Grammy Award Nominee and Winner of two Blues Music Awards, Mark Hummel started playing harmonica in 1970 and is considered one of the premier blues harmonica players of his generation. Thanks to over thirty recordings since 1985, including the 2013 Grammy nominated Blind Pig recording ‘Remembering Little Walter’ (part of the Blues Harmonica Blowout CD series). Harmonica giant Little Walter is considered the standard torch bearer by which all others are judged by. In Walter’s short life, 1930-1968 he had more top ten hits then any other Chess Records blues artists. Walter’s amplified harmonica sound was what ignited the Chicago scene for harp in blues in the early fifties with his hit record Juke, a must learn song for all players then and now!
Mark Hummel's Blues Harmonica Blowout™ started in 1991 and has featured every major legend (Mayall, Musselwhite, Cotton, etc.) on blues harp as well as almost every player of note on the instrument - a who's who of players.
Hummel is a road warrior - a true Blues Survivor, touring at least 130-150 days out of each year. He has toured or recorded with blues legends Charles Brown, Charlie Musselwhite, Lowell Fulson, Billy Boy Arnold, Carey Bell, Lazy Lester, Brownie McGhee, Eddie Taylor, Luther Tucker and Jimmy Rogers.
The band: Anson Funderburgh on guitar (with his band ‘The Rockets’, he is undeniably the best known in the blues field for his extraordinarily concise lead guitar attack). Wes Starr on Drums (Asleep At The Wheel, Delbert McClinton, Marcia Ball, Omar & The Howlers, Anson Funderburgh & the Rockets, Hal Katcham, Jimmy Vaughn, Willie Nelson, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, everyone!!). Clay Swafford on Piano (James Cotton, Pinetop Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis & Dr John in a movie called “Falsifyn”). Bill Stuve on Bass (Rod Piazza & Mighty Flyers, Bill Clarke, Jimmy Rogers, George Harmonica Smith, Junior Watson & many others). Mark Hummel on Blues Harp and Vocals.
"Hummel plays the harmonica with the fat, full sound that made Little Walter sound almost like a saxophonist rather than a harp man.” - Chicago Sun-Times
“Mark Hummel is a Harmonica Virtuoso. He is one of a handful of the Best Players ever on the Instrument.” - Blues Revue Magazine