Harmonica Virtuoso Norton Buffalo passes

Virtuoso harp player and well-known sideman for many Norton Buffalo has passed from complications from cancer. He was 58.

Born September 28, 1951 in Oakland, California. Buffalo became well-known to many people for his work as a sideman for the Steve Miller Band. He was a session player and sideman for the band for over 20 years. In that span, which eclipsed on into the 80s, Buffalo also did side work for other such notable groups like the Doobie Brothers, Bonnie Raitt, Johnny Cash, Marshall Tucker Band, Kenny Loggins, Commander Cody and the Lost Planet Airmen, and Elvin Bishop. In 1977, Buffalo issued his first solo recording as a frontman Lovin' In the Valley of the Moon on Capitol. In 1979, after the inception of his second solo release, he and his band appeared on Austin City Limits. Buffalo also made a handful of film appearances, including Bette Midler's rock movie The Rose.

In the 90s, after finding regular work as a sideman in the previous decade, Buffalo teamed up with Northern California slide guitar master Roy Rogers for the album R&B. The album earned a Grammy nomination for the song "Song for Jessica." He and Rogers toured and recorded together intermittenly after that until his death. Buffalo also put together his band the Knockouts shortly after that and began successful tours all over the country.

In September, Buffalo was diagnosed with lung cancer after seeing a doctor because he had complained of pain after a show. He had retired to a hospital in Paradise, California taking treatments for the cancer.