The Cascade Blues Association and KINK FM-102 Sunday Night Blues are pleased to announce that on Saturday, March 10th, the Second Annual Willamette Delta Showcase will be held at the Aladdin Theater. This event is designed to feature performers that may not otherwise play in the City of Portland. In an attempt to build interest in this year's show, we will be profiling one of the scheduled performers each month up until the event. This month's feature: Paul Oscher.

Paul Oscher is perhaps best remembered as the first white musician to become a full-time member of a major Chicago-based Blues band. And, in this case, perhaps the best. Though still in his teens, Oscher was hired to become the replacement for James Cotton as harmonica player in the Muddy Waters Band in the late 1960s. He played off-and-on with the group for the next four years and is featured on the recording, "Live At Mr. Kelly's". While a member of that famed grouping, Oscher learned first-hand to play the guitar directly from Muddy Waters and piano from the legendary Otis Spann. He paid attention to these lessons well, as he is an adept artist on each of these instruments.

Paul Oscher - Knockin' On The Devil's Door

After leaving the Muddy Waters Band, Paul Oscher settled into work as a sideman, performing gigs only occasionally. But, he resurfaced in the mid-1990s, releasing two extraordinary CDs, "The Deep Blues Of Paul Oscher" and "Knocking On The Devil's Door" * Both display Oscher's talent for songwriting in true Chicago Blues mannerism. He has recently released a fine CD in collaboration with former Jimmy Rogers' harp player, Steve Guyger, titled, "Living Legends Deep In The Blues", and this past fall was a featured speaker at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame's tribute to Muddy Waters.

Paul Oscher will be performing a solo set at the Willamette Delta Showcase. His performances have been igniting audiences at festivals across the country this past year. Expect him to ply his prowess on the guitar, harmonica and piano, each in stunning fashion. He's surely an entertainer you're going to remember.

Read Willamette Delta Showcase Preview 2, featuring Hubert Sumlin, or Preview 3, featuring Sean Chambers.

The CBA thanks the following Willamette Delta Showcase Sponsors for their support: