Norton Buffalo

by Jason AnkenyOne of the most versatile harpists in contemporary music, Norton Buffalo earned his greatest success in blues circles, but also proved himself adept in areas ranging from rock to country to even new age. Born September 28, 1951 in Oakland, California, he earned perhaps his greatest success as a member of the Steve Miller Band, a position he held for over two decades beginning in the mid-1970s; as a session player, Buffalo also lent his harmonica skills to records from performers including the Doobie Brothers, Bonnie Raitt, Johnny Cash and Elvin Bishop. He issued his solo debut, Lovin' in the Valley of the Moon, on Capitol in 1977, followed a year later by Desert Horizon. After spending the 1980s primarily as a sideman, Buffalo teamed with blues slide guitarist Roy Rogers in 1991 for R&B, which earned a Grammy nomination for the track "Song for Jessica"; the duo's follow-up, Travellin' Tracks, appeared a year later. Additionally, Buffalo led his own band, the Knockouts.