8:00 PM, Doors at 7:30 PM
$20/$12 students
www.jamesharman.com
James Harman was born and raised in Anniston, Alamaba where he quickly picked up on the black blues and soul music being played on juke boxes and the radio in the Deep South. In Harman’s teens, he started playing juke joints and dance clubs throughout the South in the early 1960’s, recording many 45s for obscure labels. In 1968 Harman was befriended by the members of Canned Heat who persuaded him to move to California saying they would help him get re-started. Harman made the move to Southern California in 1970. Once established he was in demand for his own shows as well as backing every living blues artist who came through the area without a band and open for all the ones who did. Some alumni include Phil Alvin and Bill Bateman who left in ’78 to form The Blasters, Jeff Turmes, Stephen Hodges, Kid Ramos and Hollywood Fats who all had long stints in The James Harman Band.
Harman is often cited as a bandleader who gave many now famous bluesmen their start. Harman has had his original songs used in 20 movies and has been nominated for 20 prestigious W. C. Handy awards. He won two Blues Music Awards for his contribution to Mark Hummel’s Blind Pig Little Walter tribute album, “Remembering Little Walter” he also received a Grammy nomination for the same project. He played harmonica on the last seven ZZ Top releases, as well as performing live with that famous Texas outfit.