Kim Field joins me on episode 133.
Kim’s 1994 book ‘Harmonicas, Harps and Heavy Breathers: The History of the People’s Instrument’ was the first book released on the history of the harmonica. And Kim has recently written the book: The Blues Dream of Billy Boy Arnold, telling the story of Billy Boy in his own words.
Ever on the lookout to meet and learn from the great players, Kim shares the time he spent with Deford Bailey and also when he played on stage with Walter Horton.
Kim has been in several blues bands, and a country band, and has just released a new album with his latest band, The Perfect Gentleman, featuring Kim’s harmonica, vocals and songwriting talents.
Links:
Kim’s website: https://www.kimfield.com/
Harmonica Northwest weekend, Oct 23-26, 2025: https://menucha.org/programs/harmonica-northwest
Kim’s life in music: https://www.kimfield.com/my-life-in-music
Harmonicas, Harps and Heavy Breathers: The History of the People’s Instrument book: https://www.kimfield.com/harmonicas-harps-and-heavy-breathers
PT Gazell review of Don’t Need But One album: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ModernBluesHarmonica/permalink/10162253953062225/
The Blues Dream of Billy Boy Arnold book: https://www.kimfield.com/the-blues-dream-of-billy-boy-arnold
Videos:
James Cotton playing Blues In My Sleep live in 1967: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgS6FG2rtas
David Waldman: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eD8EArw7peM
The Slamhound Hunters band - Lawnmower: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjr6YLKKmqY
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
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Blue Moon Harmonicas: https://bluemoonharmonicas.com
Support the show
Kim is the author of Harmonicas, Harps and Heavy Breathers: The History of the People’s Instrument, which partly inspired this podcast
Is originally from Seattle
Mother played violin and father played the drums
Learnt the trumpet at school and had a great teacher who focused heavily on tone, which helped when switched to the harmonica
The trumpet made Kim appreciate the advantage of the harmonica, where you breathe both in and out
Was inspired to take up the harmonica after seeing James Cotton in concert in 1968
Was exposed blues on the Seattle concert circuit
The great band James Cotton when recording for the Verve label and Cotton was so vigorous on stage
Cotton’s Blues In My Sleep was the song that really turned Kim onto harmonica
Great section on Kim’s website where he writes about his life with the harmonica
Kim’s ‘Heavy Breathers’ book was written before the advent of the internet, so all the research carried out was done either in libraries or by interviewing people
The book was a great excuse to talk to many of his harmonica heroes
The book is divided into the different genres of harmonica, and different want the blues to dominate the book
The book just covers mainly American players
Had to reduce the number of pages at the directive of the publisher
Had a companion CD added to the book as wanted to introduce people to the music of the players
Covers the early history of the harmonica with information on the instrument and players who are no longer with us, as well as interviews with contemporary players
Free reed instruments (including the harmonica) were burnt when they first appeared in Germany in the 1820s
The Hohner Little Lady harmonica was the first instrument in space taken surreptitiously by astronaut Wally Schirra, who played Jingle Bells at Christmas time, and he was disappointed not to be endorsed by Hohner after that
Example of Kim’s great writing
Did a minor update to the Heavy Breathers book in 2000, but has no plans to make further updates
Moved from Seattle to attend college in New York, joining first band there including with guitarist Louis Erlanger
Amazing harmonica scene around New York at that time, including David Waldman who recommended Kim take some lessons with Paul Oscher
Other good harmonica players in New York at that time, included Sugar Blue
In lesson with Paul Oscher he learnt about tongue blocking
The time Kim met Deford Bailey
How Kim eventually got Deford to play some harmonica for him
The time Kim got to play with Walter Horton
Sadly there was no recording made of Kim playing with Walter Horton
Kim was in The Slamhound Hunter’s Band in the late 1980s in Seattle, and did a tour of Europe with them
Interviewed chromatic player Charles Leighton, who then helped Kim get the Heavy Breathers book published
After a break from music formed a band called Kim Field and the Mighty Titans of Tone
An issue with harmonica is not being able to play chords properly in a band setting
Was also in a country band, The Titans of Twang, with Kim having a real love of country music
Now living in Portland and has formed the band: Kim Field and The Perfect Gentlemen and has just released the album: Don’t Need But One
PT Gazell posted a good review of the album on Facebook
The Perfect Gentlemen band is centred on Kim, the first time Kim has been in such a band
Ten of the eleven tunes on the album are originals and four instrumentals
The horn section used on the album, including Chris Mercer who has played with John Mayall’s band
How to get hold of the new Perfect Gentlemen album
The producer of the album was introduced to Kim by Ross Garren
The Blues Dream of Billy Boy Arnold book, which came together with the help of Mark Hummel
Billy Boy Arnold was a huge John Lee Williamson fan and met him twice
Due to Covid the 60 plus hours of interviews with Billy Boy were done over the phone and Kim wrote the book in Billy’s words, just piecing them together
Billy Boy has been around the blues scene longer than any other living harmonica player
The two times Billy Boy met John Lee Williamson before he was murdered
Billy Boy was on the blues scene ten years before Muddy Waters and Little Walter hit the scene in the early 1950s
Billy Boy is also a stone-cold ‘harmaniac’ too and met so many of the great harmonica players, including Little Walter
Kim has written for various musical publications
Harmonica of choice is the Hohner Marine Band
Doesn’t perform using any overblows, but has tried them out, and overblows are a pucker technique, whereas Kim plays tongue blocked
Doesn’t play much chromatic, but took some lessons with Magic Dick and there is a little chromatic on the new album
Mics and amps: has a couple of vintage Fender Bassman’s and some vintage mics from Dennis Gruenling and a Bulletini mic
Likes to use some effects pedals
Urges all harmonica players to learn how to sing as it really helps with the tone on harmonica
Effects pedals are another way to vary your sound. Uses some delay and reverb and uses the Sub ’n Up Octave pedal organ sound on one song on the new album
Plans to tour the new album, playing outside Portland
Is hosting the North West (USA) Harmonica workshops in October 2025
