Rich Harper learned to play blues guitar the traditional way by primarily being self-taught listening to and learning from the recordings of artists like Eric Clapton, B. B. King, Rory Gallagher, Freddy King, Duane Allman,... more » and so on. Rich developed his own slide style using the same Coricidin medicine bottle as Duane Allman. After paying his "blues dues" in small blue collar towns throughout Pennsylvania, Rich moved to Los Angeles to gather like minded musicians and formed the Rich Harper Blues Band.
With the success of their debut CD, "Don't Think Just Play", the Rich Harper Blues Band was not only selected as one of Amazon.com's prestigious "Emerging New Blues Artists", but Taxim Records, a German label, joined the group's growing list of blues fans by placing another cut, "She's On Her Way Up", on their compilation album titled "More Desaster City Blues". It wasn't long before the band's name was popping up in blues magazines everywhere and blues societies were urging their members to check out the exciting new group who were carving out a unique niche for themselves in the blues world. By the time the band released their second CD, "Bottled Up Blues", Europe had jumped on board by making the band the #1 selling artists in Switzerland on Amazon's charts. Radio stations worldwide welcomed the new CD with open arms and this time one of the cuts, "As She Moved In (My Guitar Moved Out)", topped Rolling Stone Magazine's "MP3 & More Blues Chart" at #1. The international blues scene stood up, did a double take, and these talented artists haven't stopped since.
An international promoter recalls how he came across the band in the Los Angeles area a few years ago: "While walking past a local club at 4 o'clock on a Saturday afternoon, I heard the faint sounds of a band playing, and my curiosity dragged me in. Onstage were three guys playing great music I did not recognize. I sat down, ordered a beer and wondered why there was nobody there. Half an hour later people started coming in, and by 5:30 the place was packed. The music got louder, and Rich Harper, with his tremendous musical creativity and playfulness held a tight grip on the crowd as it got wilder, and it was an amazing experience - like nothing I had ever witnessed before. It turned out to be a 3-7 pm Saturday gig, except the audience demanded an extra half set. I said to myself that music lovers around the world deserve to experience this!"
Since then, the band has toured the world, including their adoptive countries of Scandinavia, and such exotic locales as Asia and Australia. They were also humbled and extremely honored to be part of a group that entertained the U.S. troops in Iraq in 2004.
Details for all tours are available at the bands website http://www.richharper.com« less
Rich Harper learned to play blues guitar the traditional way by primarily being self-taught listening to and learning from the recordings of artists like Eric Clapton, B. B. King, Rory Gallagher, Freddy King, Duane Allman, and so on. Rich developed his own slide style using the same Coricidin medicine bottle as Duane Allman. After paying his "blues dues" in small blue collar towns throughout Pennsylvania, Rich moved to Los Angeles to gather like minded musicians and formed the Rich Harper Blues Band.
With the success of their debut CD, "Don't Think Just Play", the Rich Harper Blues Band was not only selected as one of Amazon.com's prestigious "Emerging New Blues Artists", but Taxim Records, a German label, joined the group's growing list of blues fans by placing another cut, "She's On Her Way Up", on their compilation album titled "More Desaster City Blues". It wasn't long before the band's name was popping up in blues magazines everywhere and blues societies were urging their members to check out the exciting new group who were carving out a unique niche for themselves in the blues world. By the time the band released their second CD, "Bottled Up Blues", Europe had jumped on board by making the band the #1 selling artists in Switzerland on Amazon's charts. Radio stations worldwide welcomed the new CD with open arms and this time one of the cuts, "As She Moved In (My Guitar Moved Out)", topped Rolling Stone Magazine's "MP3 & More Blues Chart" at #1. The international blues scene stood up, did a double take, and these talented artists haven't stopped since.
An international promoter recalls how he came across the band in the Los Angeles area a few years ago: "While walking past a local club at 4 o'clock on a Saturday afternoon, I heard the faint sounds of a band playing, and my curiosity dragged me in. Onstage were three guys playing great music I did not recognize. I sat down, ordered a beer and wondered why there was nobody there. Half an hour later people started coming in, and by 5:30 the place was packed. The music got louder, and Rich Harper, with his tremendous musical creativity and playfulness held a tight grip on the crowd as it got wilder, and it was an amazing experience - like nothing I had ever witnessed before. It turned out to be a 3-7 pm Saturday gig, except the audience demanded an extra half set. I said to myself that music lovers around the world deserve to experience this!"
Since then, the band has toured the world, including their adoptive countries of Scandinavia, and such exotic locales as Asia and Australia. They were also humbled and extremely honored to be part of a group that entertained the U.S. troops in Iraq in 2004.
Details for all tours are available at the bands website http://www.richharper.com
CD Reviews
THIS BAND KNOWS THE BLUES!
Patrick Earley | Edmond, Oklahoma USA | 02/11/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The Rich Harper Band are not only a polished band who plays the blues the way they should be played, they write great songs too! They do killer covers of "Mean Old World", and "All I Got Belongs To You", that would make those old school bluesman smile in their graves. Rich Harper has a great voice for singing blues ballads like "How Much I Want You" and "All I Got". On top of that he plays a great slide guitar. My favorite on here is "Life", where Harper sings along with his guitar notes. I love this one! So lets do the math. Good slide guitar, good singing, great songwriting, and a great backing band = A Winner!"
Raving up with the blues!
Richard D. Borum | Northeastern Pennsylvania, USA | 02/14/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The Rich Harper Blues Band has caught the essence of authentic Blues with a soul searing block of original and cover material in "Bottled Up Blues". From tearful ballads to scorching up tempo tunes the band runs the gamut of emotion from lost love to freedom found. It is definitely worth your time in taking in an earful."
New talent in the Blues Vein
Rich Borum | Wilkes-Barre, PA USA | 11/23/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"The Rich Harper Blues Band is breathing new life into an old but cherished music idiom. His voice seems to match his guitar whether slowly drawling infusing the song with real feeling, or, racing straight ahead like an out-of-control train engine, you feel the soul stirring strains of a true blues afficianado! It's worth a hard listen!!!!"
Well worth the wait !
Rich Borum | 11/10/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"If anyone had any doubts that Rich Harper could repeat the success of 'Don't Think Just Play', then they should have none now ! 'Bottled Up Blues' brings out Rich's superb musicianship and guitarwork, whilst at the same time introducing a collection of new songs which lend themselves to being played again and again. This album is at the top of my personal playlist and I have no doubt will remain there for a long time to come !"
Track Listings (11) - Disc #1