简介：byRichardSkelly Harmonicaplayer,songwriterandsingerMarkHummelisapractitioneroftheWestCoastbluesstyle,whichtypicallyincludeselementsofjazzandswing.Aseasonedbandleader,Hummelisfinallybeginningtoachievewiderrecognitionthroughnearlyconstanttouring.HummelwasborninNewHaven,ConnecticutbutraisedinLosAngeles,California.HebecamefascinatedwiththebluesrockofCream,JimiHendrix,BigBrotherandtheHoldingCompanyandtheRollingStones.Afterseeingsongwritercreditsonthealbums,hebegantodigfurtherbackintothosebands'bluesroots.Hebeganplayingharmonicainhisteensinordertobedifferentfromthehugepackofguitarplayersinhishighschool.HummelstudiedthestylesoftheChicagobasedplayers,includingJamesCotton,SonnyBoyWilliamson,BigWalter"Shakey"HortonandLittleWalterJacobs.HummelmovedtoBerkeley,Californiain1972andplayedwithlocalbluesmenthere,includingBoogieJake,CoolPapa,JohnnyWatersandSonnyLane.Aftergraduatinghighschool,hehitchhikedaroundthecountryforthreeyears,makingstopsinNewOrleans,BostonandChicagotolearnfromthosecities'topplayers.In1980,heformedtheBluesSurvivors,whohavesinceperformedatnumerousbluesfestivalsaroundtheU.S.,includingtheChicagoBluesFestivalandtheSanFranciscoBluesFestival.HummelhasreleasedanumberofselfproducedalbumsaroundhisOakland,Californiahome,includingPlayingInYourTown(1985,RockinitisRecords),Up&Jumpin'(withCanadianguitaristSueFoley,198990),andHardLovin'(1992,DoubleTroubleRecords).HiswidelyavailablealbumsincludeFeelLikeRockin'(1994,FlyingFishRecords),MarriedToTheBlues(1995,FlyingFish),andmostrecently,HeartofChicago(1997,ToneCool/Rounder),analbumrecordedinChicagoonwhichHummelisaccompaniedbysomeveteranChicagosidemen,includingdrummerWillie"BigEyes"Smith,guitaristDaveMyersandproducer/guitaristSteveFreund.ConsideredoneofthetopharmonicaplayersintheU.S.,HummelhasalsojudgedandplayedintheHohnerHarmonicaWorldChampionships,heldinGermany;heissuedLowDowntoUptownin1998.GoldenStateBlueswasnext,releasedonnewlabelElectroFiwithsupportfromHummel'susualbackingband,theBluesSurvivors.