same especially with his solos.
@@BoazKimMusic I wouldn't be able to go as far as to say mentoring since I only met Norton a couple times in person. However he did share with me much about his equipment and most of my learning was on my own listening to his records, etc.
Yup, he's a fabulous harmonica player, but I don't think he gets enough credit for that singing voice of his....flows like honey and very expressive. The man was the 'whole package'...
I agree. Such a performer and he was such a comedian.
Man……
Who plays, sings, writes and performs better than Norton?
Loved him.
First saw him on Austin City Limits in the late 70s; knew immediately that he was one of the best harp players of his generation.
RIP Norton Buffalo...
I met Norton Buffalo at Folsom Prison while I was doing six years on an unjust conviction.
He had arranged to give harmonica lessons to which I got the opportunity to attend.
Now about 40years later I’m still playing.
A naturally born genius...Wow.
Norton was a great performer and music entertainer.
One of the best to ever play the instrument. Lost him way too soon. Norton Buffalo just oozed talent.
The power of the Mullet with the addition of a sash as a force multiplier is what creates these supernatural sounds!
Met him in the 80’s. Nice guy. He played golden melodies back then. Can play both diatonic and chromatic
what kind of voice, what a harp player. i love him, great Norton. love from Italy!!!!!!
Harmonica among top 3 favorite instruments to listen to, all the way from Toots Thielmans to Stevie Wonder. But I think this man outshines all of them. Amazing!
Crazy talent Norton had....AMAZING..I can never stop being amazed by his playing...
He was a gift to music and a Hoot as a person. Met him way way back when playing in Oregon. Such a Gift! Miss his music so.
Norton and I were in High School together (before he changed his name) - he played trombone in the school band, but he had a bandolier of harmonicas that he played in several garage bands around Richmond, CA. I was off in the Navy when I read about a rising star in the Steve Miller Band, some harp blower from the East Bay...
When we hooked up later on, he always said he wanted to record a tuba & harmonica duet, but that never happened.
That is so cool that you were classmates back in high school! I read that he played the trombone too in his school’s jazz bands. Do you remember if he ever played harmonica in the school besides at talent shows? I figure he must have been in the choir or school musicals too.
@@BoazKimMusic he mostly kept the harmonica playing to the garage bands, not in school very much. We didn't share any classes except for band (concert, marching, jazz) and Pep Band (not a class.) I don't think he was in any of the choirs. I was a year ahead of him, don't know what he did in his senior year.
@@domitype Thanks for the reply! Super cool still! I hope you’re getting to play your tuba!
@@BoazKimMusic not as much as before the covid plague, and I'm getting old - but I do get some gigs. I have played in many parts of the world, had a good run.
I love the balance. Harp is well integrated in the sound and not to loud
tremendous human being , and amazing performer ,.. left us way too early ,
but we are very fortunate to be able to enjoy norton and his music !
thank you ,f or posting !
Thanks for your comment and please subscribe.
Thank you for uploading these two great Norton Buffalo! He definitely was one of the best harmonica players but more importantly a phenomenal musician and performer.
Couldn't agree more!
Age Old Puppet. Holy smokes!!
So much talent...dear god...........
As good as many of the top players these days.
Holy f--k
Wow, I just found this posting, thank you so much for putting this up! Can see that you had a similar experience to me with Norton being such a fine person to meet and know. I just found an older recording also and going to copy some of what I left there in the comments.
I started playing harmonica in 1974, played in some Bluegrass Bands and been on my first albums as a studio player. In 1977 arrived in N. County San Diego right when Bonnie Raitt's " version of "My Little Runaway" was on the radio several times a day, with this knockout harmonica solo. I had to find out who and met someone who was there in the studio to watch Norton do the recording, using his 4 harmonicas, which with us harmonica players is really one of the coolest harp solos ever recorded. So, with that I purchased Norton's first album and the second one followed the next year. By then I was part of starting what became a well-known San Diego Band "Tall Cotton" and was playing full-time. I studied Norton's playing intently, learning many of his solos note-for-note. The next year 1978 he was playing at "The Roxy" in LA and I attended. He was nice and chatted with me and a friend out front on the sidewalk and then took me on stage as a fellow harp player and gave me a tour of his Microphone (it's the pistol looking "Shure 545S" that you see here that was customized to control volume on mic. Also his amplifier with changed speaker, reverb unit, etc. Soon after I owned all the same gear! Norton was so welcoming and kind to spend this time with me....he could see although I was a full-time pro too I was barley legal to be in the club and was helping me out. I left to move north and left music full-time so did not see Norton until 2007+/- in Oregon. I had emailed him (which we had then!) and he recalled the night we met. He played and I went to meet him again. By then he has playing different amps, mics, harps, etc. and we chatted about that. Once again, Norton was gracious and giving, just as nice a person as you could meet. By learning tips, tricks, riffs from Norton it truly helped me pick up so many studio gigs in CA, OR, Austin studios over the years and other playing as he was so versatile in styles. One of the guitars players in my Swing, Jazz, Blues, R&B band of 10 years also had played with Norton, as one of the "Knockouts". In this recording, 4 years after I met Norton, the band is so relaxed and tight....same people mostly. Thanks again for posting this!
@gabrienln3613 wow just read yrs about Norton..you are a lucky fella ! I ONLY just found him (uk) on the tube ..I am a beginner at 75 on harp so don’t think I will be able to emulate ! But hey...worth dreaming !! Want to add much more but thanks for yr great comments and some history....wish I could hear some of yours too..!?
Hi Gabriel. That’s amazing to hear how much Norton mentored you over the years. Learning his solos note for note is excellent and requires a lot of technique for sure. I do the same especially with his solos.
@@BoazKimMusic I wouldn't be able to go as far as to say mentoring since I only met Norton a couple times in person. However he did share with me much about his equipment and most of my learning was on my own listening to his records, etc.
That is Michael Hinton playing guitar both of them gone now.