Harmonica Ace NORTON BUFFALO, Dead at 58

MUSIC NEWS -  Norton Buffalo, the harmonica maestro who appeared on recordings with the Steve Miller Band, Bonnie Raitt, Doobie Brothers, so many and most recently with Kenny Loggins and Hawaiian slack key guitarist George Kahumoku Jr. died Friday (10/30) at a hospital near his home in Paradise, CA.  Buffalo, 58, was best known for his work with the Steve Miller Band, had been diagnosed with lung and brain cancer in September.

He was born in Oakland, CA on September 28, 1951 and had been a member of Miller's legendary platinum-selling band for 34 years, appearing on such hit Miller records as 1977's "Book of Dreams," which gave us Steve Miller Band classics "Jet Airliner" and "Jungle Love."

"There are some people who pass through this world who are so unique and special they defy description and Norton Buffalo was one of those people," Miller said in a post on his web site.

Buffalo also placed his distinctive harmonica riffs to many other high-profile albums, including the Doobie Brothers' 1978 Grammy winner "Minute By Minute." He also had his own band, the Stampede, in the late '70s and recorded a pair of albums released on Capitol Records. In 1992, he received a Best Country Instrumental Performance Grammy nominee for "Song for Jessica," a track from his 1991 duet CD with his longtime friend and collaborator, guitarist Roy Rogers, released on San Francisco's Blind Pig Records. Buffalo also formed and played with such bands as Norton Buffalo and the Knockouts and Norton Buffalo and Friends.

Buffalo is survived by his wife of eight years, Lisa Flores, a guitarist with whom he also performed.

Fans and musicians plan to honor Buffalo at a concert in early 2010. "A Celebration of Life: A Tribute to Norton Buffalo".  The event will feature the Steve Miller Band, the Doobie Brothers, Bonnie Raitt, Huey Lewis and others that worked with him over the years. The concert will take place January 23 at the Fox Theater in Oakland. CA. More information @ apeconcerts.com