Paul Vineyard

Birthdate: May 21, 1976 , Jackson , MI .

Current Band: Third Contact

Past Bands: The Blues Cannibals, Blue Steel Meltdown, Full Spectrum, Shirley King & SKB

Gear: Hohner Special 20's for the lower registers and horn sections, Lee Oskars for the upper registers and high energy swing/jump styles, and Hohner Blues Harps for the Delta/New Orleans style.

Recordings you are on: I have played with B.B. King's daughter, Shirley King, at the DuSable Museum of African American History in Chicago , a PBS children's special on blues in Detroit , and various private recording projects.

Favorite singer (living): Talisha Holmes

Favorite singer (deceased): Howlin' Wolf

Favorite harmonica player (living): Mr. Downchild ( Cleveland OH ) and James Cotton

Favorite harmonica player (deceased): Paul Butterfield and Junior Wells

First record: "Scatman" Carruthers, "Blueberry Hill"

First blues record: T-Bone Walker , "Can't Remember"

Music career focus: To close my eyes and be an instrument of the music, and to be remembered for the emotions I gave to the crowd.

Paul Vineland: To create an ability to perform with such precision and timing, one can spend a lifetime simply listening to the great artists of our times, only to find that rather than mimic their styles, we create a style that is our own. This is when the soul of an artist becomes the driving force behind our art. I owe a lot to talent, but even more to the people who have encouraged me along the way. I wish to pay homage to those who paved the way before me, and hope to encourage those who follow