Bud Boblink on the Harmonica
  Bud Boblink on the Harmonica
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Bud Boblink on the radio at 15 with friends Bob Laas, and Al Fontana

a harmonica life

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 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 in the original Harmonicats were a tremendous influence on him and his music. Bud felt honored to have worked with Jerry Murad’s, Don Les’, and Al Fiore’s Harmonicats.

In addition, he shared the stage with many individual harmonica artists such as Pete Pederson, Howard Levy, Harry Bee, Madcat, Lee Oskar, Stagg McMann, Cappy LaFell, Sandy German, Mo Vint, Frank Warner, Don Klein, Buzz Krantz, and Joe Filisko. For years, Bud teamed with Don Allen and Dan Wilson to judge and perform at the Yellow Pine Harmonica Festival in Idaho. Bud and Frank Warner joined Pete Pederson to record ten of Pete's original compositions, and the Yellow Pine Trio took him to harmonica-thirsty crowds in Malaysia and Singapore.

Bud spent years performing on radio, recordings, television, cruise ships, and stages across the world. Self-taught Bud Boblink played all types of harmonicas, but specialized in the two-foot-long chord harmonica when playing with groups. Many considered him the very best anywhere on this unique musical instrument.
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The Windy City Harmonica Trio performing at Pick-Staiger Center, Northwestern University
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Live at Wrigley Field for the 1990 All-Star Game with Al Fiore's harmonica group.
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Bud and Barbara at Indiana University.

Popularized by the performance of his single act, he enjoyed blending family-style comedy, magic and familiar music into a crowd-pleasing, one-man show.

Bud was a Lifetime Honorary Member of the Society for the Preservation and Advancement of the Harmonica (SPAH), and SPAH recognized his contributions to harmonica music with the Harmonica Player of the Year Award. Bud passed away in August 2023 at the age of 86.
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