Email This Post
Legendary harmonica player had Valley ties
Staff Report
Norton Buffalo, who found international fame from his home base in Glen Ellen, died of cancer a week ago. He was 58.
The legendary harmonica player lived in Glen Ellen for many years, and made numerous club and festival appearances on the local scene even as his reputation – touring with the Steve Miller Band and playing on 180 multi-genre albums – grew internationally.
“I’ve known Norton since I was a kid in the 70’s. He was an excellent person and a world class musician — one of the best harmonica players in the world,” said Gerard Serafini, owner of Sonoma Valley Music. “For me, he went from setting up some of my very first gigs to being a customer in my store.
Buffalo was born in Oakland. He broke onto the Bay Area music scene in the early 1970’s, playing with Elvin Bishop and Clover, Huey Lewis’ first band. He went big time with the Steve Miller Band, playing harmonica and singing harmony, a gig he held for more than 30 years. He was touring with the Miller band this summer when he first became ill.
He released his first solo album, “Lovin’ In the Valley of the Moon” in 1977. Later, his children would attend Dunbar School in Glen Ellen.
A testament to Buffalo’s skill and range was the list of musicians he worked with over the years. The who’s who includes The Doobie Brothers, Bette Midler, Johnny Cash, Jerry Garcia, Kate Wolf and Bonnie Raitt. His solo on Raitt’s ‘Runaway’ “was one of the great harp solos of all time,” according to the Los Angeles Times.
A celebrated bluesman and rocker, Buffalo was intrigued by music of all kinds; he collaborated with Hawaiian slack-key guitarist George Kahumoku Jr. on an album that won a Grammy in 2007.
Buffalo also formed and performed with bands familiar to Northern California club marquees, such as Norton Buffalo and the Knockouts and Norton Buffalo and Friends.
He died October in Paradise, CA, where he had moved with his wife and fellow musician, Lisa Flores.
“He’s going to be missed.” Serafini said.
160 views