| Lee Oskar | |
|---|---|
Lee Oskar (standing 3rd from right) with War in 1976 |
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Oskar Levetin Hansen |
| Born | 24 March 1948 |
| Origin | Copenhagen, Denmark |
| Genres | Rock, Funk, Blues, Jazz |
| Occupations | Musician, Songwriter, CEO |
| Instruments | Harmonica |
| Years active | 1966–present |
| Associated acts | War, S.O.B. (Same Old Band), Lowrider Band |
| Website | http://www.leeoskar.com/ |
Lee Oskar (born March 24, 1948, Copenhagen, Denmark)[1] is a Danish harmonica player,[2] notable for his contributions to the sound of the rock-funk fusion group War, which he formed with Eric Burdon,[3] his solo work, and as a harmonica manufacturer.[4] He currently plays with Lowriderband , with Harold Brown , Howard Scott and B.B.Dickerson
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Born in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1948, Oskar was six years old when a family friend gave him his first harmonica.[5] "I came from an area where every kid on the block had a harmonica," he remembers.[6] He grew up listening to Danish radio, enjoying all types of music and cites Ray Charles as the biggest influence from that period.[7] When he was 17, Oskar decided that the United States was where a harmonica player should make his career,[6] so he moved to New York at the age of 18 with little more than a harmonica in his pocket.[5] With no money, Oskar played harmonica in the streets of New York.[6] Eventually arriving in Los Angeles, California, via Toronto and San Francisco, Oskar soon met and joined forces with Eric Burdon who had recently disbanded The Animals and was searching for new collaborators.[8] Together, the harp-playing Dane (born Oskar Levetin Hansen[9]) and the British blues-rock singer made the rounds of the L.A. clubs, eventually hooking up with the soon-to-be members of War.[10] Burdon agreed to the novel idea of pairing up Oskar's harmonica with Charles Miller's saxophone to form a horn section. This team-up set War apart from the start, giving Oskar room to display the full spectrum of his improvisational prowess. Oskar's harmonica magic was always a vital element in War's music and performances. Oskar continued with War for 24 years non-stop. At the end of 1992 he made the decision to end his association with that group in order to have the time to pursue his solo career.[10]
Lee Oskar who has been described as "a virtuoso,"[11] "the harmonica whiz"[12] "a war hero,"[13] "legendary,"[5] "musical wizardry,"[14] and as "generally regarded to be among the best rock-blues-soul harmonica players."[15] His role as a founding member and former lead harmonica player of the pioneer funk-jazz group War won him international renown for over two and a half decades (1969–1993). Oskar's signature solos helped to define the War sound from the band's beginning in 1969, adding dashes of color to its R&B, jazz, rock, and Latin influences.[14] Oskar's position with War was a prominent one from its early days with singer Eric Burdon onward.[16] "My playing has become more aggressive over the years," he says. "In the beginning, my role was playing horn lines. Today, it's evolved to the point where I'm playing a lead instrument. If I'm not doing a solo, I'm playing counterlines—I try to paint within certain spaces in the music to help create the overall picture."
The eclectic, multicultural nature of War's music is also evident in Oskar's solo projects.[17] Three well regarded albums released between 1976 and 1981 (and recently rereleased on CD) brought critical and popular acclaim[18] including being voted No. 1 Instrumental Artist of the Year for 1976 in not one, but three major industry mags: Billboard, Cashbox and Record World.[19] The albums, like Oskar's live performances, show the diverse influences of his musicality. A composer, his compositions have been featured on movie sound tracks and television commercials. He has been the recipient of many Gold and Platinum recordings and honored with special ASCAP Writing Awards.
In 1983 Oskar formed a company to manufacture high-quality harmonicas. His company, Lee Oskar Harmonica, sells harmonicas suited to many different styles of music, including blues, folk, rock, R&B and country. The harmonicas themselves are manufactured by Tombo.[1] Oskar's harmonica company celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2008 at the NAMM Show (Oskar playing one of his harmonicas at the 2008 NAMM Show).
Several modern musicians, such as Mike Tetrault, cited Oskar as an important influence. When Junior Wells died, he was buried with a tray of Lee Oskar harmonicas.[20]