Bud Boblink:

Chicago-born Bud Boblink fell in love with the harmonica when he was 13 years old. It was then that he and two friends, Bob Laas and Al Fontana, formed a trio, The Harmonica Bobcats. Within six years, they were touring Europe, entertaining the Armed Forces and performing on Radio Free Europe. Their tour continued into the Far East, Japan, and Korea.

Over the years, Boblink has worked with many harmonica groups, including The Mike Hanley Trio, Jammercats, Harmonica Classics, The Yellow Pine Trio, The FunTymers, Windy City Harmonica Trio, Johnny Puleo’s Harmonica Gang, and the Harmonicats. His friends, the Harmonicats, were a tremendous influence on him and his music. Bud feels honored to have worked with Jerry Murad’s, Don Les’, and Al Fiore’s Harmonicats. Boblink has made appearances on radio, recordings, television, and many stages across the country.

In addition, he has shared the stage with many individual harmonica artists such as Pete Pedersen, Howard Levy, Harry Bee, Madcat, Lee Oskar, Stagg McMann, Cappy, Sandy German, Frank Warner, Don Klein, Buzz Krantz, and Joe Filisko. For several years, Bud has joined Don Allen and Dan Wilson to judge and perform at the Yellow Pine Harmonica Festival in Idaho. In 1998, Bud and Frank Warner joined Pete Pedersen to record ten of Pete's original compositions.

Self-taught Bud Boblink plays all types of harmonicas, but specializes in the chord harmonica when playing with groups. Popularized by the performance of his single act, he enjoys blending vaudeville-style comedy, magic and familiar music into a crowd-pleasing, one-man show.

Bud is a very active member of the Windy City Harmonica Club, and is also a member of the Buckeye State Harmonica Club, Harmonica-Plus of Virginia, and is a Lifetime Honorary Member of the Society for the Preservation and Adavncement of the Harmonica (SPAH). In 2004, SPAH recognized his contributions to harmonica music with the Hamonica Player of the Year Award. Bud lives in Northwest Indiana with his wife, Barbara.

See some newspaper articles about Bud…

And comments from his listeners…

Bob Laas, Al Fontana, and Bud Boblink: The Harmonica Bobcats, on Chicago radio

Jerry Murad, Bud Boblink and George Miklas: Jerry Murad’s Harmonicats

 

Al Fiore’s Harmonicats play the All-Star Game at Wrigley Field

Bud passes the harmonica bug on to his grandkids.