Ep 15 Lee Oskar on The Lowrider Band, Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club, Jimi Hendrix, and Lee Oskar Harmonicas

Born in Denmark, Lee Oskar found his way to New York at age 18 to pursue a career in music. He eventually found his way to LA where people quickly took notice of his unique skills as a harmonica player. This is about the time he met Eric Burdon who went on to be his bandmate in a little funk rock fusion ensemble called War. The ensuing string of hits include "Spill the Wine", "The World Is a Ghetto", "The Cisco Kid", "Why Can't We Be Friends?", "Low Rider." He also has an impressive body of solo recordings.Lee has always seen the harp as not just an instrument, but as his voice. In the late 70's Lee began working on what would become Lee Oskar Harmonicas, all out frustration with the subpar harps available to him at the time. What better reason to create a business that would become the leading designer and manufacturer world class harmonicas.Our conversation is wide ranging, traversing his early influences, his band War, gigs at Ronnie Scott's famed Jazz club, meeting and jamming with Jimi Hendrix, business, following one's heart, believing in one's self, persistence, hype, and much, much more.I recommend taking notes, because you're about to hear a voice of true wisdom and unique experience. Please enjoy my conversation with the gifted Lee Oskar.   Show Notes Lee Oskar Harmonicas Tombo Playing for Change Band Crying Time by Ray Charles The Lowrider Band Lee Oskar & Friends Eric Burdon Boquette Jazz & Blues Festival UMP Episode 6 featuring John Wolff Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club War Check out the book that lead me to start this podcast! The Unstarving Musician's Guide to Getting Paid Gigs: How to Get Booked and Paid What You're Worth, Over and Over Again!