Artist description Pat "Hatrack" Gallagher's musical experience encompasses three genres of American music: jazz, folk and blues. Pat believes that his wide variety of musical experience enables him to improvise appropriately and expressively within many musical contexts. As he crosses over each of those genres, he is able to blend elements of each musical idiom.

Music Style Blues, Jazz

Musical Influences Sleepy John Estes, Roosevelt Sykes, Big Joe Turner, Sonny Terry, Pegleg Sam Jackson, Bukka White, Furry Lewis, Willie Dixon, Louis Armstrong, Eubie Blake, Toots Thielemans

Artist History Pat grew his musical blues roots by listening to country blues and Chicago style blues performers such as Little Walter and Pegleg Sam Jackson. He spent some time with Pegleg Sam learning to play harmonica before Pegleg died. Pat has performed with guitarist T.J. Wheeler over the past twenty years as they toured extensively across the country together performing in San Francisco, Memphis, New Orleans, and New York. During their travels they met some legendary blues performers such as Furry Lewis, Bukka White and Sleepy John Estes. They also opened concerts for Roosevelt Sykes and Big Joe Turner.After resettling in New England in 1975, Hatrack & T.J. continued performing in the region as a duo and with the blues band, T.J. Wheeler & the Smokers. Hatrack performed with the Smokers at the 1997 Newport Jazz Festival in Saratoga, NY, and at the Portsmouth Blues Festival every year since its inception. Pat also hosts an acoustic roots blues jam every Tuesday night at the Colonial Inn of Concord MA.Hatrack released his debut CD in October 1998 entitled "It's All the Blues To Me" combining blues and jazz standards, covering ground from Duke Ellington to Sonny Boy Williamson.___ One of the most talented delta blues guitarists in the country, and the only musician to ever receive a W.C. Handy Award in Education, T.J. Wheeler is a true ambassador of the blues and jazz. This educator, Portsmouth Blues Festival founder, recording artist and much awarded singer/guitarist has played before thousands at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and has traveled extensively in Scandinavia, where he has developed a strong fan base. The Smokers, like Wheeler, are veterans in their field and have appeared before audiences at clubs, festivals and weddings. Especially adept at balancing diverse musical interests, this quartet presents programs of music ranging from the classic swing and jazz of Duke Ellington and George Gershwin to Dixieland, Latin and contemporary dance music including Motown, soul and rock and roll. T.J. Wheeler & The Smokers first cd released by BluesBank Recordings of Portsmouth NH in 1995 entitled Storybook. Their latest cd "The Next Right Thing" was released in December 2000 by High Desert Records of Las Vegas NV.

Group Members Pat "Hatrack" Gallagher- harmonica & vocals, TJ Wheeler - guitar & vocals, David Maxwell - piano, Melvin Graham - bass, Gordon Grottenthaler - drums.

Instruments harmonica, guitar, piano, bass, drums

Albums It's All The Blues To Me, Next Right Thing

Press Reviews " The CD's a swinging thing. I like the combination, the blues and jazz. The thing is real funky and is in the groove." Ron DellaChiesa, host of The Jazz Songbook, WGBH Radio ___ With a name like Hatrack Gallagher, you'd better be good. And that'sprecisely the case with this local singer and harmonica whiz, whose deftplaying boasts an uncanny swing. From the jump-blues of "Indiana," to thevivid harp solo in "Nica's Dream," Gallagher sounds like a born showman.He negotiates fast shuffles ("Tell Me Mama") and more pensive tracks ("MyOne and Only Love") with equal facility. He can be overly hammy (as on thesuggestive "Peach Tree"), but then knock you out with his emotional readingof jazz standard "Harlem Nocturne." Steve Morse, Boston Globe___ Gallagher himself is unique. At home on both the chromatic harmonica and diatonic (blues) harmonica, he follows his ears and plays whatever moves him. The warmth of his jazz playing on the chromatic is reminiscent of Toots Thielemans (the undisputed king of jazz harmonica). On the blues side, he names Peg Leg Sam as his inspiration. Dave Ritchie, Worcester PhoenixPat "Hatrack" Gallagher has been a longtime veteran of the blues scene. Singing and playing a broiling harmonica, Gallagherdisplays his considerable blues harp chops on the instrumental cuts, "Indiana", "Harlem Nocturne", "C Jam Blues", and theself-penned "Pass The Hatrack". However, it's the tracks that feature his vocals that are the most engaging on this finelycrafted album. "Up The Line", "Too Young To Die", "Tell Me Mama", "Peach Tree" and "It Don't Mean A Thing" are delivered and sold!!. All because of Gallagher's convincing, friendly, Lyle Lovett-style vocals. Metronome Magazine ___ Harmonica Players are a nickel a rack these days and most sound like someone else. The Acton-MA basedPat "Hatrack" Gallagher is different. Here is an individual voice that plays with lyrical musicality and adventurous spirit.His album, "It's All The Blues To Me" is a refreshing departure from the blues marching pack.Chet Williamson, Worsester Magazine

Location Acton, MA - USA

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