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Listen to Johnny Copeland on Bluesflac.

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Johnny Copeland

1. Artist Header

Artist name: Johnny Copeland
Country / region: United States
Active years: 1950s–1990s
Primary role(s): Guitarist, singer, songwriter, bandleader

2. Overview

Johnny Copeland was an American blues guitarist and singer associated with Texas blues. He began performing professionally in the postwar era and recorded intermittently over several decades. Copeland released albums under his own name for independent and major blues labels and remained active as a touring and recording artist through the 1990s.

3. Style and Genre (Established Terms Only)

Primary genres:

  • Blues

Associated styles:

  • Texas blues

  • Electric blues

Instrumentation:

  • Electric guitar

  • Vocals

  • Bass

  • Drums

Notes:
Copeland’s recordings are rooted in electric Texas blues traditions, featuring guitar-led ensemble arrangements typical of post-1960s amplified blues performance practices.

4. Career Outline (Factual Timeline)

  • Born in Texas, United States

  • Began professional performance activity in the 1950s

  • Recorded singles and albums across several decades

  • Signed with established blues labels during later career phases

  • Continued touring and recording activity into the 1990s

5. Discography (AllMusic)

Studio Albums

  • Texas Twister — 1981

  • Down on Bending Knees — 1988

  • Texas Twister Live — 1989

  • Ain’t Nothin’ to Me — 1990

  • The Devil’s Hand — 1993

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Listen to Rick Estrin & The Nightcats on Bluesflac.

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Rick Estrin & The Nightcats

1. Artist Header

Artist name: Rick Estrin & The Nightcats
Country / region: United States
Active years: 1980s–present
Primary role(s): Blues band (harmonica-led ensemble)

2. Overview

Rick Estrin & The Nightcats is an American blues band led by singer and harmonica player Rick Estrin. The group emerged in the late 1980s and has released multiple albums under its own name. The band has maintained a consistent presence on the blues recording and touring circuit for several decades, with changing personnel over time.

3. Style and Genre (Established Terms Only)

Primary genres:

  • Blues

Associated styles:

  • Electric blues

  • Chicago blues

  • West Coast blues

Instrumentation:

  • Harmonica

  • Vocals

  • Electric guitar

  • Bass

  • Drums

Notes:
The band’s recordings are rooted in electric blues traditions, featuring harmonica-led arrangements supported by standard blues rhythm-section instrumentation. Song structures and ensemble formats align with modern electric blues performance practices.

4. Career Outline (Factual Timeline)

  • Formed in the United States in the late 1980s

  • Began releasing albums under the band name in the early 1990s

  • Recorded for established blues labels

  • Performed regularly at blues clubs and festivals in the United States and internationally

  • Continued recording and touring activity into the 2010s and 2020s

5. Discography (AllMusic)

Studio Albums

  • Twisted — 1992

  • One Wrong Turn — 1997

  • You’re Fixin’ to Die — 2001

  • Contemporary — 2006

  • Way Outta Here — 2009

  • One Wrong Turn: Live — 2010

  • Night Vision — 2014

  • Groovin’ in Greaseland — 2019

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Listen to Colin James on Bluesflac.

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Colin James

1. Artist Header

Artist name: Colin James
Country / region: Canada
Active years: 1980s–present
Primary role(s): Guitarist, singer, songwriter, bandleader

2. Overview

Colin James is a Canadian guitarist, singer, and songwriter associated with blues, blues rock, and roots-oriented music. He began recording as a solo artist in the late 1980s and has released numerous albums under his own name. James has maintained a long-running recording and touring career in Canada and internationally.

3. Style and Genre (Established Terms Only)

Primary genres:

  • Blues

  • Blues rock

Associated styles:

  • Electric blues

  • Roots rock

  • Contemporary blues

Instrumentation:

  • Electric guitar

  • Vocals

  • Bass

  • Drums

  • Keyboards (in band arrangements)

Notes:
James’ recordings are guitar-led and use blues and blues-rock song structures consistent with post-1960s electric blues and roots-rock traditions.

4. Career Outline (Factual Timeline)

  • Began professional music activity in Canada during the 1980s

  • Launched a solo recording career in the late 1980s

  • Released albums on major and independent labels

  • Maintained an active touring and recording schedule through subsequent decades

  • Continued releasing studio albums into the 2020s

5. Discography (AllMusic)

Studio Albums

  • Colin James — 1988

  • Sudden Stop — 1990

  • Colin James and the Little Big Band — 1993

  • Bad Habits — 1995

  • National Steel — 1998

  • Fuse — 2000

  • Traveler — 2003

  • Limelight — 2005

  • Watermark — 2008

  • Blue Highways — 2016

  • Miles to Go — 2018

  • Open Road — 2020

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Listen to James Harman on Bluesflac.

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James Harman

1. Artist Header

Artist name: James Harman
Country / region: United States
Active years: 1960s–2010s
Primary role(s): Singer, harmonica player, songwriter, bandleader

2. Overview

James Harman was an American blues singer and harmonica player. He was active as a performer and recording artist for several decades and released albums under his own name as well as with band projects. Harman was based primarily in the United States and remained active on the blues circuit until the later years of his life.

3. Style and Genre (Established Terms Only)

Primary genres:

  • Blues

Associated styles:

  • West Coast blues

  • Electric blues

  • Rhythm and blues

Instrumentation:

  • Harmonica

  • Vocals

  • Electric guitar

  • Bass

  • Drums

Notes:
Harman’s recordings are rooted in postwar electric blues traditions, particularly West Coast blues. His work features harmonica- and vocal-led ensemble arrangements supported by standard electric blues rhythm sections.

4. Career Outline (Factual Timeline)

  • Born in the United States and began performing professionally in the 1960s

  • Worked as a singer and harmonica player in blues bands before forming his own groups

  • Released albums under his own name beginning in the late 1970s

  • Recorded for independent blues labels

  • Continued touring and recording through the 2000s and 2010s

5. Discography (AllMusic)

Studio Albums

  • Thank You Baby — 1979

  • Those Dangerous Gentlemen — 1987

  • Extra Napkins — 1989

  • Bonetime — 1991

  • Do Not Disturb — 1996

  • Lonesome Moon Trance — 2003

  • Mo’ Na’Kins, Mo’ Blues — 2013

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Listen to Mike Zito on Bluesflac.

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Mike Zito

1. Artist Header

Artist name: Mike Zito
Country / region: United States
Active years: 1990s–present
Primary role(s): Guitarist, singer, songwriter, bandleader

2. Overview

Mike Zito is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter associated with electric blues and blues rock. He began recording as a solo artist in the 2000s and has released numerous albums under his own name. Zito has also been active as a bandleader and collaborator and continues to record and tour internationally.

3. Style and Genre (Established Terms Only)

Primary genres:

  • Blues rock

  • Electric blues

Associated styles:

  • Contemporary blues

  • Blues-based rock

Instrumentation:

  • Electric guitar

  • Vocals

  • Bass

  • Drums

  • Keyboards (in band arrangements)

Notes:
Zito’s recordings are guitar-led and use electric blues and blues-rock song structures consistent with post-1960s amplified blues traditions.

4. Career Outline (Factual Timeline)

  • Began professional music activity in the United States during the 1990s

  • Launched a solo recording career in the 2000s

  • Released albums on independent and established blues labels

  • Performed and recorded as a bandleader and collaborator in blues-rock projects

  • Maintains an active touring and recording schedule into the 2020s

5. Discography (AllMusic)

Studio Albums

  • Today — 2008

  • Pearl River — 2009

  • Greyhound — 2011

  • Gone to Texas — 2013

  • Keep Coming Back — 2014

  • Make Blues Not War — 2016

  • First Class Life — 2018

  • Resurrection — 2021

  • Life Is Hard — 2023

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Listen to Joanna Connor on Bluesflac.

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Joanna Connor

1. Artist Header

Artist name: Joanna Connor
Country / region: United States
Active years: 1980s–present
Primary role(s): Guitarist, singer, songwriter, bandleader

2. Overview

Joanna Connor is an American guitarist and singer associated with electric blues and blues rock. She became active as a professional musician in the 1980s and has maintained a long-running recording and touring career. Connor has released multiple albums under her own name and has been active in blues club and festival circuits in the United States and internationally.

3. Style and Genre (Established Terms Only)

Primary genres:

  • Electric blues

  • Blues rock

Associated styles:

  • Chicago blues

  • Contemporary blues

Instrumentation:

  • Electric guitar

  • Vocals

  • Bass

  • Drums

  • Keyboards (in band arrangements)

Notes:
Connor’s recordings are rooted in electric blues traditions, featuring guitar-led ensemble arrangements consistent with post-1960s amplified blues and blues-rock performance practices.

4. Career Outline (Factual Timeline)

  • Began professional music activity in the United States during the 1980s

  • Established a performing base in Chicago, Illinois

  • Released early independent recordings before signing with established blues labels

  • Maintained a steady recording and touring schedule through subsequent decades

  • Continued releasing studio albums and performing live into the 2020s

5. Discography (AllMusic)

Studio Albums

  • Believe It! — 1990

  • Living on the Road — 1993

  • Rock & Roll Gypsy — 1995

  • Slidetime — 1998

  • Nothing but the Blues — 2002

  • The Pushover — 2006

  • Fight — 2016

  • Rise — 2019

  • 4801 South Indiana Avenue — 2021

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Listen to The Chris O’Leary Band on Bluesflac

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The Chris O’Leary Band

1. Artist Header

Artist name: The Chris O’Leary Band
Country / region: United States
Active years: 2000s–present
Primary role(s): Blues band (harmonica-led ensemble)

2. Overview

The Chris O’Leary Band is an American blues band led by harmonica player and singer Chris O’Leary. The group has released multiple albums under its own name and has maintained an active recording and touring presence within the contemporary blues circuit. The band performs as a guitar-, harmonica-, and rhythm-section-based ensemble.

3. Style and Genre (Established Terms Only)

Primary genres:

  • Blues

Associated styles:

  • Electric blues

  • Contemporary blues

Instrumentation:

  • Harmonica

  • Vocals

  • Electric guitar

  • Bass

  • Drums

Notes:
The band’s recordings are rooted in electric blues traditions, featuring harmonica-led arrangements supported by standard blues rhythm-section instrumentation. Song structures and ensemble formats align with modern electric blues performance practices.

4. Career Outline (Factual Timeline)

  • Formed in the United States in the 2000s

  • Began recording and performing as a bandleader-driven project

  • Released multiple studio and live albums under the band name

  • Performed at blues clubs and festivals in the United States and internationally

  • Continued recording and touring activity into the 2020s

5. Discography (AllMusic)

Albums

  • Mr. Used to Be — 2010

  • Live at the Turning Point — 2011

  • Waiting for the Phone to Ring — 2013

  • Gonna Die Tryin’ — 2015

  • Dangerous Ground — 2018

  • Hard Line — 2020

  • Blues Get Off My Shoulder — 2022

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Listen to Kirk Fletcher on Blueflac.

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Kirk Fletcher

1. Artist Header

Artist name: Kirk Fletcher
Country / region: United States
Active years: 1990s–present
Primary role(s): Guitarist, songwriter, band member

2. Overview

Kirk Fletcher is an American guitarist associated with electric blues and blues rock. He has worked extensively as a band member and touring musician and has also released recordings under his own name. Fletcher has been active in the blues and blues-rock scene since the 1990s and continues to perform and record internationally.

3. Style and Genre (Established Terms Only)

Primary genres:

  • Electric blues

Associated styles:

  • Blues rock

  • Contemporary blues

Instrumentation:

  • Electric guitar

  • Bass

  • Drums

  • Keyboards (in band settings)

Notes:
Fletcher’s recordings and performances are rooted in electric blues traditions, using guitar-led ensemble formats typical of post-1960s blues and blues-based rock music.

4. Career Outline (Factual Timeline)

  • Began professional music activity in the United States during the 1990s

  • Worked as a guitarist for established blues and blues-rock artists

  • Became a touring and recording member of several internationally known blues bands

  • Released solo recordings under his own name while continuing collaborative work

  • Maintains ongoing touring and session activity

5. Discography (AllMusic)

Studio Albums

  • Shades of Blue — 2010

  • My Blues Pathway — 2020

  • Holding On — 2022

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listen to Hound Dog Taylor on Bluesflac

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Hound Dog Taylor

1. Artist Header

Artist name: Hound Dog Taylor
Country / region: United States
Active years: 1940s–1970s
Primary role(s): Guitarist, singer, bandleader

2. Overview

Hound Dog Taylor was an American blues guitarist and singer associated with electric blues. He became active as a recording artist later in his career and released albums under his own name in the early 1970s. Taylor performed primarily as a bandleader with his group, the HouseRockers.

3. Style and Genre (Established Terms Only)

Primary genres:

  • Blues

  • Electric blues

Associated styles:

  • Chicago blues

Instrumentation:

  • Electric guitar

  • Vocals

  • Bass

  • Drums

Notes:
Taylor’s recordings are rooted in amplified Chicago blues traditions. His work features guitar-led ensemble arrangements typical of postwar electric blues performance practices.

4. Career Outline (Factual Timeline)

  • Born in Mississippi, United States

  • Relocated to Chicago, Illinois, during adulthood

  • Performed regularly in Chicago blues clubs for many years

  • Began recording albums under his own name in the early 1970s

  • Released multiple studio albums with his band, the HouseRockers

5. Discography (AllMusic)

Studio Albums

  • Hound Dog Taylor and the HouseRockers — 1971

  • Natural Boogie — 1974

  • Beware of the Dog! — 1976