Harmonica Curtis Blake

Curtis Blake was born in Princeton, MN on February 23, 1958. He was the youngest of four children. He moved to Minneapolis at age 6 and was raised by his mother. His sister and brother would play recordings by B.B. King, The Rolling Sones and, "a lot of the British Invasion groups of the 60's." At 12, he attempted to play the guitar. "I had to put it down because I couldn't keep it in tune! It was a piece of junk!!" Curtis continues; "In Raleigh, NC, I picked up a harmonica and was sitting on the front steps of my brother's house with another guitar my brother found (better junk). An old blues musician walked by with a six-pack from the local package store. "He picked up the guitar, tuned it, and showed me a few guitar licks. He saw my harmonica and taught me a few harp licks as well. I wish I knew his name. That was the beginning of my career as a blues musician."

When I was 20 I met Lazy Bill Lucas, aka "The Man With The News About The Blues." The local cats would hang out a Bill's place all day to play the Blues. That's where I met Mojo Buford, Jo Jo Williams, Odell (bass player), and Sonny "Cat Daddy" Rodgers. My first real gigs were with Lazy Bill at the University of Minnesota, and the "Blue Sundays" series at Sebastian's Night Club.

"I've been influenced by Little Walter, Big Walter, Jimmy Reed, Junior Wells, Lee Oskar, Sugar Blue, Charlie Musselwhite, Sonny Terry and especially Paul Butterfield. Stylistically, I'm a blend of all these Blues greats."

Curtis quickly became an 'in-demand' player. His harp work was a major reason for Sonny Rodgers and the Cat Scratchers winning the W.C. Handy Award in 1991. Curtis is a featured artist at the annual "Blues Harmonica Extravaganza" at the Whiskey Junction in Minneapolis. He has also performed at the Chicago Blues Festival and Kingston Mines with Jimmy Johnson, and as a featured artist with Charlie Love. Curtis' discography includes recording sessions with Percy Strother, Bobby Johnson, Lady Blue, and Mojo Buford.

Presently, Curtis is performing in the Midwest with "Curtis Blake Band", "Greazy Gravy", "Barbara Leshoure" and "The Brothers Curtis". Expanding his considerable talent to include piano and composition, Curtis is currently supporting his most recent CD,  "It's You That's Got To Go" by The Brothers Curtis.

Curtis Blake is available for bookings as a solo artist, harmonica-for-hire for gigs, corporate events, recording sessions and more.

Be sure to check out the Media page for Music, YouTube Videos and a Photo Gallery.

NEW The Brothers Curtis CD: Delta Blues from the Mississippi Headwaters
(Listen to Tracks on Media Page)