Magic Dick

Richard Salwitz[1] (born May 13, 1945), known as Magic Dick, is an American musician, noted for playing the harmonica for the J. Geils Band. In addition to the harmonica, Salwitz plays the trumpet (the first instrument he learned)[2] and saxophone.

Magic Dick
Background information
Birth nameRichard Salwitz
Also known asMagic Dick
Born (1945-05-13) May 13, 1945
New London, Connecticut, US
GenresHard rock, Chicago blues, jazz
Occupation(s)Musician
InstrumentsHarmonica, trumpet, saxophone
Years active1968-present
LabelsRounder
Associated actsThe J. Geils Band, Shun Ng
Websitemagicdick.com

Early life

Salwitz was born in New London, Connecticut. He attended Worcester Polytechnic Institute, in Worcester, Massachusetts, where he met John "J." Geils and Danny Klein and became a founding member of the J. Geils Band in 1965.[3]

Career

The J. Geils Band

Salwitz's harmonica playing became a major and distinctive element in the J. Geils Band's sound during their hard-rocking 1970s heyday. His performance of "Whammer Jammer" on the band's live album Full House has been particularly noted.[4][5] In The Rolling Stone Record Guide (1979), music critic Dave Marsh described Salwitz as possibly "the best white musician to ever play blues harmonica."[3] He was often referred to as "Magic Dick and his Lickin' Stick".[6]

After the J. Geils Band dissolved in 1985, Salwitz spent time working on a harmonica design of his own, the "Magic Harmonica," for which he received a patent with co-inventor Pierre Beauregard.[3][7]

Bluestime

In 1992, Salwitz reunited with his old friend and bandmate J. Geils and formed the band Bluestime, with Steve Ramsey on drums, Jerry Miller on guitar, and Roy McCloud on bass. McCloud was later replaced by Michael "Mudcat" Ward, who played with the band for several years before leaving to pursue other interests. Ward was subsequently replaced by bassist John Turner. Steve Ramsey left the band in 2000 and was replaced by Gordon Grottenthaller on drums until the band's final show on New Year's Eve 2004 at the Bullrun in Shirley, MA. The band's music was a fusion of Chicago blues and classic jazz.

The band released two records on the Rounder Records label: Bluestime (1994) and Little Car Blues (1996). They toured heavily through 2002, and played a handful of shows in 2003 as both a solo act and as part of B.B. King's Bluesfest. They played only 1 show in 2004 on New Year's Eve which was their final show.

Additional blues music

Salwitz contributed his harmonica playing and some vocals to a live recording, "Command Performance", by the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Revue, featuring the Tommy Castro Band, Deanna Bogart, Ronnie Baker Brooks, and others. He toured as part of the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Revue on different blues cruises and again on land-based shows during 2007 through 2008.[8]

In 2014, Salwitz began collaborating with guitarist and vocalist Shun Ng.[1] "Immediately taken by his arranging, his composing and more particularly by his performance", Salwitz formed a friendship with Shun,[2] who was born in Chicago, raised in Singapore, and based in Boston.[1][2] They formed an acoustic duo and perform and record music together regularly. They have toured together as part of the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Revue, with artists such as Buddy Guy, Irma Thomas and Allen Toussaint.

Personal life

Magic Dick is based in the Boston, Massachusetts area.[2]

Magic Dick is Jewish.[9][10][11][12]

References
  1. Killeen, Wendy (March 22, 2016). "Musical minds connecting in Salem". Boston Globe. Retrieved April 3, 2016.
  2. Cote, Mike (June 3, 2015). "Making a connection: Harmonica wizard of J. Geils Band fame teams up with Shun Ng". New Hampshire Union Leader. Retrieved April 3, 2016.
  3. Spiardi, Dana (May 13, 2015). "'Magic Dick' Salwitz: Still Whammin' and Jammin' at 70". HipQuotient.com. Retrieved April 3, 2016.
  4. Review of Live Full House at AllMusic
  5. "How to Play "Whammer Jammer" by Magic Dick on harmonica". WonderHowTo.com.
  6. Woodstra, Chris; Bush, John; Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (2007). All Music Guide Required Listening: Classic Rock. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 76. Retrieved 2018-11-07.
  7. "Magic Dick". AllMusic.com. Retrieved April 3, 2016.
  8. Magic Dick playing with the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Revue in Kansas City, 2009 on YouTube.
  9. "The Jews Who Rock Wiki." Admin. www.jewcy.com. Published November 15, 2008. Accessed December 18, 2016.
  10. "Jews in the News: Andrew Garfield, Jessica Chaffin and Leonard Cohen." www.jewishtampa.com. Tampa Jewish Community Centers & Federation. Published November 1, 2016.
  11. Stars of David: Rock'n'roll's Jewish Stories. Benarde, Scott R. Brandeis; 1st edition: July 1, 2003. Page 5. Accessed December 19, 2016.
  12. "Stage Names of Jewish Rockers." Grinspan, Izzy. www.jewsrock.org. Accessed December 19, 2016.
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