Born on May 13, 1945 in New London, Connecticut, Magic Dick arrived in post-war America to the Atomic Bomb, World Peace, Bebop and Rhythm & Blues. Dynamic change and growth in the arts and technology would be the hallmark of this era and by the time he was eight Dick knew that music, painting and physics would be his primary interests. The trumpet was his constant companion and served as a springboard to the harmonica in his sophomore year at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, Massachusetts where he met J. Geils and Danny Klein and became a founding member of the J. Geils Blues Band in 1968.
By 1969 the band had moved to Boston and joined forces with Peter Wolf, Stephen Jo Bladd and Seth Justman. In 1970 the J. Geils Band recorded their first of nine albums for Atlantic Records and toured incessantly, jamming with many of the blues greats including Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Junior Wells and James Cotton. The band developed a reputation for 'getting crazy' and devastated audiences for fifteen years with their high-energy style of Rhythm & Blues and Rock & Roll. These recordings showcase Magic Dick's innovative harmonica playing, which served as a strong distinguishing sound for the band.
A series of five albums for EMI America followed culminating in the Platinum album Freeze Frame, released in 1981, which ascended to 1 on the Billboard album charts, spent four weeks there, and remained on the charts for a total of 70 weeks. The album's first single, "Centerfold," spent six weeks at 1 in Billboard. Freeze Frame's title track followed "Centerfold," peaking at 4.
Subsequent to The J. Geils Band, Magic Dick performed as a guest artist harmonica soloist for Patty Smyth, Debbi Harri, Full Circle, The Del Fuegos and Ryuici Sakamota, among others. In 1992, Magic Dick and J. Geils formed the band Bluestime featuring Magic Dick on harmonica and vocals and J. Geils on guitar.
Magic Dick's years of experimentation and searching for new sounds and stylings for the harmonica cultivated a strong desire to improve the flexibility and quality of the harmonica so as to better fit into contemporary music yet retain the best characteristics of harmonica sound and cultural history. This development continues to this day in the recordings of Bluestime on Rounder Records, which feature prototypes of Magic Harmonicas’ expanding the role of the harp now, and for the future. Magic Dick's intense drive to extend and enlarge the cultural history of the harmonica is shared in a balanced and fruitful union with Magic Harmonicas co-inventor and partner Pierre Beauregard.
Hello Magic Man, Thank you for the message response you sent to me. It was a nice surprise to hear from you. Please stop by anytime. You know.......you're still my fav. :) I hope you had a fantastic weekend. Hugs, Debbie
Thanks a lot for the add. I'm glad to be one of your myspace friend. I'm just waking up, drinking a coffee and listening to a good "Hot Lefthover"!!! That's the good way to begin a new day. Tom
Many thank's Dickey! You have rocked my world with your whammin' and jammin' many moons now. I hope for many more to come. Long live J Geils Band and Magic Dick with his funky lickin' stick! Drop a line sometime! Later on my man, and thank's for adding me as a friend ... I am. Rock On!
MD Looking forward to seeing you and playing in August. I think I will have my upright on the August dates and the Sept/Oct Tour which will be great to play on your set and maybe some of Deanna's tunes as well. Hope all is well and I will talk to you later. Peace, Scot
Thank you very much for adding me to your friends list. May your heart and soul, always be filled with beautiful music~~ Peace, Joy, Love and many Blessings to you! Mary~Louise
A Friend Is Like A Four Leaf Clover: Hard To Find And Lucky To Have! Have A Great And Wonderful Week! And I Hope You Feel Good! A Big Hug For Your Friendship!
thanks for adding me on your friends list I'm honored. when I was 17 a guy fron chicago told me here's a song you'll never be able to play... whammer jammer. It took me awhile but I do play it. you have been a huge Influence on my early years of playing harp. thanks for keepin it alive and now it's blues time all the best Harpo Gelder
Hi Magic Man, Stopping by to wish you a great day, and an even greater upcoming weekend. Do you ever read these things? Just wondering. (chuckle) Hugs, kisses, and all that good stuff.... Debbie
Hi Magic. I just became a grandmother, can you believe it? Seems like yesterday I was eating mushrooms and popping Quaalude's at a J. Geil's concert, watching you belt out "Whammer Jammer". :=)
BEEN LISTENING TO THE FULL HOUSE CD ALL DAY , WHEN I USED TO SEE YOU GUYS NOBODY EVEN CAME CLOSE, YOU ALL WERE ALWAYS ON FIRE,MUCH RESPECT TO YOU,TONY-SR.
