The 60s Rock scene was the beginning of a shift in music. It was in that decade that we saw the evolution of rock. From that starting point, rock music was no longer a direct genre, but an umbrella term for all of the types of music that came from rock.
Everything from psychedelic rock, to surf rock, to blues rock began to pave the way for the birth of more genres and sub-genres. Even though electronic sounds began to infiltrate music, the 60s were still full of real instruments and real musicians behind those instruments.
A surprising number of singers and harmonica players popped up in songs that you will likely recognize even today.
Who was a famous singer in the 60s?
There were a lot of bands and artists that were popular in the 60s. You could ask just about anyone who is dedicated to playing instrument about musicians from the 60s and they will have at least an artist or two with admirable playing style.
Robert Plant
It would be a shame to not to mention Robert Plant somewhere on this list.
Plant was a part of over half a dozen bands and groups starting clear back in the late 60s. Some projects were more well-known than others; these projects included: Hobstweedle, The Honeydrippers, Band of Joy, and the most famous, Led Zeppelin.
Even those who do not often listen to Led Zeppelin at least know of some of their songs. Even if you wouldn’t typically pick up a Led Zeppelin album, as a harmonica enthusiast, you should give a few of their songs a listen. Songs like Custard Pie and You shook me come to mind as major hits in the harmonica world.
But if you’re only going to give one song a shot, it has to be When the Levee Breaks.
John Lennon
John Lennon of The Beetles is a known and appreciated name. He was credited for doing the majority of the vocals for the band and all the harmonica pieces. The band has a monstrous list of popular songs, but there are a few with harmonica parts that we truly love.
If you need some inspiration check out Little Child and Please Please Me. If nothing else, take a second to listen to I’m A Loser.
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is regarded as one of the greatest songwriters of all time. His particular interest in American Folk and Blues music makes him an ideal musician for harmonicists to look at when looking for new material to practice or inspiration for creating.
There is no narrowing down which songs are best to look at, as all of his content is a goldmine. A few we are particularly fond of are As I Wen Out One Morning and I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight.
And keeping on theme, here’s one that would be a shame to not listen to for a couple minutes.
Final Remarks
Keep looking for inspiration from the great artists that helped create the playing styles we love today. The more you look to these artists, the more driven you will be in your own playing. And who knows, maybe you’ll be on one of these lists someday.