The podcast that profiles great harmonica players and technicians from around the world
Nov. 18, 2021

Rory McLeod interview

Rory McLeod interview

Rory Mcleod joins me on episode 49.
Rory is a modern day wandering minstrel . A multi-instrumentalist ‘folk singing’ troubadour, Rory has travelled far and wide, his trusty harmonica (plus an assortment of other instruments) has been with him every step of the way, including working as a musical clown in Mexico.
His first band was ‘Have Mercy’, formed jamming in the markets of London alongside Steve Baker and another harmonica player. Rory has jammed and gone onto collaborate with a wide range of different performers around the world, including Michelle Shocked from the US and Australian Aboriginal Kev Carmody. From his travels he has picked up tunes which have armed his harmonica repertoire with complex rhythms and unique angles.
Rory won the Edinburgh Festival Street Busker of the Year and was the Texas Harmonica Champion of 1981.

Links:

Rory's website:
http://www.rorymcleod.com/

Bandcamp page:
https://rorymcleod.bandcamp.com/music

Buy a Sheng Chinese Harmonica:
https://harmonicas-direct.com/product/sheng/

Road Diaries:
http://www.rorymcleod.com/diaries/list.htm


Videos:

Have Mercy ‘Boodlam’ album:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOkOZUD9GNg

NHL Festival 2011 with glass and telephone call:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqDqHkA-e2w

Loves Like A Rock:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4gFDlm4oe0

Short interview on YouTube: Bluesman don’t really sing about their Grandmas:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XPXxQDukBg


Some of the harmonica songs on Rory's albums (including the ones played in the podcast):

Album:
Angry Love
Farewell welfare

Album: Kicking the sawdust
Baksheesh
Harmonicas dream

Album: Footsteps and Heartbeats
Love like a Rock
Moments shared
Take me home

Album: Travelling Home
India matea
Black Brown and White

Album: Lullabies for big babies
Come with me when I go
Long lost friend

Album: Mouth to mouth
Miners Picket dance
Sandpaper blues
One track mind  (with have mercy)

Album: Brave Faces
Klezmer tune: The Disciple of the Rabbi from Trisk.
Cut in Pay
Emperor’s new clothes

Album: Swings and Roundabouts
Lassoing the bees

Album: Songs for big little people
Train
Deep breath waltz
Winds March (played on Sheng Zheng)
Balloon dance
Direction song
Feather race

Album: Gusto
Disturbing The comfortable
Galloway girl
Wrong side of the wall

Single:
Didn’t he ramble


Podcast website:
https://www.harmonicahappyhour.com

Donations:
If you want to make a voluntary donation to help support the running costs of the podcast then please use this link (or visit the podcast website link above):
https://paypal.me/harmonicahappyhour?locale.x=en_GB

Podcast sponsors:
This podcast is sponsored by SEYDEL harmonicas - visit the oldest harmonica factory in the world at www.seydel1847.com  or on Facebook or Instagram at SEYDEL HARMONICAS
and Blows Me Away Productions: http://www.blowsmeaway.com/