NEW STREAMING MUSIC!! Earl Oliver & Friends Live from V'canto Restaurant in Fort Bragg
Smoky Joe's Cafe || Fascinatin' Rhythm Blues || Time of the Season || Jump City
Check out the Walkin' Blues Man's YouTube videos and MySpace Page || To contact Earl, please email us at earl@solie.org

Earl Oliver & Friends headlined the 37th Annual Art in the Gardens concert on the
Event Lawn at the North Coast Botanical Gardens on Saturday, August 9, 2008

Earl Oliver & Friends consists of a core trio featuring drummer, Tom Rickard, a veteran jazz player who performs regularly with John Gilmore and the Richard Cooper Trio among others, and stand-up bassist, John Smith, who is well known locally as the bassist with the seminal North Coast blues band, Roadhouse and currently works with the Steve Clay Band. Collectively, they are known as The Groovinators rhythm section. Surprise guests are not uncommon. The trio plays a potent combination of original and traditional blues and jazz rendered into their own inimitable style. Whether playing a large venue with full sound reinforcement, or an intimate gathering using little or no sound equipment at all - Earl Oliver & Friends is always a crowd favorite.

Check out the YouTube video (above right) of Earl and the Groovinators at V'canto. To receive notice of Coming Engagements, please email us at earl@solie.org

What people are saying about The Walkin' Blues Man!...

  • "Earl encompasses the knowledge of music going back to when we were pounding on rocks, I mean he really has a great repertoire. A fine, fine musician."
  • "Known to locals as the Walkin' Blues Man, Earl Oliver is one of San Francisco's undiscovered treasures. His old timey low down delta style is just the ticket to bring you up out of the holiday blues."
  • "I was delighted when a temporary halt to the parade forced Earl to stand in one place and belt out two more tunes while he waited to start marching again. Earl aptly crashed right into his version Robert Johnson's "Walkin' Blues", then followed it with the soulful "My Mama Ain't Me". The crowd around me ate it up.
  • "He can shout the blues with the best of them, scat like Ella, or croon like Old Blues Eyes."
  • "So many staff people thanked me for bringing music that was a little more vintage and overlapped with their era."
  • "I again want to thank you for providing such great music for our party. A number of people commented on how much they enjoyed your music.
  • "Thank you for your participation in the Palo Alto ArtWalk. Through your efforts and enthusiasm, our most life affirming symbols: Art, Wine, Music and Food came together in community spirit."
  • "Just wanted to say thanks for coming down yesterday and performing here at THE CANNERY. You were great!

    YouTube video from sharifa88 of the Walkin' Blues Man doing his thing on the Skunk Train. Check it out!

    Coming Engagements

    In the Summer time, from the Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, The Walkin Blues Man entertains passengers on the historic     Skunk Train. Earl performs street style, going from car to car during the trip from Ft.Bragg to the Northspur Station and back, Sunday through Tuesday. He also rides as many of the afternoon trains as he can. There is a very nice web log entry here that talks about one gentleman's experience on the Skunk Train. It includes a few words about TWBM, as well as other members of the Skunk Train crew, and even has pictures! Besides his performances on the train, Earl can occasionally be found busking with his banjo on Main Street in the Mendocino Village. Click here to read about some of his other local appearances: