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Roly Platt – Harmonica: Blues Musician CanadaRoly Platt – Harmonica: Blues Musician Canada
  • Music
  • All About Roly
    • Videos
    • Photos
    • Bio
    • Says Who?
    • Links
  • Harmonica Workshops
  • Harp Lessons
  • Harp Wah
  • Design Portfolio
  • Gigs
  • News
  • Contact

Bio

Home Bio

Highlights:

• Recorded on over 1,600 individual album cuts, movie scores and jingles

• Pete Pedersen Lifetime Achievement Award – Nominee (2022) for the US’s SPAH international harmonica organization

• Roly’s original instrumental “Shuffle the Deck” was aired on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and the WWE Network (2019)

• Gold record: The Toronto Blue Jays theme song – “OK Blue Jays”

• Two Double Platinum & Juno Award album credits

• Multiple Maple Blues Awards  – “Harmonica Player of the Year” nominations. (national blues awards)

BIO

Roly Platt has enjoyed a long and rewarding career as both a live and studio harmonica player in the Canadian scene for the past 45 years. He has had the pleasure of touring and recording with many greats in the business, including: Ronnie Hawkins, Matt Minglewood, David Clayton-Thomas, Dutch Mason, Susan Aglukark, Suzie Vinnick and Rick Fines.

Getting his start practicing to his older brother’s Blues and Bluegrass records, Roly’s early years on the road quickly introduced him to a wide variety of music including Country-Swing, Country Rock, R&B & Traditional Jazz. This experience of having to incorporate harmonica into some of these non-traditional roles helped form his melodic approach to playing and define his unique style. As Roly puts it, “None of the songs these bands would play had any harp in the original versions, so I had to quickly figure out something that “worked” and sounded pretty good, or I’d be out of work. That was the best musical schooling anyone could have asked for.”

Roly’s distinctive sound, versatility, and intuitive sense of “what works”, has elevated him to “first-call” studio harmonica player in the Canadian recording scene. Roly had been recorded on over 1,500 individual album cuts, movie scores and national jingles and is now working on sessions for clients from around the globe via his home studio.

Albums / Sessions (partial list):

David Clayton-Thomas (3), John Finley, Terri Clark, Susan Aglukark, Marc Jordan, Suzie Vinnick (2), The Ennis Sisters, George Canyon, Beverley Mahood, Joel Feenie, Jack Semple, Ronnie Hawkins, Matt Minglewood (3), World on Edge, The Stampeders, Rick Fines, George Meanwell, Bill Colgate, Jason McCoy, Rita MacNeil, Jamie Warren, Cassandra Vasik, Sharon, Lois, and Bram, Michael Brennan.

Jingles (partial list):

Ford, Chrysler, Labatt, McDonalds, Budweiser, Oreo Cookies, Shake and Bake, Toronto Blue Jays (OK Blue Jays theme), LCBO, The Keg, Pioneer, Toyota, Tim Hortons

Film / TV (partial list):

US production: “Tankhouse” staring Christopher Lloyd (2020), Ron James (CBC), Kurt Browning (Stars on Ice), Franklin The Turtle, Berenstain Bears, Rolie Polie Olie, Buffalo Girls (mini series) and Bollywood hit – “Delhi Belly”, Kurt Browning Stars on Ice (TV), CTV Sportsnet “Good old Hockey Game” (Opening theme), Canadian Country Music Awards, Megasnake (Film), The Dark (Film).

What They Say…

“Roly is my first go to guy on harmonica. While being great at blues, he is also capable of much more. Melodies, accompaniments etc. I highly recommend him.”
Lou Pomanti – Lou Pomanti Music Toronto, ON
“I’ve only recently discovered Roly and his fantastic playing. I needed a harp session in a hurry here in the UK, and although half a world away, Roly did the most amazing e-session for me in superquick time, recorded a superb performance, and I now have his number on speed-dial ! I can’t recommend him highly enough.”
Matthew Cang – Guitarist, Writer, Producer Bath, UK
“He was a good boy – always polite and well mannered.”
Mom....
“I’ve only recently discovered Roly and his fantastic playing. I needed a harp session in a hurry here in the UK, and although half a world away, Roly did the most amazing e-session for me in superquick time, recorded a superb performance, and I now have his number on speed-dial ! He was extremely easy to communicate with, and very easy to work with regarding arrangement directions. I can’t recommend him highly enough and I know we’ll work together again soon.”
Matthew Cang – Guitarist, Writer, Producer Bath, United Kingdom
“Roly is simply the greatest harp player anywhere.”
Tim Thorney – Writer / Producer
“I have worked with Roly Platt for over 30 years in many different musical situations. He is a first class musician and a first class human being. He’s worked for me on a wide variety of recordings (records, jingles, tv shows) and is always an inspiration and a positive influence on whatever project he’s involved with. He is, simply put, one of the best musicians I have ever worked with. He’s blessed with amazing technical skills but he also has great taste, feel and musical instincts that can… Read more
Mike “Pepe” Francis – Guitarist / Producer / Music Director
“Roly is one of Canada’s best harmonica players! Any style!”
Jack Semple – Guitarist / Producer Regina, SK , Canada
“The most versatile harp player I’ve ever worked with. Blues, Jazz. Country, he does it all”
David Clayton-Thomas
“When it comes to harmonica I don’t use anybody else, period!”
Orin Isaacs Owner / Music Director – Swing Low Productions Toronto, ON
“Roly, your harmonica playing, it is outstanding! Simply amazing. You are a wonderful musician. Thank you for your beautiful contribution to our film.”
Aamir Khan: Producer Bollywood Film “Delhi Belly”
Checkout My Harp Wah. Like a Trumpet Mute For Harmonica... The Harp Wah

Testimonials

“Roly, your harmonica playing, it is outstanding! Simply amazing. You are a wonderful musician. Thank you for your beautiful contribution to our film.”
Aamir Khan: Producer Bollywood Film “Delhi Belly”
“Roly is my first go to guy on harmonica. While being great at blues, he is also capable of much more. Melodies, accompaniments etc. I highly recommend him.”
Lou Pomanti – Lou Pomanti Music Toronto, ON
“When it comes to harmonica I don’t use anybody else, period!”
Orin Isaacs Owner / Music Director – Swing Low Productions Toronto, ON
“Roly is one of Canada’s best harmonica players! Any style!”
Jack Semple – Guitarist / Producer Regina, SK , Canada
“I’ve only recently discovered Roly and his fantastic playing. I needed a harp session in a hurry here in the UK, and although half a world away, Roly did the most amazing e-session for me in superquick time, recorded a superb performance, and I now have his number on speed-dial ! I can’t recommend him highly enough.”
Matthew Cang – Guitarist, Writer, Producer Bath, UK
“Roly is simply the greatest harp player anywhere.”
Tim Thorney – Writer / Producer
“He was a good boy – always polite and well mannered.”
Mom....
“I have worked with Roly Platt for over 30 years in many different musical situations. He is a first class musician and a first class human being. He’s worked for me on a wide variety of recordings (records, jingles, tv shows) and is always an inspiration and a positive influence on whatever project he’s involved with. He is, simply put, one of the best musicians I have ever worked with. He’s blessed with amazing technical skills but he also has great taste, feel and musical instincts that can… Read more
Mike “Pepe” Francis – Guitarist / Producer / Music Director
“I’ve only recently discovered Roly and his fantastic playing. I needed a harp session in a hurry here in the UK, and although half a world away, Roly did the most amazing e-session for me in superquick time, recorded a superb performance, and I now have his number on speed-dial ! He was extremely easy to communicate with, and very easy to work with regarding arrangement directions. I can’t recommend him highly enough and I know we’ll work together again soon.”
Matthew Cang – Guitarist, Writer, Producer Bath, United Kingdom
“The most versatile harp player I’ve ever worked with. Blues, Jazz. Country, he does it all”
David Clayton-Thomas

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