blues – Minnesota Music Hall of Fame https://mnmusichalloffame.org Thu, 29 Jan 2026 00:50:03 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://mnmusichalloffame.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/cropped-MN-hall-of-fame-logo-32x32.png blues – Minnesota Music Hall of Fame https://mnmusichalloffame.org 32 32 Cornbread Harris https://mnmusichalloffame.org/cornbread-harris/ https://mnmusichalloffame.org/cornbread-harris/#respond Mon, 05 Jan 2026 20:43:53 +0000 https://mnmusichalloffame.org/?p=2760
Inducted 2026

Cornbread Harris, born James Samuel Harris Jr. on April 23, 1927 in Chicago, is a blues singer, pianist, and composer in the Twin Cities. He is recognized as a pioneer of Minnesota rock ‘n’ roll and is the father of record producer and 2016 MMHF inductee Jimmy Jam. Harris started entertaining others on the piano while serving in World War II, and has been active in music since 1955 and is recognized as a key figure in the development of the Minneapolis Sound.

Early Life

Orphaned at Age 3: Harris lost both parents early in life and lived with foster families until he was adopted by his grandparents in Saint Paul.

Musical Influences

He was influenced by country music artists like Hank Williams and Gene Autry.

Musical Career

First Rock ‘n’ Roll Record: Harris co-wrote and performed on “Hi Yo Silver,” Minnesota’s first rock ‘n’ roll recording in 1955 with The Augie Garcia Quintet (Augie was inducted to the MMHF himself in 2025).

Genres

His repertoire includes blues, jazz, and rock, and he continues to perform in Minneapolis nightclubs into his nineties.

Mentorship

He is known for mentoring younger musicians, including Cadillac Kolstad.

Personal Life

Harris is the father of record producer Jimmy Jam (James Harris III) and has been married four times.

Awards

He received the Blues Legend Award in 2012 and a Sally Award in 2013.

Recent Works

Biography: Deeper Blues: The Life, Songs, and Salvation of Cornbread Harris, written by Andrea Swensson, was published in 2024, detailing his life and musical contributions.

Anthology Album: An album titled Cornbread Harris: Anthology was released in August 2024, celebrating his musical legacy.

 
]]> https://mnmusichalloffame.org/cornbread-harris/feed/ 0 Koerner, Ray & Glover https://mnmusichalloffame.org/koerner-ray-glover/ https://mnmusichalloffame.org/koerner-ray-glover/#respond Thu, 01 Nov 2012 19:53:59 +0000 https://mnmusichalloffame.org/?p=761

Koerner (1938-2024), Ray (1943-2002) & Glover (1939-2019)

Inducted 2012

Guitarist “Spider” John Koerner, Dave “Snaker” Ray (also guitar) and Tony “Little Sun” Glover (harmonica)– the names are legendary, and the seminal country-blues trio they formed in the early 1960s influenced an entire musical era with its passionate treatments of raw blues styling. KR&G were quite simply the greatest and most authentic white blues performers who ever emerged from anywhere at anytime. The fact that three University of Minnesota college students could sound so world-weary and with that unmistakable Southern Gothic style- it was a sound never heard before at that time- especially in The Midwest. The three met in Dinkytown, Minneapolis in the spring of 1962 and by the Fall were playing at clubs and parties in the Twin Cities. Eventually, they recorded six albums with major label Elektra Records that had an intriguing mix of string-band, rag-time and down-home blues styles. They performed at the Newport and Philadelphia Folk Festivals in the mid-1960s and with raucous enthusiasm earned fans that included John Lennon and The Doors. In 2000 and 2001- still performing as a trio after 40 years- they won the Minnesota Music Awards award in the Folk Group category.

]]> https://mnmusichalloffame.org/koerner-ray-glover/feed/ 0 Lamont Cranston https://mnmusichalloffame.org/lamont-cranston/ https://mnmusichalloffame.org/lamont-cranston/#respond Mon, 01 Nov 1999 19:23:18 +0000 https://mnmusichalloffame.org/?p=550 Lamont Cranston

Inducted 1999

Pat “Lamont Cranston” Hayes has led this legendary Twin Cities-based blues band since 1972. Lamont Cranston started out as a band named after a 1930’s radio mystery thriller character (“The Shadow Knows…”), but eventually Pat loosely adapted the name as an alias. Hailed as the best harmonica player around, Pat has also performed with many top blues and rock groups such as Muddy Waters, Albert King, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Bonnie Raitt, The Blues Brothers, and the Rolling Stones. The Lamont Cranston Band is a top-drawing blues-rock group with quite a history all over the world and over a dozen albums including 1981’s Shakedown LP recorded for major-label RCA Records.

Lamont Cranston Band website

]]> https://mnmusichalloffame.org/lamont-cranston/feed/ 0 Big Walter Smith https://mnmusichalloffame.org/big-walter-smith/ https://mnmusichalloffame.org/big-walter-smith/#respond Sun, 01 Nov 1998 19:09:09 +0000 https://mnmusichalloffame.org/?p=515 Big Walter Smith

(1930-2012)

Inducted 1998

Vocalist Big Walter Smith personified the blues in Minneapolis and St. Paul for over 25 years. His music career began long before he landed in Minnesota. Born in Oklahoma, he got his start in show business in the 1950s in a vaudeville show. In the 1960s he shared stages with B.B. King and Bobby “Blue” Band. While in the Twin Cities, he formed the band The Groove Merchants. He was a mainstay of the popular Bayfront Blues Festival in Duluth since its inaugural year in 1989. Smith was also featured at other regional festivals, including the Fargo Blues Fest, Minnesota Blues Fest in New Ulm, and Blues on the Range in Chisholm, Minnesota. Smiths’ philosophy was this: “… you don’t have to be great musician. Just working with great musicians, you’ll come up to their standards. It’ll gel.”

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