Mark Hummel and The Blues Survivors

MARK HUMMEL was born in New Haven, CT but moved to Los Angeles as a newborn. Hummel took up an interest in blues harp & rock-blues music in high school but soon discovered the originators like Muddy Waters, Sonny Boy Williamson & Little Walter. Soon after, Hummel frequented the Ash Grove club on Melrose Ave. in LA where he saw (in a three month period) three blues legends he would later work with on a regular basis; Charlie Musselwhite, Brownie McGhee (w/Sonny Terry) & James Cotton. By 1985 Mark Hummel's Blues Survivors hit the road full time & continue till the present (Hummel's memoir, "Big Road Blues: 12 Bars on I-80" recounts many road exploits). Hummel's been featured on over thirty recordings since 1985 including his 2014 Blind Pig Records, Remembering Little Walter (a recording of a Hummel Blues Harp Blowout. The CD was nominated for a Grammy Award and won two Blues Music Awards.

Hummel's most recent release, Road Dog featuring Anson Funderburgh & Wes Starr( who are appearing on this show), is climbing the Radio charts at #18 the day it was released & continues to gain momentum daily!

Longtime Texas blues guitarist Anson Funderburgh undeniably remains best known in the blues field for his extraordinarily concise lead guitar attack. Funderburgh’s unmistakable style, tone and sensibility has made him one of contemporary blues music’s most important guitar players!

Drummer Wes Starr has impeccable credentials: Asleep At The Wheel, Delbert McClinton, Marcia Ball, Omar & The Howlers, Anson Funderburgh & the Rockets, Hal Katcham, Jimmy Vaughn, Willie Nelson, Jimmie Dale Gilmore.

Upright bassist Josh Minucci has played with Hummel, Jontavious Willis, Big Bill Morganfield, Wanda Jackson, Bob Margolin, Rick Estrin, Little Jimmy Reed, Doug Deming, Tav Falco, Alabama Mike, Nick Curran, Terry Hanck , Anson, and Junior Watson.

"Hummel, a specialist in West Coast Blues, knows a thing or two about about how to please an audience"
- New Yorker

"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

"Harmonica ace Mark Hummel has always surrounded himself with top notch talent.
Hummel certainly spends time on center stage with both his vocals and harmonica, most prominently on the instrumental "Walking with Mr. Lee". Top notch from start to finish, skip this one at your peril."
- Mark Smith/Music Revue