Jerry Portnoy
Encyclopedia
Jerry Portnoy is an American
harmonica
blues
musician
, who has toured with Muddy Waters
and Eric Clapton
.
's Maxwell Street
neighborhood where his family owned a store. His exposure to the blues began there with Little Walter
and other Chicago Blues
masters.
Portnoy began his professional musical career as part of Muddy Waters
' backing band
in the early 1970s. Portnoy replaced George "Mojo" Buford
in 1974, and he stayed with the band for six years. During his tenure with Waters, he appeared on the album
s, I'm Ready, Muddy "Mississippi" Waters Live, and King Bee. In 1980, Portnoy, bassist Calvin Jones
, pianist Pinetop Perkins
, and drummer Willie Smith, all left Waters to form The Legendary Blues Band
.
Throughout the early 1980s, Portnoy played with the Legendary Blues Band, recording Life of Ease and Red Hot & Blue. In 1986, he left the band and briefly retired. By the end of 1987, he had returned to the scene, founding the Broadcasters with Ronnie Earl
, but two years later, he and Earl had a falling out, causing Portnoy to leave the group. Portnoy formed his own band, the Streamliners in 1989. Two years later, the band released their debut album, Poison Kisses.
Between 1991 and 1993, Portnoy was part of Eric Clapton's All-Star Blues Band. After leaving Clapton's band in 1993, he played a number of concerts, releasing his second album, Home Run Hitter, in 1995. Blues Harmonica Masterclass appeared six years later.
He made a special guest appearance on Bo Diddley
's 1996 album
, A Man Amongst Men, playing harmonica on the track "I Can't Stand It".
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
harmonica
Harmonica
The harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, who has toured with Muddy Waters
Muddy Waters
McKinley Morganfield , known as Muddy Waters, was an American blues musician, generally considered the "father of modern Chicago blues"...
and Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton
Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE, is an English guitarist and singer-songwriter. Clapton is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a solo artist, and separately as a member of The Yardbirds and Cream. Clapton has been referred to as one of the most important and...
.
Biography
Portnoy grew up in ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
's Maxwell Street
Maxwell Street
Maxwell Street is an east-west street in Chicago, Illinois that intersects with Halsted Street just south of Roosevelt Road. It runs at 1330 South in the numbering system running from 500 West to 1126 West. The Maxwell Street neighborhood is considered part of the Near West Side and is one of the...
neighborhood where his family owned a store. His exposure to the blues began there with Little Walter
Little Walter
Little Walter, born Marion Walter Jacobs , was an American blues harmonica player, whose revolutionary approach to his instrument has earned him comparisons to Charlie Parker and Jimi Hendrix, for innovation and impact on succeeding generations...
and other Chicago Blues
Chicago blues
The Chicago blues is a form of blues music that developed in Chicago, Illinois, by taking the basic acoustic guitar and harmonica-based Delta blues, making the harmonica louder with a microphone and an instrument amplifier, and adding electrically amplified guitar, amplified bass guitar, drums,...
masters.
Portnoy began his professional musical career as part of Muddy Waters
Muddy Waters
McKinley Morganfield , known as Muddy Waters, was an American blues musician, generally considered the "father of modern Chicago blues"...
' backing band
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
in the early 1970s. Portnoy replaced George "Mojo" Buford
George "Mojo" Buford
George "Mojo" Buford was an American blues harmonica player, best known for his work in Muddy Waters' band.-Biography:...
in 1974, and he stayed with the band for six years. During his tenure with Waters, he appeared on the album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
s, I'm Ready, Muddy "Mississippi" Waters Live, and King Bee. In 1980, Portnoy, bassist Calvin Jones
Calvin Jones (musician)
Calvin James Jones, Sr. was an American trombonist, bassist, pianist, bandleader, composer and educator. Born in Chicago, Illinois, raised in Memphis, Tennessee, Jones moved to Washington, D.C. in the 1970s where he remained until his death from a heart attack in October 2004...
, pianist Pinetop Perkins
Pinetop Perkins
Joseph William Perkins , known by the stage name Pinetop Perkins, was an American blues musician, specializing in piano music...
, and drummer Willie Smith, all left Waters to form The Legendary Blues Band
The Legendary Blues Band
The Legendary Blues Band were an American Chicago blues band, formed in 1980 after the breakup of Muddy Waters' former backing band.-Biography:...
.
Throughout the early 1980s, Portnoy played with the Legendary Blues Band, recording Life of Ease and Red Hot & Blue. In 1986, he left the band and briefly retired. By the end of 1987, he had returned to the scene, founding the Broadcasters with Ronnie Earl
Ronnie Earl
Ronnie Earl is an American blues guitarist and music instructor.-Career:Earl collected blues, jazz, rock and soul records while growing up. He studied American History at C.W...
, but two years later, he and Earl had a falling out, causing Portnoy to leave the group. Portnoy formed his own band, the Streamliners in 1989. Two years later, the band released their debut album, Poison Kisses.
Between 1991 and 1993, Portnoy was part of Eric Clapton's All-Star Blues Band. After leaving Clapton's band in 1993, he played a number of concerts, releasing his second album, Home Run Hitter, in 1995. Blues Harmonica Masterclass appeared six years later.
He made a special guest appearance on Bo Diddley
Bo Diddley
Ellas Otha Bates , known by his stage name Bo Diddley, was an American rhythm and blues vocalist, guitarist, songwriter , and inventor...
's 1996 album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
, A Man Amongst Men, playing harmonica on the track "I Can't Stand It".