Zac Harmon,
by Roy Layer
Zac Harmon, at the Ottawa Bluesfest on July 16, 2009.
Born and raised in the heart of Jackson, Mississippi, Zac Harmon is a true disciple of the music that emanated from the city's historic Farish Street district. Universally recognized as the home of such great blues legends as the late, great Elmore James, Farish Street was quite simply the impetus for the blues, as it was the center of culture, commerce and creativity during Zac Harmon's early years.
While in high school and college, Harmon gigged as a guitarist for the likes of Z.Z. Hill, McKinley Mitchell, Dorothy Moore, King Floyd and Sam Myers. Relocating to L.A. in the early eighties, he worked as a studio musician, then established himself as a writer and producer, crafting songs for the likes of the OJays, Freddie Jackson, Karyn White, Alexander O'Neal, Black Uhuru, and the Whispers.
While composing and performing music for a movie score, Harmon was finally compelled to pursue his longtime dream to return to his roots and record his first blues project. The result was 2002's Live at Babe & Ricky's Inn, an electrifying testimonial to the Mississippi blues. The album showcased the sound at its best and introduced Zac Harmon as a true torchbearer for the next generation of the blues. In 2004, Zac Harmon & the Midsouth Blues Revue, won the Blues Foundations prestigious International Blues Challenge (IBC) title of Best Unsigned Band".
Zac Harmon continues to enthral audiences and garner praise from the media and fans alike.
