Paul Lamb (musician)
Encyclopedia
Paul Lamb is a British
blues
harmonica
player and bandleader
. He has had a four decade long career as a blues harmonicist and bandleader, with fans
around the world.
, and he was fortunate to meet and collaborate with him after beginning to perform in clubs
by the age of fifteen. Lamb played only acoustic
blues until about 1980. Lamb also played alongside his heroes such as Buddy Guy
, Junior Wells
, and Brownie McGhee
. He formed the Blues Burglars with guitarist Johnny Whitehill in the early 1980s, a formation that eventually became Paul Lamb & the King Snakes. They released an eponymous album with Ace Records
in 1990, followed by several others, each building both Lamb's personal reputation as a harmonica player and the band's prestige. He was awarded with the British Blues Connection's annual award for the best local harmonica player several years in a row whilst the King Snakes frequently took the title as best band.
As a consequence, his own harmonica skills have been in demand, and he had a hit
in 1994 in the UK Singles Chart
with the track, "Harmonica Man" (under the pseudonym
of Bravado) with Pete Waterman
. Lamb has also worked with Mark Knopfler
, The Who
, Rod Stewart
and Jimmy Nail
, played on BBC
and film
soundtrack
s, and various television commercials in the UK
.
Lamb was more recently inducted into the British Blues Awards Hall Of Fame. Blues & Rhythm
magazine
described his band as "lazily cocksure and coolly aggressive".
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
harmonica
Harmonica
The harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
player and bandleader
Bandleader
A bandleader is the leader of a band of musicians. The term is most commonly, though not exclusively, used with a group that plays popular music as a small combo or a big band, such as one which plays jazz, blues, rhythm and blues or rock and roll music....
. He has had a four decade long career as a blues harmonicist and bandleader, with fans
Fan (person)
A Fan, sometimes also called aficionado or supporter, is a person with a liking and enthusiasm for something, such as a band or a sports team. Fans of a particular thing or person constitute its fanbase or fandom...
around the world.
Biography
Lamb started playing the harmonica during his childhood, inspired by Sonny TerrySonny Terry
Saunders Terrell, better known as Sonny Terry was a blind American Piedmont blues musician. He was widely known for his energetic blues harmonica style, which frequently included vocal whoops and hollers, and imitations of trains and fox hunts.-Career:Terry was born in Greensboro, Georgia...
, and he was fortunate to meet and collaborate with him after beginning to perform in clubs
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
by the age of fifteen. Lamb played only acoustic
Acoustic music
Acoustic music comprises music that solely or primarily uses instruments which produce sound through entirely acoustic means, as opposed to electric or electronic means...
blues until about 1980. Lamb also played alongside his heroes such as Buddy Guy
Buddy Guy
George "Buddy" Guy is an American blues and jazz guitarist and singer. He is a critically acclaimed artist who has established himself as a pioneer of the Chicago blues sound, and has served as an influence to some of the most notable musicians of his generation...
, Junior Wells
Junior Wells
Junior Wells , born Amos Wells Blakemore Jr., was an American Chicago blues vocalist, harmonica player, and recording artist...
, and Brownie McGhee
Brownie McGhee
Walter Brown McGhee was a Piedmont blues singer and guitarist, best known for his collaborations with the harmonica player Sonny Terry.-Life and career:...
. He formed the Blues Burglars with guitarist Johnny Whitehill in the early 1980s, a formation that eventually became Paul Lamb & the King Snakes. They released an eponymous album with Ace Records
Ace Records (UK)
Ace Records Ltd. was started in 1978. Initially the company only gained permission from the label based in Mississippi to use the name in the UK, but eventually also acquired the rights to publish their recordings. When Chiswick's pop side was licensed to EMI in 1984, Ace switched to more licensing...
in 1990, followed by several others, each building both Lamb's personal reputation as a harmonica player and the band's prestige. He was awarded with the British Blues Connection's annual award for the best local harmonica player several years in a row whilst the King Snakes frequently took the title as best band.
As a consequence, his own harmonica skills have been in demand, and he had a hit
Hit record
A hit record is a sound recording, usually in the form of a single or album, that sells a large number of copies or otherwise becomes broadly popular or well-known, through airplay, club play, inclusion in a film or stage play soundtrack, causing it to have "hit" one of the popular chart listings...
in 1994 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
with the track, "Harmonica Man" (under the pseudonym
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
of Bravado) with Pete Waterman
Pete Waterman
Peter Alan Waterman OBE is an English record producer, occasional songwriter, radio and club DJ, television presenter, president of Coventry Bears rugby league club and a keen railway enthusiast. As a member of the Stock Aitken Waterman songwriting team he wrote and produced many hit singles...
. Lamb has also worked with Mark Knopfler
Mark Knopfler
Mark Freuder Knopfler, OBE is a Scottish-born British guitarist, singer, songwriter, record producer and film score composer. He is best known as the lead guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter for the British rock band Dire Straits, which he co-founded in 1977...
, The Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
, Rod Stewart
Rod Stewart
Roderick David "Rod" Stewart, CBE is a British singer-songwriter and musician, born and raised in North London, England and currently residing in Epping. He is of Scottish and English ancestry....
and Jimmy Nail
Jimmy Nail
James Bradford "Jimmy" Nail is an English singer-songwriter, actor, musician, film producer, film score composer and television writer....
, played on BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
and film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
soundtrack
Soundtrack
A soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show; or the physical area of a film that contains the...
s, and various television commercials in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Lamb was more recently inducted into the British Blues Awards Hall Of Fame. Blues & Rhythm
Blues & Rhythm
Blues & Rhythm, The Gospel Truth is a British music magazine dealing with all aspects of blues and gospel music. Founded in July 1984 it is - along with its American counterpart Living Blues - considered one of the premier magazines for all aspects of blues and rhythm & blues music Blues & Rhythm,...
magazine
Magazine
Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
described his band as "lazily cocksure and coolly aggressive".
Discography
- Paul Lamb & the King Snakes (1990)
- Fine Condition (1995)
- She's a Killer (1996)
- Shifting into Gear (1997)
- John Henry Jumps In (1998)
- The Blue Album (1999)
- Blues Burglars Whoopin (1999)
- Take Your Time and Get It Right (2000)
- Live at the 100 Club (2001)
- I'm on a Roll (2005)
- Slice of Lamb (2007)
- Snakes and Ladders Live (2007)
- Mind Games (2010)
External links
- [ Biography] at Allmusic