Dale Robertson |
Dale is an experienced musician, having played harmonica for about forty years now. At age fourteen, Dale was forced out of his home by his stepfather and left to live on the streets. He was given a harmonica by a fellow street person as a tool for earning spare change. Since then, Dale has played every day. In the early days it was a way to earn money for sustenance and his way of making friends.
Dale learned some of his chops from Peter "Madcat" Ruth. Dale used to practice on the “Diag”, in the campus of the University of Michigan. Madcat would bicycle by, pull out a harp, and play a riff for him to practice.
When he was 16, Dale met James Cotton at a club in Ann Arbor. They hung out together when James was in town and from him Dale learned a great deal.
The harmonica has been like a good friend, says Dale. He has traveled back and forth across the United States playing his harp. It has taken him around the world, to Italy, France, Switzerland, Germany, Mexico, and the Philippines.
Dale has played with:
The Falcons, The Ann Arbor Blues Band, Dale and The Positones, The Magic Mojo Band, Strings and Things, The Shindig, C. C. and the Bad Luck Boys, GQ and The Blues Crew, The Terraplanes, Cathy "Diva" Davis, Albert Collins, Luther Allison, Taj Mahal, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, James Cotton, Cee Cee Collins, The Alley Kats, Spence Beaman, Motor City Josh, Jimmy Johnson, Randy Volen, Casey Jones, George Winston, Christopher Leigh, Billy Ferris, Scott Morgan, Al Hill, Gary Quackenbush, Pat Savage, Mike Katon, Bob Cantoo, Hiawatha Bailey, Nikki Stix, Jackson Spires, A.C. Reed, Ricky Nelson, James Cloyd, Ben Davis, David Picard, The Butler Twins, Bullet Bob, Brophy Dale, Gary Markley, and many others too numerous to mention.
Songs Often Performed:
1) ICE CREAM MAN - John Brim
2) RED HOUSE – Jimi Hendrix
3) BROKE AND HUNGRY - Blind Lemon Jefferson
4) HONKEY TONK WOMEN – Rolling Stones
5) I CAN’T QUIT YOU BABE - Willie Dixon
6) LA GRANGE – ZZ Topp
7) DUST MY BROOM – Elmore James
8) THAT WILL NEVER DO – Little Milton
9) HEY BO DIDDLEY – Bo Diddley
10) HOOCHIE COOCHIE MAN – Muddy Waters
11) HAND OUT OF MY POCKETS – Otis Spann
12) WHAMMER JAMMER – Juke Joint Johnny
13) HARD-DRIVIN’ MAN – J. Geils Band
14) WHO TOLD YOU – Ronnie Earl
15) MY BABE – Little Walter
16) SWEET HOME CHICAGO – Robert Johnson
17) MESSIN’ WITH THE KID – Junior Wells
18) YONDER’S WALL – Robert Johnson
19) DOWN HOME BLUES – ZZ Hill
20) FIRST I LOOK AT THE PURSE – The Contours
21) HOMEWORK - Otis Rush
22) SKY IS CRYIN’ – Elmore James
23) FLIP, FLOP, & FLY – Big Joe Turner
24) BLACK MAGIC WOMAN – Peter Green
25) I FEEL GOOD – James Brown
26) MONEY That’s What I Want – Barrett Strong
27) MULE KICKIN’ IN MY STALL – Otis Spann
28) CALEDONIA – Louis Jordan
29) AIN’T THAT A SHAME – Fats Domino
30) LITTLE RED ROOSTER – Howlin Wolf
31) ONE WAY OUT – Elmore James
32) ROCK ME BABY – Muddy Waters
33) RUNNIN’ HIDIN’ – Jimmy Reed
34) TOBACCO ROAD - John D. Loudermilk
35) CHROMATIC INSTRUMENTAL – Dale Robertson
36) DIATONIC INSTRUMENTAL – Dale Robertson
37) JUKE-ISH INSTRUMENTAL – Dale Robertson
38) THE CREEPER – James Cotton
39) WITCHCRAFT – Dale Robertson
40) COME ON – Dale Robertson
41) IT WILL FOLLOW YOU HOME - Dale Robertson
42) LORD HAVE MERCY - Dale Robertson
43) COCAINE - Dale Robertson
44) YOU PLAY ME FOR A FOOL - Dale Robertson
45) BIPOLAR BLUES – Dale Robertson
46) SPIDERS IN THE MONKEYHOUSE - Dale Robertson
47) HARASSMENT - Dale Robertson
48) TAKING CHANCES - Dale Robertson
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