Johnny Mars(born December 7, 1942) is an Americanelectric bluesharmonica player, singer, and songwriter.[1]Over a long career, he has worked withMagic Sam,Earl Hooker,B.B. King,Jimi Hendrix,Jesse Fuller,Spencer Davis,Ian Gillan,Do-Re-Mi,BananaramaandMichael Roach.
Johnny Mars | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 7, 1942 Laurens, South Carolina,United States |
| Genres | Electric blues[1] |
| Occupations | Harmonicist,singer, songwriter |
| Instrument(s) | Harmonica, vocals |
| Years active | Early 1960s–present |
| Labels | Various |
| Website | www |
Biography
editMars was born inLaurens, South Carolina,tosharecroppingparents.[1]His family regularly moved house when Mars was a youngster, but at the age of nine, he was presented with his first harmonica. When he was aged fourteen, and on the death of his mother, Mars and his younger siblings moved toNew Paltz, New York,and having left high school, Mars began playing in variousclubsin New York City.[2]
He signed a recording contract withMercury Records,while a member of the band Burning Bush, and they recorded several sides with the label.[1]By the middle of the 1960s, Mars had moved to California, and formed theJohnny Mars Band,which found work but no recognition beyond their base in North California.
However, they toured withMagic Samand played on the same bill asEarl Hooker,B.B. KingandJesse Fuller.[2]After advice from Rick Estrin (Little Charlie & the Nightcats), Mars toured the United Kingdom in 1972, and subsequently recorded two albums there forBig Bear Recordsbefore relocating toSomersetin 1978.[3]He worked with the record producerRay FenwickplusSpencer DavisandIan Gillan.His album of 1984,Life on Mars,received critical acclaim.[1]
In 1988, Mars was a guest musician on the album byDo-Re-Mi,The Happiest Place in Town.He later worked withBananaramaon "Preacher Man"(1990) and their 1991cover versionof "Long Train Running",appearing in the group's music video for the former track.[1]Mars also taught for fifteen years in primary schools in England, and worked with teenagers in music projects.[2]He continued touring across the United Kingdom and Europe, where he had a strong fan base.
In 1992, Mars played at theSan Francisco Blues Festival.In 1999, he released the albumStateside.On My Mindfollowed in 2003.[1]In 2003 and 2004, he played with the Barrelhouse Blues Orchestra.[4]More recently, Mars teamed up with the blues guitaristMichael Roachand in 2008, he appeared at the Bath Music Festival in the United Kingdom,[5]The Pocono Blues Festival (United States) and the Kastav Blues Festival (Croatia). In January 2010, the pair toured the Middle East.[6]
Discography
edit| Year | Title | Record label |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Blues from Mars | Polydor(under licence from Big Bear) |
| 1976 | Oakland Boogie | Big Bear |
| 1980 | Mighty Mars | JSP |
| 1984 | Life on Mars | Beat Goes On |
| 1994 | King of the Blues Harp | JSP |
| 1999 | Stateside | MM&K |
| 2003 | On My Mind | Springboard Productions |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^abcdefgSkelly, Richard."Johnny Mars".AllMusic.com.RetrievedOctober 30,2010.
- ^abc"Johnny Mars Biography".Johnnymars.com.RetrievedOctober 30,2011.
- ^Simpson, Jim (2019).Don't Worry 'Bout The Bear.Brewin Books.ISBN978-1-85858-700-4.
- ^"The Barrelhouse Blues Orchestra".Barrelhouse.org.uk. Archived fromthe originalon July 20, 2012.RetrievedOctober 30,2011.
- ^"Billy Bragg + Michael Roach & Johnny Mars".Bathmusicfest.org.uk.RetrievedOctober 30,2011.
- ^"Michael Roach & Johnny Mars".Roachandmars.com. Archived fromthe originalon April 25, 2012.RetrievedOctober 30,2011.
- ^"Johnny Mars: Discography".AllMusic.com.RetrievedOctober 30,2011.