Topic: One Man Band List

[daveharrisonemanband]

Okay, I'm back with my current list of One Man Bands (OMBs) for my book. It was suggested I post it here, so here it is. The artists are all over the map stylistically, blues, country, folk, rock n roll, vaudeville, and from all over the world, US, UK, Canada, Europe, Australia, S America and even one or two from Asia and Africa. I'm trying to be as comprehensive as possible. The lists are divided by era and are alphabetical. If you know of any names, check through to see if they're there and let me know if they aren't. Comments are welcome about the artists too. Thanks!

Early Years - 1950
?   1840?s Fiddle & Bells OMB
?   Baby Ruth
?   Band in Himself
?   boombass or stump fiddle
?   Calconi?s Italian Musician
?   Cannon, Gus
?   Covington (Curry), Bogus Ben
?   Daddy Stovepipe
?   Daniel George
?   Foggy Jones OMB
?   Gaillard, Slim
?   Gardner, Roy
?   Garner, Jim
?   Howard, John Henry
?   hurdy gurdy
?   Hyde, Vick
?   Johnson, Charles WJ
?   Leavenwoth OMB
?   Madrid Bandola Prodigy
?   Man Who Played 9 Instruments
?   Much Ado About Nothing
?   Nelson, Albert
?   Norris, Fate
?   Oaks, Charles
?   Panhandle Pete
?   Peterson, Walter
?   Pipe & Tabor
?   Raymond M
?   Reneau, George
?   Seminole, Paul
?   Smith, Fred
?   Stovepipe #1
?   Sweatman, Wilbur
?   Tarleton, Richard
?   Thomas, Henry
?   Thompson, Ernest
?   Virtuoso Violinsky
?   Ware, MM
?   Whitby OMB
?   Whitter, Henry
?   Williams, Tex
?   Williams, WC

1950?s
?   Adkins, Hasil
?   Bankhead, Tommy
?   Blackman, John ?Paul?
?   Champagne, Rex
?   Codona, John
?   Dr Ross
?   Floyd, Harmonica Frank
?   Frost, Frank
?   Fuller, Jesse
?   Griffiths, Arthur
?   Hooker, John Lee
?   Jay, Abner
?   Joe Hill Louis
?   Lone Wolf
?   Love, Willie
?   Man at Westminster Abbey
?   Montgomery, Gray
?   Nix, Willie
?   Reed, Jimmy
?   Robert Nighthawk
?   Slim Harpo
?   Sonny Boy Williamson #2
?   Washboard Willie

1960?s / 70?s
?   Bader, Des
?   Barrick, Joe
?   Bennett, Duster
?   Bert (Mary Poppins)
?   Bonner, Juke Boy
?   Boyd?s Solo Band
?   Bryant, Larry
?   Chucklefoot
?   Connors, Stompin? Tom
?   Cooper, Clate
?   Dan The Man, The OMB
?   Drifting Slim
?   Hammond, John
?   Harrison, Wilbert
?   Hartford, John
?   Hill, Blind Joe
?   Kirk, Rahsaan Roland
?   Lightfoot, Papa George
?   Nash, Eddie
?   Partridge, Don
?   Pizza, Jim
?   Schmitt, John
?   Short, JD
?   Solomon, Leonard
?   Sorensen, Kenny
?   Stubbs, Ray
?   Weston, John
?   Williams, Tim
?   Woody?s OMB

1980?s
?   Barnelli (& Otto)
?   Big John
?   Blues Myth
?   Browne, Michael Jerome
?   Early, Hezekiah
?   Ellis, Vic
?   Franklin, Jim
?   Glaister, Lawrence
?   Greet, John
?   Hazell, Patrick
?   Hemphill, Jessie Mae
?   Henderson, Homer
?   Jimmy Jimmy
?   Johnson, Bill
?   Johnson, Robert one man
?   Kelly, Charles
?   Kettel, Gee Gee
?   Larry from Tennessee
?   Lejeune, Buskin? Chris
?   Little Joe
?   Magee, Sterling Satan
?   May, Haskel
?   Moore, Paul
?   Moti
?   Nelson, Gerry
?   Nichols, Glen
?   Otto (& Barnelli)
?   Paquette, Jerry
?   Porteus, Lindsay
?   Pretty Richard
?   Robertson, Greeley
?   Robinson, Jimmy Lee
?   San Tropez Pete
?   Scottish Craig
?   Slippery Mike
?   Smither, Chris
?   Snyder, Bernard M
?   Straniero, The
?   Washboard Slim
?   Whellans, Mike

1990?s
?   Arnold, Ben
?   Band of Ones
?   Bell, Adolphus
?   Big OMB
?   Blues Boy Jag
?   Bob Log 111
?   Bristol, Marc
?   Buddy OMB
?   Casey, Clyde
?   Caveman
?   Chapman, Greg
?   Chiasson, Sylvain
?   Dan the OMB
?   Dervo, Mak
?   Doll Rod, Margaret
?   Dr Musikus
?   Dunbar, Scott
?   Durbrow, Ed
?   Flying Dutchman, The
?   Funny Tombow
?   Gerber, Alan
?   Gray, Pete
?   Hall, Scott
?   Harris, Dave
?   Holt, David
?   Horton, Larry
?   Isaacs, Pete
?   Jensen, Skip
?   Jingles OMB
?   Johnston, Richard
?   Kern, Hubert
?   King Louie
?   Kurz, Matt
?   Lonesome Organist
?   Lowebow, Johnny
?   Major McCa
?   Manx, Harry
?   Martin, Jeff
?   Masin, Jeff
?   McAnthony, George
?   Mooney, Bo
?   Mysterious Asthmatic Avenger
?   Neely, Bobby Joe
?   O?Connell, Andrea
?   O?Connell, Pete
?   Oscher, Paul
?   Pahl, Frank
?   Paul, Peter Joseph
?   Peck, Jord
?   Pickett, Michael
?   Primeau, Diane
?   Professor Gizmo
?   Pug
?   Reverend Deadeye
?   Roebuck, Phillip
?   Ron the Piper
?   Rose, Marty
?   Rowe, Alan
?   Roy the Amazing OMB
?   Royer, Eric
?   Rudy the OMB
?   Runaud, Frank
?   Schooley, John
?   Skunk, David
?   Spencer, WC
?   Tampico
?   Tehoval, Benjamin
?   Todd, Tom
?   Tom?s OMB
?   Twymans, Marc
?   Walsh, Keith (Experience)
?   Washboard Hank
?   Welles, Bobby
?   West, Joe
?   White, Steve


2000 to Present
?   19th Street Red
?   Abel, Bill
?   Acuaun, Marcus
?   Almighty Do Me A Favor
?   Amazing Elephant Man
?   Amazing OMB
?   Andersen, Nikolaj
?   Ayon, CW
?   Bandaloni
?   Barnes, Jeremy
?   Bazz, Tyo
?   BBQ
?   Bean, Terry Harmonica
?   Becky Lee & Drunkfoot
?   Bella Chicco
?   Bennetts, Ian
?   Berger, Chuck
?   Biram, Scott H
?   Bloodshot Bill
?   Blues Against Youth, The
?   BluesmanX
?   Bob Bucket
?   Bonham, Ben
?   Brattman
?   Bud McMuffin
?   BUS-AMI
?   Captain Tricko
?   cdub dine
?   Chicken Mithyc
?   Christopher of the Wolves
?   Chuck Violence
?   Cigo Man Band
?   Cooper, Mike
?   Crampton, John
?   Culpepper, JJ
?   Curtis Blues
?   Dead Elvis & His One Man Grave
?   Deltahead
?   Dennis Hopper Choppers
?   DERFRANZ
?   Dickinson, Craig
?   Doude, Mississippi John
?   Duke Special
?   Edgeley, Phil
?   Egor
?   El Monstro
?   El Paso Hot Button
?   Elvis Pummel
?   Esmeralda Strange
?   Fabulous Go Go Boy
?   Farmer, Pete
?   Feeling of Love
?   Flemons, Dom
?   Fly & his One Man Garbage, The
?   Flying MinMan, The
?   Foul, Al
?   Fredovich OMB
?   Fuller, Ray, Hound Dog
?   G Man, The
?   Gallo, Paulo
?   Gene, Molly
?   Germdog
?   Ghostwriter
?   Giant Mat
?   Giorgio OM Jazz Band
?   Goodman, Dave
?   Guitar Fucker
?   Gussow, Adam
?   Hamilton, Mark
?   Haunted George
?   Hay, Claude
?   Henry, Lewis Floyd
?   Hibbs, Jim
?   Holinka, Ivan
?   Honkey Finger
?   Horst with no Name
?   Hoya, Pedro de la
?   Hubi, Grobi
?   Jack, Chris
?   James, Nathan
?   Jet Martin (Celmins)
?   Johnny Cancer
?   Johnny Dick
?   Juggernaut Boy
?   Junior Disorder
?   Kamikawa, George
?   King Automatic
?   King Clarentz
?   Kirk Special
?   Kraftpost
?   Kreischer, Andy
?   Legendary Tigerman
?   Leipzig OMB
?   Lighthouse, Robert
?   Limbs
?   London, Bob
?   Lone Bird
?   Lonesome Joseph
?   Long Boy Larsen
?   Made For Chickens By Robots
?   Manyfingers
?   Marinelli, J
?   Martin, Eddie
?   Mason, John Alex
?   Mathews, Skeeter
?   Matt Mayhem
?   Menard, Phillipe
?   Michael, Kent
?   Miss Firecracker
?   Miss-Ipi
?   Mississippi Grover
?   Montuori, Claudio
?   Morris, Chuck OMB
?   Mosquito Bandito
?   Mr Bonz OMB
?   Mr Occhio
?   Mr Olzen
?   Mr Orkester
?   Muziek, George vd
?   Namibian OMB
?   Novak, Jeffrey
?   O Lendario Chucrobillyman
?   OMB From Hell Called Russia
?   One 100% Bluez Man
?   One Man Army
?   One Man Banjo
?   One Man Destruction Show
?   One Man Hand
?   Only Moses
?   Ottoboy the One Man Trash Band
?   Pantone, Felice
?   Parrish, Zach
?   Pigmeat?s OMB
?   Plagge, Frank
?   Possessed By Paul James
?   Prestage, Ben
?   Puckett, Stacy
?   Purgatory Hill
?   Ramblin Conrad
?   Rauncher Launcher
?   Ray, Erik Fingers
?   Red Mouth
?   Reeks
?   Reverend Beat-Man
?   Reverend J Brennan
?   Richards, Gareth
?   Riddlebarger, Bram
?   Right On John
?   Rizorkestra
?   Rob The Throb OMB
?   Rocco Recycle
?   Rocket Craig
?   Rodwell, Tom
?   Roel, Guy
?   Ronan
?   Roscica, Michele
?   Rotor Jambreks
?   Rudd, Xavier
?   Rufina, Gipsy
?   Rusty Steamboat
?   Sachtrash
?   Sand, Thad
?   Scanlon, Tim
?   Schrotti
?   Sebastopol
?   Shake Em
?   Sheriff Perkins
?   Shitworker, The
?   Silvestri, Maurizio
?   Simpson, Mark
?   Slim Sandy
?   Slim Wild Boar
?   Slin
?   Slow Poisoner, The
?   Smith, Juzzie
?   Smokestack & the Foothill Fury
?   Son of Dave
?   Sonny Mat.D
?   Southon, Matt
?   Spookyman
?   Stringybark McDowell
?   Tanner, Ted
?   The Dad Horse Experience
?   Tinqui8
?   Toothless Geoge
?   Tore, Walter (Spontobeat)
?   Trainwreck Washington
?   Truax, Thomas
?   Tussing, Rollie
?   Twang Tango
?   Uncle Butcher
?   Urban Junior
?   Venus Fly Trap
?   Via Vengeance
?   Walker, Swan
?   Watson, Aaron
?   Yorko, Pete
?   Zar OMB

[Johnm]

Hi Dave,
That's quite a list.  Am I correct in assuming that you are including people who sing, play guitar and harmonica on a rack, and no other instrument, as one-man bands?  I've always understood it that to qualify as a  one-man band there needs to be a percussion and/or bass element, as with Dr. Ross or Jesse Fuller.  If you're including people who just played guitar and harmonica, though, you should add Gwen Foster to the Pre-1950 list, and Lightnin' Wells to the 1970s list.
All best,
Johnm 

[dj]

1950?s
?   Love, Willie

The Willie Love who played piano and recorded for Trumpet, under his own name and backing Sonny Boy Williamson II?  If so, I only know of him as a singer and pianist.  What did he do in the one man band line?

 

[Bunker Hill]

1950?s
?   Love, Willie

The Willie Love who played piano and recorded for Trumpet, under his own name and backing Sonny Boy Williamson II?  If so, I only know of him as a singer and pianist.  What did he do in the one man band line?

Here's Stefan's discography to confirm that. There was a Coy Hot Shot Love who recorded for Sun but I don't recall him as a OMB either. http://www.wirz.de/music/lovewfrm.htm

[daveharrisonemanband]

Good comments and concerns all round guys! Yeah the early guys with harp in a rack and guitar were often refered to as OMBs and as such I've included them. Jimmy Reed and Slim Harpo got in on influence and rack harp but are portrayed as that. I drew the line at Dylan but John Hammond gets a mention as does John Lee Hooker for stomping feet. Nighthawk's in for guitar / harp and a short mention for influence on Frank Frost. Gus Cannon and Henry Thomas are in on influence and short.
 
I have it from James Harman that Willie Love and Washboard Willie both worked as OMBs, Love with a kick drum. Its portrayed accordingly. Wilbert Harrison is on video with a kick drum under the piano too. Patrick Hazell, also. There's a tradition, maybe a bit tenuous but interesting. Julian Fauth may get a mention.

Love to hear more about Gwen Foster and Lightnin' Wells! I'll be checking them out.

After the 50's there are only a few guys that don't have at least a kick drum. I can think of John Hammond, Paul Oscher and Alan Gerber (last two both mic the floor), David Goodman (stompboard), Michael Pickett and Chris Smither (mentions). So I've tried to be judicious but open minded.

The later list is really eclectic with lots of drum on the back OMBs and punkers / thrash / hard core, whatever name you choose, some folk / world. Mixed in are quite a few blues guys and a few country guys too. Thanks for the interest! 

[Bunker Hill]

I have it from James Harman that Willie Love and Washboard Willie both worked as OMBs, Love with a kick drum. Its portrayed accordingly.

Apologies for sounding like the pedant that I am but Washboard Willie was touring the UK in 1973 with his OMB set-up so there's no doubt his place in the scheme of things, however, since Love died when Harman was an infant Love couldn?t have been Harman's source. Did he say from where he got the information, maybe a still living contemporary of Love's, or even the Mike Leadbitter feature in Blues Unlimited which drew upon reminiscences of other musicians etc?   Bunker "Pedant" Hill

[Parlor Picker]

The Washboard Willie I saw in London in the early 70s as part of a blues package tour just sang and played washboard (well, he would play washboard with a name like that, wouldn't he?). I remember he kept calling out ridiculous and irrelevant keys for the different songs he was singing, driving the guitarist, Pat Grover, and the bass player virtually to distraction.

[daveharrisonemanband]

I tried to get verification of his source from Harman but no response. I'm going to keep Love in for now, saying where the idea comes from. I had a bit on him but I think I'll shorten it to a mention. My length is going to be an issue. If, by the time I'm doing the final edit, I still have no other confirmation, I'll pull him. Harman's from Alabama and born in the mid 40's I believe. He may have seen or heard something back when. Too bad he hasn't responded. I think a lot of guys tried the OMB thing that may never have been documented. But, having said that, I'm not trying to pad the book with every "maybe they did try it" character. Thanks for the discussion!

[Johnm]

Hi Dave,
Actually, I think if you're including guitar/harmonica players Bob Dylan should definitely be included, since he's probably more influential than the rest of such players combined.  Gwen Foster was a member of the Carolina Tarheels and related groups, and is arguably the greatest harmonica player off of a rack ever (unarguably one of the most distinctive).  Lightnin' Wells is a present-day practitioner of Country Blues and Pop material from the early 1900s and a sometime visitor and contributor to this site.  Also, John "Waxwing" Cowan plays guitar and jug together and Miller Wise plays mandolin and kazoo off of a rack and they're both present-day players.
All best,
Johnm

[noddy1]

How about guitar/quills?.Would this qualify as a OMB?.If so then the great Henry Thomas should be included.
Noddy

[daveharrisonemanband]

This is great! I keep adding names. I will add Qwen Foster and Lightnin Wells for mention, Bob Dylan was already getting mentioned on influence but not a proper entry, Henry Thomas, ditto. I'll check out every name and add at whatever level fits the book. Thanks, keep them coming!

[noddy1]

Sorry Dave-i can see Henry there in all his glory.Myself and my eyes apologise.
Noddy1.

[GhostRider]

Hey:

I see that you have included Stompin' Tom Conners.Does he qualify as a one man band? I assume you have included him because he "stomps" on a piece of plywood while playing guitar. I would have thought that to be a one man band you would have to play two+ instruments. Did Tom ever do that?

Alex

[Slack]

Ah, the problems with Lists - this is why I limit myself to grocery lists exclusively.

[daveharrisonemanband]

Tom Connors gets in for a mention. There are a number of artists playing guitar and some kind of foot percussion (no harp or kazoo). I'm trying to be all encompassing but a few of my names are definitely on the periphery of the genre. I won't be giving these people large entries, just a short line or two. Thanks!