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Paul Oscher (April 5, 1950 – April 18, 2021)

Oscher was born in Brooklyn, New York, United States. He was married to
Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Suzan-Lori Parks from 2001 to 2011.

He first began playing harmonica at the age of 12. His career as
a musician began at the age of 15 when he played for the
musician Little Jimmy Mae.

Oscher played harmonica as a member of the Muddy Waters
Blues Band from 1967 until 1972. He was the first Caucasian
musician in Muddy's band and lived in Muddy's house on Chicago's

South Side and shared the basement with the
blues pianist Otis Spann. Oscher recorded with
Muddy for Chess Records and in 1976 he toured
Europe with Louisiana Red. They both appeared
at the WDR-TV music show Rockpalast. In 1999,
he played with Big Bill Morganfield on his debut
album, “Rising Son”. In 2003 Oscher was
featured on harmonica, guitar and vocals on
Hubert Sumlin's album “About Them Shoes”,

along with Keith Richards, Eric Clapton and
Levon Helm. In 2006, Oscher collaborated with
Mos Def and recorded the song ‘BedStuy Parade
and Funeral March’ on Mos Def's album “The
New Danger”. In 2008, he recorded with Keb'
Mo' on the soundtrack of a film about the blues,
“Who Do You Love?”.

Paul Oscher, who moved to Austin, Texas eight
years ago was 71. He had been hospitalised with
COVID-19 for several weeks, his former manager, Nancy Coplin, confirmed Monday.

Max Frost, a long time friend and in whose mother’s house Paul lived until his hospitalisation said,
“He lived through a part of history that few people understand really happened the way it did. It

was a rough life, and for Paul to have been that young and to have suddenly slipped into that world
and survived it is pretty remarkable. He was a really great player, and Muddy obviously really
respected him. It was a huge chapter of his life.”

Paul Oscher toured the UK with Muddy in 1968, played gigs in Birmingham and Hull University and
in recent years was a driving force in saving Muddy Waters’ old house from demolition, seeking to
turn it into a museum.