Bob Corritore

Early life and education Corritore was born in Chicago, Illinois, United States, At age 12, he began a love affair with the blues after hearing a Muddy Waters song on the radio. A second release, Big Leon Brooks' Lets Go To Town, followed in 1982.

Phoenix years In 1981, Corritore relocated to Phoenix, Arizona, where he was joined a few months later by Louisiana Red. The pair worked together in duo and full-band formats and lived together for a short period of time before Red relocated to Germany.

Two years later, Corritore recruited former Howlin’ Wolf drummer Chico Chism to relocate from Chicago to Phoenix for various band and studio projects, a relationship that endured until Chism's death in 2007. That release established Corritore as both a harmonica player and producer in the blues community in a career that has included several subsequent releases under his own name, often sharing billing with other traditional blues artists, including John Primer, Gray, Kid Ramos and Dave Riley.

As a harmonica player, he has guested on albums by R.L. Burnside, Pinetop Perkins, Dave Mason, Zac Harmon, Louisiana Red, Nappy Brown, Diunna Greenleaf, Bob Margolin, Bill Howl-N-Madd Perry, Dave Specter, Smokin’ Joe Kubek, Mannish Boys, Kilborn Alley Blues Band, Tomcat Courtney, Big Pete Pearson, Sam Lay, Mud Morganfield, Johnny Tucker, Willie “Big Eyes” Smith, Ben Levin, Tom Walbank, Deb Ryder, Adrianna Marie, Sugaray Rayford, Tony Holiday, The Freemonts and several others. And he has served as producer for releases by R.L. Burnside, Mojo Buford, Kim Wilson, William Clarke, Chism and compilations released by several labels. The Wilson album -- Smokin' Joint, released on M.C. Records in 2001 -- was a finalist in the best traditional blues category at the 44th Annual Grammy Awards. He has released albums on the HighTone, Blue Witch, Delta Groove and SWMAF labels, as well as his current home, VizzTone.

Corritore has appeared at major blues events around the world including Chicago Blues Festival, Lucerne Blues Festival and Bellinzona Blues Sessions (Switzerland), Edmonton Blues Festival and Calgary Blues Festival (Canada), King Biscuit Blues Festival and Big Blues Bender (U.S.), Bossa Y Jazz and Pocas de Blues (Brazil), Cognac Blues Festival and Bay-Car Blues Festival (France), Marco Fiume Blues Passions Festival (Italy), Moulin Blues Ospel (Holland), Blues At The Savoy (Finland), Hondarribia Blues Festival (Spain), Lahnsteiner Blues Festival (Germany), Boquette Blues Festival (Panama) and more. He has also performed at the Kennedy Center, The Strathmore, The Dodge Theater, AVA Amphitheater and other prestigious venues.

Awards and honors 1999: Inducted into the Arizona Blues Hall of Fame. 2001: Kim Wilson's Smokin' Joint album, which Corritore produced, was a Grammy finalist in the traditional blues category 2007: Honored by the Blues Foundation with a Keeping the Blues Alive Award for his radio work 2007: Blues Music Award nominee along with Dave Riley in the acoustic blues category for their CD, Travelin' The Dirt Road 2014: Blues411 Jimi Award winner for harmonica player of the year 2016: Blues Music Award nominee along with Henry Gray in the historical album category for their CD, Blues Won't Let Me Take My Rest Vol.1 2020: Blues Blast Music Award nominee along with John Primer in the traditional album category for their CD, The Gypsy Woman Told Me 2021: The Blues Lounge Radio Show Harmonica Player of the Year (UK) 2021: Blues Blast Music Award nominee in the historical or vintage category along with Henry Gray for Cold Chills and with Kid Ramos for Phoenix Blues Sessions 2021: Inducted into the Arizona Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame 2022: Blues Music Award nominee for harmonica player of the year 2023: Blues Music Award nominee in the traditional album category for Bob Corritore & Friends' You Shocked Me2023: Blues Music Award nominee for harmonica player of the year 2023: Living Blues Award nominee for male blues artist of the year 2023: Living Blues Award nominee for most outstanding musician (harmonica) 2023: Blues Blast Music Award winner in the historical or vintage category for Bob Corritore & Friends' Women in Blues Showcase'' 2023: The Blues Lounge Radio Show Harmonica Player of the Year (UK) 2024: The Blues Lounge Radio Show Harmonica Player of the Year (UK)

Discography Albums

Guest

Producer