Magic Dick | |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Richard Salwitz |
| Also known as | Magic Dick |
| Born | (1945-05-13)May 13, 1945 (age 79) New London, Connecticut, U.S. |
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| Occupation | Musician |
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| Years active | 1968–present |
| Labels | Rounder |
| Formerly of | The J. Geils Band |
| Website | magicdick |
Richard Salwitz[1] (born May 13, 1945), known asMagic Dick, is an American musician, noted for playing theharmonica forthe J. Geils Band.[2] In addition to the harmonica, Salwitz plays thetrumpet (the first instrument he learned)[3] andsaxophone.
Salwitz was born inNew London,Connecticut. He attendedWorcester Polytechnic Institute, inWorcester,Massachusetts, where he metJohn "J." Geils andDanny Klein and became a founding member ofthe J. Geils Band in 1965.[4]
Salwitz's harmonica playing became a major and distinctive element in the J. Geils Band's sound during their hard-rocking 1970s heyday. His performance of "Whammer Jammer" on the band's live albumFull House has been particularly noted.[5][6] InThe Rolling Stone Record Guide (1979), music criticDave Marsh described Salwitz as possibly "the best white musician to ever playblues harmonica."[4] He was often referred to as "Magic Dick and his Lickin' Stick".[7]
After the J. Geils Band dissolved in 1985, Salwitz spent time working on a harmonica design of his own, the "Magic Harmonica", for which he received a patent with co-inventor Pierre Beauregard.[4][8] Beauregard was the director of theCambridge Harmonica Orchestra, of which Salwitz was also a member.[9]
In 1992, Salwitz reunited with his old friend and bandmate J. Geils and formed the band Bluestime, withSteve Ramsey ondrums,Jerry Miller onguitar, and Rory MacLeod on bass. MacLeod was later replaced byMichael "Mudcat" Ward, who played with the band for several years before leaving to pursue other interests. Ward was subsequently replaced by bassist John Turner. Steve Ramsey left the band in 2000 and was replaced by Gordon Grottenthaller on drums until the band's final show on New Year's Eve 2004 at the Bullrun in Shirley, MA. The band's music was a fusion ofChicago blues and classicjazz.
The band released two records on theRounder Records label:Bluestime (1994) andLittle Car Blues (1996). They toured heavily through 2002, and played a handful of shows in 2003 as both a solo act and as part ofB.B. King's Bluesfest. They played only 1 show in 2004 on New Year's Eve which was their final show.
Salwitz contributed his harmonica playing and some vocals to a live recording,Command Performance, by the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Revue, featuring theTommy Castro Band,Deanna Bogart,Ronnie Baker Brooks, and others. He toured as part of the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Revue on different blues cruises and again on land-based shows during 2007 through 2008.[10]
In 2014, Salwitz began collaborating with guitarist and vocalistShun Ng.[1] "Immediately taken by his arranging, his composing and more particularly by his performance", Salwitz formed a friendship with Shun,[3] who was born inChicago, raised inSingapore, and based inBoston.[1][3] They formed an acoustic duo and perform and record music together regularly. They have toured together as part of the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Revue, with artists such asBuddy Guy,Irma Thomas andAllen Toussaint.
Magic Dick is based in theBoston,Massachusetts area.[3] He isJewish.[11][12][13]
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