Paul Oscher Tribute

April 5, 1950 to April 18, 2021

Paul Oscher played harmonica as a member of the Muddy Waters Blues Band from 1967 until 1972. He was the first Caucasian musician in Muddy’s band and lived in Muddy’s house on Chicago’s South Side and shared the basement with the blues pianist Otis Spann. This hands-on training gave his blues performances an unrivaled authenticity. His entire life was dedicated to presenting and preserving the heritage of the blues. We honor this great bluesman with the following collection of photos.

Muddy Waters, Luther “Snake” Johnson, Paul Oscher, Pee Wee Madison, Sonny Wimberly. Photo Jean-Pierre Leloir.

Muddy Waters, Luther “Snake” Johnson, Paul Oscher.

Muddy Waters Band performing a London TV show in 1968. Paul Oscher on the Harmonica. Photo Ron Howard.

A young Paul Oscher with unidentified singer.

Muddy Waters Band, November 27, 1968, Toby Jug Pub, Tolworth, Surrey, near London. Photo Bert Bevis.

Muddy Waters Band, November 27, 1968, Toby Jug Pub, Tolworth, Surrey, near London. Photo Bert Bevis.

Paul Oscher and Jerry Portnoy. Both were harmonica players in Muddy Waters band. Photo courtesy Jerry Portnoy.

Multi instrumentalist Paul Oscher. Photo Joseph Rosen.

Paul Oscher at Chess Recording Studio. Photo Jeff Lowenthal.

Paul Oscher at Chess Recording Studios during an early 1970s Muddy Waters recording session. Photo Jeff Lowenthal.

Paul Oscher and Big Walter Horton. Paul brought Walter and John Nicholas to New York City in 1976 to play at a club called Fugue. Photo by Willie Strandberg.

Paul Oscher and Dusty Brown! Photo by Bob Corritore.

Paul Oscher and Jerry Portnoy at the Rhythm Room. Photo by Bob Corritore.

Muddy Waters and Paul Oscher.

Muddy Waters and Paul Oscher.

Paul Oscher and Steve Guyger

Kim Wilson, Bob Corritore, Paul Oscher at the 2005 Grammy’s Special Awards Banquet where Pinetop Perkins received his Lifetime Achievement Grammy.

Paul Oscher and Suzan Lori Parks.

Willie “Big Eyes” Smith, Paul Oscher, Bob Stroger. Photo by Bob Corritore.

Paul Oscher at the Rhythm Room. Photo by Dave Blake.

Bob Corritore and Paul Oscher exchanging Harmonica licks at the after party of the 2007 Lucerne Blues Festival, Switzerland! Paul Oscher has been a huge inspiration to Bob since a very early age.

Paul Oscher and Bob Corritore in Memphis, 2011. Photo by Valerie June.

Left to right: Barrelhouse Chuck, David Maxwell, Bob Corritore, James Cotton, Noel Neal , Jacklyn Hairston Cotton (wife of James Cotton), Paul Oscher, Little Frank Krakowski. This photo by Mona Watkins in Austin Texas at a dinner gathering after Pinetop Perkins funeral in 2011.