Lee Oskar
A Man and His Instrument: Dedicated to Excellence
There’s no one in the music world quite like Lee Oskar.
As a harmonica virtuoso, composer, producer, performer,
visual artist, harmonica manufacturer and ever-evolving
musical explorer, Lee is truly a creative visionary known
and loved all over the world for his unique artistic
contributions to the world.
Lee is thrilled to share his signature music with loyal
fans around the world, featuring new arrangements,
innovative compositions and well-loved hit material,
performed along with outstanding musicians selected
from the Pacific Northwest. Known as Lee Oskar &
Friends, his talented new band incorporates guitar,
keyboards, bass, drums, percussions, and saxophone to
accompany his harmonica play.
His iconic role as a founding member and lead harmonica player for the pioneer funk/
jazz band that composed and recorded such hits as “Low Rider”, “Spill the Wine”, “Why
Can’t We Be Friends”, “Cisco Kid”, “The World is a Ghetto” and many more, won him
international renown for over three decades (1969-1993). Lee Oskar and his original
band mates continue today as the LowRider Band.
Oskar's position with the band was a prominent one from their early days with singer
Eric Burdon and beyond. His signature harp solos helped to define the momentous
sound from the band's beginning in 1969, adding dashes of color to their R&B/Jazz/Rock
and Latin influences. Audiences marvel at Oskar’s improvisational wizardry, as well as his
animated stage presence.
In the words of Seattle Times critic Misha Berson, “The harmonica man can really blow,
but he can croon, too.” In addition to playing melodies, Oskar says he loves playing horn
lines and counter lines, “My harmonica playing has evolved creatively over the years. It’s
important for me to create space, not fill in space, within the music. “
The eclectic, multicultural nature of the band’s music is also evident in Oskar's solo
projects. Three stellar albums released between 1976 and 1981 (and recently rereleased
on CD, including self-titled Lee Oskar, Before the Rain and My Road, Our Road) brought
critical and popular acclaim including being voted No. 1 Instrumental Artist of the Year
for 1976 in three major industry mags: Billboard, Cashbox and Record World. The
albums, like Oskar's electrifying live performances, show the diverse influences that make
up this hard-to-categorize musical giant. A renowned composer, Oskar’s compositions
have been featured on movie sound tracks and television commercials around the world.
He has also been the recipient of many Gold and Platinum recordings and honored with
special ASCAP Writing Awards.
In addition to composing, recording and performing, Oskar runs his successful harmonica
company, Lee Oskar Harmonicas, which was introduced in collaboration with Tombo
Mfg. of Japan in 1983. Today, Lee Oskar Harmonicas have become a household name with
sales that are well-established and growing at a phenomenal rate worldwide.
Oskar is dedicated to spreading the love of harmonica play to instrumentalists of all
kinds, styles and levels as well as singer-songwriters. To this end, he has created an easyto-follow
QuickGuide educational system to help musicians readily incorporate the
harmonica into their music for elevated variety and artistry. Visit:
www.leeoskarquickguide.com
Oskar continues in his passion for composing and playing music and looks forward to
sharing many new projects that are currently in the works.
As a longtime believer that “painting is like composing music, it comes from the same
place,” Oskar is also an acclaimed visual artist whose stunning and dramatic works
capture the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest through boldly contrasting elements
set against vividly colored tonal backgrounds. For more information, visit:
www.leeoskarpaintings.com