Bay Area harmonica legend Norton Buffalo dies at age 58
By Jim Harrington
Oakland Tribune

Posted: 11/04/2009 11:41:36 AM PST
Updated: 11/04/2009 12:25:22 PM PST
Harmonica legend Norton Buffalo, a longtime fixture of the Northern California music scene, died Friday at a hospital near his home in Paradise. Buffalo, best known for his work with the Steve Miller Band, had been battling lung and brain cancer. He was 58.

Born in Oakland and raised in Richmond, Buffalo had been a member of Miller's platinum-selling band for 34 years, appearing on such hit records as 1977's "Book of Dreams," which produced such Steve Miller Band staples as "Jet Airliner" and "Jungle Love."

"There are some people who pass through this world who are so unique and special they defy description and Norton Buffalo was one of those people," Miller said in a post on his Web site.

Besides his work with Miller, Buffalo added his distinctive harmonica riffs to many other high-profile albums, including the Doobie Brothers' 1978 Grammy winner "Minute By Minute." He also formed his own band, the Stampede, in the late '70s and recorded a pair of well-received albums for Capitol Records. In 1992, he received a Best Country Instrumental Performance Grammy nominee for "Song for Jessica," a track from his 1991 duet CD with his longtime friend and collaborator, guitarist Roy Rogers, released on San Francisco's Blind Pig Records. Buffalo also formed and performed with such bands as Norton Buffalo and the Knockouts and Norton Buffalo and Friends.

In a post on Rogers' Web site, the slide guitarist expressed his sadness about the loss of his "dear friend.' "Norton fought the brave fight against cancer with amazing grace, never losing his great sense of humor — this in spite of his grave health condition," Rogers said. "He was not only a friend, but a true brother in music and life. He cannot be replaced. He and I traveled and performed around the world for many years and I am grateful that I knew him.

"I believe that his musical legacy will increase in the future years, but more importantly, people will realize how great a human being he was, as well as a great musician."

Buffalo is survived by his wife of eight years, Lisa Flores, a guitarist with whom he also performed.

Fans and musicians will gather to honor the Buffalo during a concert in early 2010. "A Celebration of Life: A Tribute to Norton Buffalo" will feature the Steve Miller Band, the Doobie Brothers, Bonnie Raitt, Huey Lewis and others that worked with the harmonica over the years. The concert will take place Jan. 23 at the Fox Theater in Oakland. For more information, visit www.apeconcerts.com.

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He gone.