Blues Search Engine: Paul Oscher

Born in 1950 in Brooklyn, NY Paul Oscher is a blues singer, songwriter, recording artist, and multi-instrumentalist, (harmonica, guitar, piano, melodica, and bass harp), first came to national attention as Muddy Waters' harmonica player, 1967-1972 following in the footsteps of Little Walter, Junior Wells, James Cotton and Big Walter Horton. Paul Oscher started playing the blues at the age of twelve when his uncle gave him a marine band harmonica and was taught the rudiments of blues harmonica by Jimmy Johnson, a southern medicine show harp player. By the time Paul Oscher was fifteen he had hooked up with guitarist/singer Little Jimmy Mae and was playing professionally in soul revues at black clubs. In 1967, when Muddy Waters came to New York without a harp player, Paul Oscher sat in with the band. He played two numbers. Muddy Waters hired him on the spot. Working alongside blues greats like Muddy Waters, Otis Spann, Sammy Lawhorn, Pee Wee Madison and S.P. Leary, Paul Oscher learned the deep Blues phrasing and timing characteristic of his music today. Paul Oscher lived on the southside of Chicago in Muddy Waters' house along with Otis Spann. Otis Spann taught Paul Oscher the piano. Paul Oscher learned the guitar by looking over the shoulders of Muddy Waters and Sammy Lawhom. Paul Oscher also backed up major blues artists such as John Lee Hooker, Earl Hooker, Son House, Fred Mcdowell, Lightnin' Hopkins, T-Bone Walker, Albert King, Magic Sam and Big Mama Thornton. Paul remained in Muddy Waters band till the end of 1971 when he left to form his own band using the name Brooklyn Slim. In 1976, Paul Oscher toured Europe with Louisiana Red and continued playing with his own band in the New York area as well as backing up Big Joe Turner, Doc Pomus, Victoria Spivey, Big Walter Horton and Johnny Copeland. In the 1980s, Paul Oscher quit music and got a day job. In 1992 hooked up with piano players Dave Maxwell and Bob Gaddy and his old drummer Candy Mcdonald and started playing again. His career took off and he made several recordings. Paul Oscher also toured with Jimmy Rogers and the Muddy Waters Tribute Band. In 1995 he recorded his first CD. Paul's 2004 CD Alone with the Blues album for the Electro-Fi label, was nominated for the WC Handy Award Acoustic Blues Album of the Year and the title song from that record was nominated for Blues Song of the Year. In addition Paul was also nominated for the WC Handy Awards Acoustic Blues Artist of the Year and Harmonica Instrumentalist of the Year.