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 BIOGRAPHY
All Music Guide: Gary Primich Biography
Born - 4/20/1958 in Chicago, IL
Genre - Blues
Style - Modern Electric Harmonica Blues
Active Decade: '90s
Gary Primich was born April 20, 1958 in Chicago and raised
in nearby Gary, Indiana. He learned harmonica from the masters at the Maxwell Street
Market in nearby Chicago as a teen. By the early '80s, however, Primich became
dissatisfied with the blues scene in Chicago, and in 1984, shortly after he earned his
degree in radio and television from Indiana University, he moved to Austin, Texas.
After landing a job at the University of
Texas doing electrical work, he began to work as a sideman at Austin area
clubs. In 1987, he ran into former Frank Zappa / Mothers of Invention
drummer Jimmy Carl Black, who had also relocated to Austin, and the two
formed a band, the Mannish Boys. Their debut album on the now - defunct
Amazing Records label was called A L'il Dab'll Do Ya. Though Black left
the band, Primich led the Mannish Boys through another album for Amazing,
Satellite Rock. Both albums attracted sufficient attention to Primich that
he was able to record under his own name for the Amazing label, and in
1991 he cut his self - titled debut for the label. He followed it up with
My Pleasure in 1992.
After Amazing Records folded, he was picked
up by the Chicago - based Flying Fish label. Primich recorded two equally
brilliant albums for Fish, and they include Travelin' Mood (1994) and Mr.
Freeze (1995). On his last two albums for Flying Fish (a label that has
since been acquired by Rounder Records), Primich's talents as a songwriter
really start to come through, and as of this writing, he was without a
label, but still nurturing his fan base through almost constant touring.
Richard Skelly
"Gary Primich plays harmonica with that wide amplified tone that
draws on the rich tradition of the classic Chicago harmonica masters
without being confined by that style. He incorporates jazz and country
influences and is not afraid to take risks. He is expanding the blues
without losing touch with its roots. Charlie Musselwhite said "I
really like his approach, his tone, and the way he experiments and
stretches out… he’s not just playing the same old stuff we’ve all
heard way too much of." By Ray Stiles
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