Bob Corritore

A lifelong devotee of the blues, Bob Corritore was born in Chicago and built his reputation as both a producer and harmonica player. At age 12 he discovered Muddy Waters on the radio, an encounter that prompted him to start amassing blues recordings, practice the harmonica, and frequent live performances. His deepening ties to the Chicago blues community introduced him to many of the city’s musicians, which in turn opened doors for club appearances and the launch of his own imprint, Blues Over Blues. Those activities soon broadened into studio production work alongside such Chicago figures as Fred Below and Pinetop Perkins. In 1981 Corritore relocated to Phoenix, where he assembled a band alongside Louisiana Red and oversaw the recording of the latter’s album Sittin’ Here Wonderin’. He also produced R.L. Burnside’s projects, assembled various blues anthologies, served as a sideman harmonica player for road artists including Willie Dixon and Otis Rush, performed with regional ensembles, and hosted a weekly blues program on KJZZ. Only in 2010 did Corritore begin issuing his own recordings in earnest, signing with Delta Groove and delivering Harmonica Blues that same year. A rapid succession of releases followed over the ensuing five years, alternating between duet projects—among them collaborations with Kid Ramos, Tail Dragger, John Primer, and Henry Gray—and solo outings such as the 2014 album Taboo. Two years after Taboo he joined Big Jon Atkinson for the album House Party at Big Jon’s.