Mad Dog Friedman

The Colorado harmonica legend, MAD DOG FRIEDMAN, has long been renowned for his blistering leads, funky rhythms, and raw and soulful blues . When Mad Dog was 16 years old Jack Bruce of the Cream playing Train Time inspired him to take up the harmonica, and he has never put it down since then. His early influences include John Mayall , Son Boy Williamson, Sonny Terry, Big Walter Horton, Big Mama Thorton, James Cotton , Mark Wenner , Norton Buffalo and Taj Mahal. More recently Sugar Blue, Jason Ricci , Carlos del Junco and Howard Levy never cease to amaze him. Mad Dog's song writing talent is exploding with the creative camaraderie and stylistic diversity of Papa Juke . Over the years Mad Dog has jammed with Ed Cassidy (the drummer of 1960's band, Spirit), Jason Ricci's New Blood, Sugar Blue, Michael Burks, Philip Walker and the Incredible String Band. Also on many separate occasions Mad Dog has played harp with Bob Margolin, Luther "Guitar Junior" Johnson and Willie "Big Eyes" Smith -- all long time members of the former Muddy Waters' Band. Although originally from St. Louis , Mad Dog is a seasoned veteran of the Colorado music scene. After several tours of the state in the 1970's with the back porch blues acoustic duo, King Comfort, Mad Dog started expanding his stylistic repertoire in series of different of bands. In the 1980's and 1990's he opened for such acts as Marshal Tucker, Jerry Jeff Walker, Pure Prairie League, Country Joe McDonald, Asleep at the Wheel and Firefall. More recently Mad Dog has played at various blues festivals where the headliners included Koko Taylor, Room Full of Blues and Jason Ricci and the New Blood.