George "Mojo" Buford

George Carter Buford, Jr. (November 10, 1929 – October 11, 2011),[1] known as Mojo Buford, was an American blues harmonica player best known for his work in Muddy Waters's band.

George "Mojo" Buford
Birth nameGeorge Carter Buford, Jr.
Born(1929-11-10)November 10, 1929
Hernando, Mississippi, United States
DiedOctober 11, 2011(2011-10-11) (aged 81)
Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
GenresBlues
InstrumentsHarmonica
Years activeEarly 1950s–2011
LabelsVarious

Biography

Buford relocated from Hernando, Mississippi, to Memphis, Tennessee, in his youth, where he studied the blues.[2] He relocated to Chicago in 1952,[3] forming the Savage Boys, which eventually was known as the Muddy Waters, Jr. Band. They substituted for Waters at local nightclubs while he was touring.[2]

Buford first played in Waters's backing band in 1959, replacing Little Walter, but in 1962 moved to Minneapolis to front his own band and to record albums.[2] In Minneapolis he gained the nickname Mojo, because of audiences requesting him to perform his cover version of "Got My Mojo Working."[4] Buford returned to Waters's combo in 1967 for a year, replacing James Cotton.[4] He had a longer tenure with Waters in the early 1970s and returned for the final time after Jerry Portnoy departed to form the Legendary Blues Band.[2]

He also recorded for the Mr. Blues label. These recordings were later reissued by Rooster Blues, Blue Loon Records, and the British JSP label.[2]

Buford died on October 11, 2011, at the age of 81, in Minneapolis, after a long hospitalization.[2][5]

Discography
  • Exciting Harmonica Sound of Mojo Buford, BluesRecordSoc, 1963
  • Mojo Buford's Chicago Blues Summit, Rooster Blues, 1979
  • State of the Blues Harp, JSP, 1989
  • Harpslinger, Blue Loon, 1993
  • Still Blowin' Strong (Blue Loon, 1996)
  • Home Is Where My Harps Is, Blue Loon, 1998
  • Champagne & Reefer, Fedora Records, 1999
  • Blues Ain't a Color, Kpnbeat, 2005[6]
  • Mojo Workin’, Sundazed, 2020

With Otis Spann

With Muddy Waters

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See also

References
  1. Eagle, Bob; LeBlanc, Eric S. (2013). Blues: A Regional Experience. Santa Barbara, California: Praeger. p. 228. ISBN 978-0-313-34423-7.
  2. Skelly, Richard. "George "Mojo" Buford: Biography". AllMusic.com. Retrieved 2014-01-26.
  3. Russell, Tony (1997). The Blues: From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray. Dubai: Carlton Books. p. 96. ISBN 1-85868-255-X.
  4. "George Mojo Buford, a Mississippi Musician". Mswritersandmusicians.com. 1929-11-10. Retrieved 2014-01-26.
  5. "Mojo Buford, Former Muddy Waters Harmonica Player, Has Passed". Ameriblues.com. Archived from the original on April 2, 2012. Retrieved October 11, 2011.
  6. "George 'Mojo' Buford: Discography". AllMusic.com. Retrieved 2014-01-26.
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