RB Harper, a.k.a. Rolf Berschneider, was born in Hamburg, Germany.
Since his postwar teenage years, his dearest companion
has been the harmonica. By the age of eight, he knew most of the cherished
children`s songs by heart. He was playing at his grade school and at
church gatherings by the age of ten, and has been a star with that little
harp ever since.

Harper`s high school studies forced him to put aside his fulltime
hobby. Serving in the German Army ("Bundeswehr"). However, in the early
'60s provided him with enough spare time to pick up his hobby once
again. As a result, his sophistication and technical mastery of the harp
improved to an even more advanced level.

Upon his arrival in California in the mid '60s, Harper was confronted
with an entirely new personal battle:the struggle for survival. As he
concentrated his efforts on settling down, adjusting himself to a foreign
society, and starting up his own furniture manufacturing business, his
study of the harmonica suffered.

In the early 90's, while at a show at the House of Blues, something caught
his eye that invited a flurry of old feelings and memories into his
mind. It was a harmonica that commemorated a Harmonica Blowout Contest
held at the world famous blues spot. The next day as he picked up a
harmonica at a local music store, chills spread throughout his body--he
couldn't wait to to take it home. Surprisingly, it took him very little
time to get right back into the groove.

Fate introduced RB Harper to Dave Gage, a Southern California harp
player, band leader, and recording artist.In time Gage became Harper's
private teacher and mentor.It was Gage who helped Harper discover and
hone his Blues playing skill.

Harper enjoys making public appearances with his harp and does so strictly
as a hobby, appearing frequently on stage with JJ "Bad Boy" Jones and his
band.He also had a guest appearance at the Terra Blues Club in
Manhattan, New York, playing with blues entertainer Michael Powers.

Lately he has been seen, performing with famous post modern blues singer
and recording artist Zola Moon, at the Starboard Attitude Club in
Redondo Beach, California. Zola and RB Harper performed in a full house
some breathtaking harmonica blues duets.

RB loves to jam and welcomes e-mailed invitationes to jam sessions or gigs.The
regular gigs throughout the city helps him express one of the major passion
in his life--playing the blues on the harmonica.

He also enjoys showing off his collection of over 50 harmonicas.Few of
these are vintage, pre-WWII Hohner Chromatics.Some of these were gifts or
have been picked up in Antique Stores and Flea Market Malls.Harper has
taken time to recondition and restore all of the old harps in his extensive
collection.He has also replaced every single plastic comb in his diotanics
with anodized aluminum, lending them an even clearer sound.

As a German, Harper is extremely proud that the harmonica was invented in
1821 by Christian Friedrich Ludwig Buschmann, a fellow German. Then, in
1857, a 24 year old clock maker, living in Trossingen, a tiny town on the
edge of Germany's Black Forest, begun to manufacture the harmonicas.His
name was Matthias Hohner, and harmonicas bearing his name are still sold
all over the world.

Please stay on top of this web page to remain informed of any future
appearances by RB Harper and other top harmonica players.

Write to RB Harper--he has nothing better to do.You'll make him happy.He
has few joys in life.Can't you tell? Didn't this web page tip you off?

Jeff Janning
Music Columnist