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Happy Hour Harmonica Podcast

Paul Harrington interview

June 07, 2023 Neil Warren Season 1 Episode 87

Chapters

Paul currently lives in Dallas, Texas, but is originally from Illinois

Played piano when young but quickly abandoned that to pick up the harmonica

Got first harmonica age 9 and early learnings

Went to the railway near his home and played along with the trains, before he was aware of harmonica train imitation songs

Paul’s favourite recording of another harmonica train imitation is by Freeman Stowers

Early harmonica influences and playing along with the TV and radio

Second harmonica was a chromatic, allowing Paul to jam along to any song

Kept buying more harmonicas

Discovery of blues music and harmonica, and listening to Jimmy Reed

Became a regular at Muddy Water concerts as a boy, seeing James Cotton and Walter Horton playing with him

Paul quit his day job to become a full-time harmonica player, playing in a seven piece band

Moved to Phoenix and then Colorado where Paul got serious about working as a musician

Paul worked really hard, with a day job and then gigging at night and still doing it in his 70s

Moved to Texas because it’s a real live music place

Knocked on doors to get work as a harmonica player in Dallas

Paul got lots of work in the session scene in Dallas, then the jingle capital of the world

Regrets not having moved to Nashville

How Paul developed harmonica playing to keep getting the session work

Still trying to develop overblows

Would practise on different harmonicas to make sure he could play them all

Was carrying a lot of harmonicas to gigs, so decided to cut them down

Made himself versatile on the harmonica, so could play what was needed for session work

Some of the session work Paul has worked on include: Shell, McDonald’s, Pepsi, Coke

Recorded a CD of harmonica clips that is used by recording studios, with the clips popping up on different commercials

Paul played the harmonica part on the hit single Timber, by rapper Pitbull

Riff from Timber was based on a Lee Oskar riff from San Francisco Bay song

Had to record the session for Timber playing the riff over the whole song, rather than producer repeating the riff

Paul’s weatherman nephew did a news clip about the song Timber and Paul’s role in it

Managed to get some more money from Timber royalties after initial payment from the session

Paul became the session harmonica player for famous producer Phil York, recording an album with singer Jewel Akens

Played with Rusty Weir

Appeared on the NBC Special with comedian Steve Martin

Helped produce an album with blues artist Jesse Thomas

Played concerts with John Denver, Dolly Parton and almost joined the Ricky Nelson band

Released an album under own name in 2003: Harmonica Soul Serenade

Adam Gussow picked out the song Mercy Mercy Mercy from the album

Lot of variety of songs on the Harmonica Soul Serenade album

Recorded a Christmas single: Silver Night

How Paul approaches a more melodic song

Decided to start singing aged 50, and wishing he’d started earlier

Plays a little bass harmonica, but thinks it might have been stolen

Tip: when doing a recording session, take lots of gear with you so you look more important

10 minute question

Played at the sessions by ear, not reading music

Is a fan of Paul deLay’s chromatic playing

Paul is a Seydel endorser, used to be a Hohner endorser

Different tunings: used to play country tuning and minor tunings

Used to cut out the swollen wooden combs on Marine Bands

Different positions and Norton Buffalo switching between four harps on Runaway

Plays the Hohner XB40 sometimes

Embouchre: lip purser and likes to use tongue blocking to add rhythm

Amps: has a ’59 Champ

Uses a Fender Vibroverb for a big amp, used to own a Fender Bassman, and a Roland solid state

Mic: Electrovoice

Info

Happy Hour Harmonica Podcast

Paul Harrington interview

Jun 07, 2023 Season 1 Episode 87

Neil Warren

Paul Harrington joins me on episode 87.

Paul has a long and illustrious recording career, having had great success on the vibrant session scene in Dallas where he recorded on many commercials. He also played on the hit song Timber by rapper Pit Bull, possibly the most listened to song with harmonica in the last decade, with over one billion streams on Spotify.

Paul met and performed with many great musicians on the Dallas music scene, becoming the go to harmonica player for famed record producer Phil York, appearing on the NBC Special with comedian Steve Martin, as well as sharing the stage with John Denver and Dolly Parton.

Paul released an album in his own name, the Harmonica Soul Serenade, with the song Mercy Mercy Mercy picked out for special praise on Adam Gussow’s YouTube channel.

Links:
Paul Harrington: Seydel endorser:
https://www.seydel1847.de/paulharrington

Videos:
Timber hit song:
https://youtu.be/hHUbLv4ThOo

Texas Blues Runners, Downtown from Sweet Mama album:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8OPJyd_HRU

Adam Gussow reviews Paul’s Mercy Mercy Mercy song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvSSG3eyhDc

News story by Paul’s nephew on his involvement with Timber song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_EXYVhNYrY

Norton Buffalo switching between four harmonicas on ‘Runaway’:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPzcZNgVfpA

Podcast website:
https://www.harmonicahappyhour.com

Donations:
If you want to make a voluntary donation to help support the running costs of the podcast then please use this link (or visit the podcast website link above):
https://paypal.me/harmonicahappyhour?locale.x=en_GB

Spotify Playlist:
Also check out the Spotify Playlist, which contains most of the songs discussed in the podcast:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5QC6RF2VTfs4iPuasJBqwT?si=M-j3IkiISeefhR7ybm9qIQ

Podcast sponsors:
This podcast is sponsored by SEYDEL harmonicas - visit the oldest harmonica factory in the world at www.seydel1847.com or on Facebook or Instagram at SEYDEL HARMONICAS

Support the Show.

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Paul Harrington joins me on episode 87.

Paul has a long and illustrious recording career, having had great success on the vibrant session scene in Dallas where he recorded on many commercials. He also played on the hit song Timber by rapper Pit Bull, possibly the most listened to song with harmonica in the last decade, with over one billion streams on Spotify.

Paul met and performed with many great musicians on the Dallas music scene, becoming the go to harmonica player for famed record producer Phil York, appearing on the NBC Special with comedian Steve Martin, as well as sharing the stage with John Denver and Dolly Parton.

Paul released an album in his own name, the Harmonica Soul Serenade, with the song Mercy Mercy Mercy picked out for special praise on Adam Gussow’s YouTube channel.

Links:
Paul Harrington: Seydel endorser:
https://www.seydel1847.de/paulharrington

Videos:
Timber hit song:
https://youtu.be/hHUbLv4ThOo

Texas Blues Runners, Downtown from Sweet Mama album:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8OPJyd_HRU

Adam Gussow reviews Paul’s Mercy Mercy Mercy song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvSSG3eyhDc

News story by Paul’s nephew on his involvement with Timber song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_EXYVhNYrY

Norton Buffalo switching between four harmonicas on ‘Runaway’:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPzcZNgVfpA

Podcast website:
https://www.harmonicahappyhour.com

Donations:
If you want to make a voluntary donation to help support the running costs of the podcast then please use this link (or visit the podcast website link above):
https://paypal.me/harmonicahappyhour?locale.x=en_GB

Spotify Playlist:
Also check out the Spotify Playlist, which contains most of the songs discussed in the podcast:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5QC6RF2VTfs4iPuasJBqwT?si=M-j3IkiISeefhR7ybm9qIQ

Podcast sponsors:
This podcast is sponsored by SEYDEL harmonicas - visit the oldest harmonica factory in the world at www.seydel1847.com or on Facebook or Instagram at SEYDEL HARMONICAS

Support the Show.

Paul currently lives in Dallas, Texas, but is originally from Illinois

Played piano when young but quickly abandoned that to pick up the harmonica

Got first harmonica age 9 and early learnings

Went to the railway near his home and played along with the trains, before he was aware of harmonica train imitation songs

Paul’s favourite recording of another harmonica train imitation is by Freeman Stowers

Early harmonica influences and playing along with the TV and radio

Second harmonica was a chromatic, allowing Paul to jam along to any song

Kept buying more harmonicas

Discovery of blues music and harmonica, and listening to Jimmy Reed

Became a regular at Muddy Water concerts as a boy, seeing James Cotton and Walter Horton playing with him

Paul quit his day job to become a full-time harmonica player, playing in a seven piece band

Moved to Phoenix and then Colorado where Paul got serious about working as a musician

Paul worked really hard, with a day job and then gigging at night and still doing it in his 70s

Moved to Texas because it’s a real live music place

Knocked on doors to get work as a harmonica player in Dallas

Paul got lots of work in the session scene in Dallas, then the jingle capital of the world

Regrets not having moved to Nashville

How Paul developed harmonica playing to keep getting the session work

Still trying to develop overblows

Would practise on different harmonicas to make sure he could play them all

Was carrying a lot of harmonicas to gigs, so decided to cut them down

Made himself versatile on the harmonica, so could play what was needed for session work

Some of the session work Paul has worked on include: Shell, McDonald’s, Pepsi, Coke

Recorded a CD of harmonica clips that is used by recording studios, with the clips popping up on different commercials

Paul played the harmonica part on the hit single Timber, by rapper Pitbull

Riff from Timber was based on a Lee Oskar riff from San Francisco Bay song

Had to record the session for Timber playing the riff over the whole song, rather than producer repeating the riff

Paul’s weatherman nephew did a news clip about the song Timber and Paul’s role in it

Managed to get some more money from Timber royalties after initial payment from the session

Paul became the session harmonica player for famous producer Phil York, recording an album with singer Jewel Akens

Played with Rusty Weir

Appeared on the NBC Special with comedian Steve Martin

Helped produce an album with blues artist Jesse Thomas

Played concerts with John Denver, Dolly Parton and almost joined the Ricky Nelson band

Released an album under own name in 2003: Harmonica Soul Serenade

Adam Gussow picked out the song Mercy Mercy Mercy from the album

Lot of variety of songs on the Harmonica Soul Serenade album

Recorded a Christmas single: Silver Night

How Paul approaches a more melodic song

Decided to start singing aged 50, and wishing he’d started earlier

Plays a little bass harmonica, but thinks it might have been stolen

Tip: when doing a recording session, take lots of gear with you so you look more important

10 minute question

Played at the sessions by ear, not reading music

Is a fan of Paul deLay’s chromatic playing

Paul is a Seydel endorser, used to be a Hohner endorser

Different tunings: used to play country tuning and minor tunings

Used to cut out the swollen wooden combs on Marine Bands

Different positions and Norton Buffalo switching between four harps on Runaway

Plays the Hohner XB40 sometimes

Embouchre: lip purser and likes to use tongue blocking to add rhythm

Amps: has a ’59 Champ

Uses a Fender Vibroverb for a big amp, used to own a Fender Bassman, and a Roland solid state

Mic: Electrovoice

Effects

Future plans