Good blues harmonica players?

Start with Little Walter and Walter "Shaky" Horton (also known as Big Walter) and take it through James Cotton, George "Harmonica" Smith and Sonny Boy Williamson II plus Howlin' Wolf. Except for Sonny and Wolf, the others played for Muddy Waters. I consider Little Walter the greatest ever for his work as the first star of the amplified harmonica. He showed how to use the mic for new tones and sounds. Shaky came up with some incredible new licks along the way (listen to him on Johnny Young's "Tighten Up" for an example.)

Bob Dylan is to harmonica what Gregg Allman is to keyboards. Both play rudimentary chords and that's it. Neither could play their way out of a wet paper bag and are great for other reasons. And if John Popper plays blues, then I am a Space Shuttle Commander. He's closer to the great Jerry Murad than any blues harpist.

Somebody doesn't like us, giving us all thumbs down. Ha.

John Mayall, Sonny Terry, Sugar Blue, Walter Horton, Carey Bell are some of my favorites. Check out "Crucial Harmonica Blues." It's a very good collection of blues harp players.

Most of the other posts hit on a pretty good selection of old greats.

Sonny Boy #2 (Rice Miller), Little Walter, Big Walter, were all great legends. You cannot go wrong there.

I'd suggest, "His Best" by Little Walter "Big Walter w/ Carey Bell", and "The Real Folk Blues" as good starting records.

Don't forget to check out Jr. Wells "Hoodoo Man Blues" and James Cotton ("Mr. Superharp Live")

In the modern era, you can check out Kim Wilson "Tigerman", Rod Piazza "Live at BB Kings", Dennis Gruenling, Rick Estrin "Anthology", Jason Ricci "Done with the Devil"

In the not-quite an old classic, but sadly died before their time category: William Clark, Paul Butterfield, Gary Primich, and Paul Delay might be of interest. I love "Blowin' Like Hell" by Wm Clarke.

For inspiring female blues harmonica, look for Annie Raines or Cheryl Arena.

I would type each one of these names into youtube and see who you like. Then download the records I've mentioned, from itunes or wherever you get your music.

Here are some modern day harp players who learned from the greats

-Bobby Rush

-John Nemeth

-Adam Gussrow

-Jason Ricci

-Steve Bell

Just To name a few

Junior Wells

I love James Cotton & James Montgomery

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_iQ5KOwyaw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9OF5l6VpAE

Charlie Musselwhite is one of my favorite blues harp players.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtMvv34LAmI

Sonny Boy Williamson was the greatest.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFRMBWgyH-M

Paul Butterfield was a close second.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3KAdmivOVQ

for you to listen to;

Snooky Pryor

http://www.last.fm/music/Snooky+Pryor/_/Look+What+...

Mark Hummel

http://www.last.fm/music/Mark+Hummel/_/Backscratch...

Charlie Musselwhite

http://www.last.fm/music/Charlie+Musselwhite/_/Chr...

oooo that was nice ..... Charlie Musselwhite again

http://www.last.fm/music/Charlie+Musselwhite/_/Blu...

enjoy

What? No one mentioned John Popper?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pCDs_0zbNo