Photo: Mad Dog Friedman (from his Facebook page) Imagine my surprise to open my Colorado Blues Society’s newsletter and to find Mad Dog Friedman as its featured member! COMBO member Mad Dog Friedman started playing blues harmonica at the age of 15. In 1967, Jack Bruce’s version of “Train Time” shook his world, and he followed the trail of blues harmonica from Cream to John Mayall to the country blues. His long-time harmonica heroes include Sonny Terry and Sonny Boy Williamson II, and his love for rural southern blues and rhythm harmonica has only grown through the years. In his teenage years, Mad Dog listened primary to classical music intermixed with country blues greats like Lightnin’ Hopkins, Big Bill Broonzy, Big Joe Williams and Bukka White. In 2018, with encouragement from long-time friend and music partner, Jenn Cleary, Mad Dog formed Mad Dog Blues to pursue his lifelong dream of an original acoustic blues band.
Nothing happens in a straight line, and Mad Dog learned to play the traditional electric blues harmonica that was popular at the time. In 1976, when Mad Dog formed the King Comfort Band out of Bailey, Colorado, Carey Bell (Muddy Waters’ Band) graciously showed Mad Dog how to set up an amp and mic to play Chicago-style harmonica. Throughout the years Mad Dog helped to found two popular Colorado electric blues bands, Papa Juke (2008 – 2018) and Harmonica Loowinski (2002 -2007) and played regularly with the likes of Dale Cisek, Bob Ottermann, Larry Bridges, Doc Dougherty, Dan Crecco, Christine Webb, John Weeks, Shack, Doc Seeley and Paul Trunko. Mad Dog still plays electric as part of Verses the Inevitable (winner of the Mile High Blues Society’s Best Self-Produced Album of 2016). His duo with Louisiana Sam Gillis, Blue Lightning (Winner of the Colorado Blues Society’s Best Self-Produced CD of 2018), was a turning point for Mad Dog and marked his return to traditional delta and hill country blues.
> > > > > > > > >
Go here to read the full interview/article:
http://www.coblues.org
http://www.coloradocountryblues.com
and their Facebook page is http:www.facebook.com/coloradocountryblues
(And, oh, yes – you CAN belong to more than one music-oriented group!)