| Blind
Pig Records signs Australian harmonica virtuoso Harper. |
Blind Pig Records has announced the signing
of its first international artist, Australian harmonica virtuoso/didgeridoo
performer/singer Harper. The first CD under the three record pact
is scheduled to be released in May, 2005. The multi-award winning
artist plans to re-locate to Michigan in early 2005 and begin
a six month tour of the US after the release of the new album.
Harper is currently recording his new CD in Melbourne, Australia.
He is the only foreign artist to be signed to the very prestigious
blues and roots label, and his signing is a great boost for the
Australian and American blues scene. According to label boss Jerry
Del Giudice, "Harper's unique and heartfelt approach reaffirms
my faith in the power of music."
Harper has been the recipient of a number of awards recently,
including "Male Vocalist of the Year" and "Song
of the Year" from the 2004 Australian Blues Music Awards.
He also received an Australian College Campus award for "Acoustic
Act of the Year." He won three awards from the leading American
harmonica magazine, Guide to The Best of The Blues Harmonicas
& Beyond: "Album of the Year" for his 2003 release
Way Down Deep Inside, "The Sweet Harmonica Award" and
"The Nasty Harmonica Award." According to the magazine's
editor, Steve Harvell, "No other artist has ever received
this number of awards for one album. Harper writes music that
goes to the very core of your soul and mind with substance and
thought provoking lyrics."
Harper has also enjoyed national television and radio exposure
Down Under. His TV special "Live at The Basement" has
been aired several times on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
and he was also featured on the ABC Radio National's "Live
on Stage" in March.
Described as "a cross between John Popper and Dave Matthews,"
Harper's unique combination of the blues harp and the didgeridoo
has created a truly Australian slant on the roots music genre.
Harper's latest CD, Way Down Deep Inside, is a journey of self
discovery and revelation which began with a chance meeting with
a Hopi Indian in Silverton, Colorado. Harper became fascinated
with the spirituality and culture of the American Natives. He
also became aware of how little he knew about the Australian Aborigines
of his homeland. He set himself on a course which completely changed
his whole concept of the indigenous culture of the land in which
he lives. Way Down Deep Inside is dedicated to the Aboriginal
people of Australia.
Harper created quite a buzz throughout the USA during his summer
2004 tour (his tenth tour of America). He played dozens of festivals,
including major ones such as the Rochester International Jazz
Festival, the Milwaukee Summerfest, the Waterfront Festival, the
Bayfront Blues Festival, and the Telluride Blues & Brews Festival.
He also performed with Gary US Bonds (known for his work with
Bruce Springsteen) who describes him as "the greatest harmonica
player in the world." Super group Journey caught one of Harper's
shows and were so blown away that they invited him to play with
them on their next tour.
Harper is the exclusive endorsee of The Bushman Harmonica series,
a brand of harmonica which was designed with Harper's unique style
of playing in mind. He will be demonstrating the Bushman's Soul's
voice harmonica throughout his upcoming North American tour. For
further information, bio and tour dates please go to Harper's
website: www.harper.biz.
|
|
