Earl Oliver & Friends


"He can shout the blues with the best of them, scat like Ella, or croon like Old Blues Eyes." Nite Out column, The Daily News (10/2/89)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: Earl Oliver (born June 23, 1948) is an American writer, musician, variety and street entertainer. An accomplished blues guitarist and singer in the Northern California area. Known as the Walkin' Blues Man, he hosted a cable-access TV program, Live from LaVal's that aired in 16 stations throughout the region from 1992 to 1995. In 2001, he was called "one of San Francisco's undiscovered treasures" by San Francisco Arts Magazine. From May, 2005 until August, 2013, Oliver was an entertainer on the Skunk Train, which runs daily from Fort Bragg and Willits, California.
Watch Streaming video of Earl at
The Heritage House Thursday Music Series (9/18/16), with Dorian May's Little Big Band (7/17/16) and with Queen Jane Lawrence
Click here to listen to streaming audio of Earl singing with the Symphony of the Redwoods (2010-2014)|
Listen to Earl & Butch Kwan at Local Licks Live (2004)
Visit the
Earl Oliver & Friends Video Library | Watch Earl peforming at the Magic Castle in 1981! | Check Out Uncle Earl's Classic TV Channel!
Read about Earl on Wikipedia | For Booking info or to receive notice of Coming Engagements, email us at earl@solie.org | See Earl on | Visit on Facebook

The Groovinators | Coming Engagements | The Walkin' Blues Man | Photos | Press | Dig old guitars? Check out The Bluesbox Collection


Here's streaming audio of Earl singing with the Symphony of the Redwoods


"There's Christmas in the Air"
w/the orchestra at Cotton Auditorium on 12/30/2014


"A Salute to Ole Blue Eyes" w/the orchestra at Eagles' Hall - 5/26/2012


"Night & Day" & "All of You" w/the orchestra at Eagles' Hall from the 5/8/2010 Cole Porter Night

2011 Symphony of the Redwoods Schedule


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Heritage House Thursday Music Series in Little River, CA - September 18, 2016


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The Dorian May Little Big Band on July 17, 2016 at The Willits Community Theater


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Read my Ft. Bragg Diary | Visit our Friends!







See more publicity photos of the The Walkin' Blues Man with the Skunk Train Here. To return to this page, close the new tab.

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Trip Advisor Review of Earl at V'Canto
(now known as Cucina Verona)

    Perfect dining experience! 5 of 5 stars - Reviewed March 24, 2013
    "They have live music every Friday and Saturday night. The night we ate there, the entertainment was a musician named Earl Oliver who played blues and country takes on some old favorites, he was wonderful. He is there the 4th Friday of every month, would highly recommend going to hear him. The ambiance was perfect, quiet enough to both hear the music and still have a conversation. I was so relaxed after my dinner I felt like I had meditated and had a massage!"

  • Monday Blues & Jazz with Earl Oliver at Noyo River Grill.
    On Moday, December 4th at 5:00 PM.
    Noyo River Grill is located at 124 E. Laurel Street in Fort Bragg, CA
  • Friday Blues & Jazz with Earl Oliver at Headlands Coffeehouse.
    On Friday, December 8th at 5:00 PM.
    Headlands is located at 120 E. Laurel Street in Fort Bragg, CA
  • Wednesdau Blues & Jazz with Earl Oliver at Noyo River Grill.
    On Wednesday, December 20th at 5:00 PM.
    Noyo River Grill is located at 124 E. Laurel Street in Fort Bragg, CA
  • 4th Saturday Blues & Jazz with Earl Oliver at Cucina Verona.
    On Saturday, December 23rd at 5:30 PM.
    Cucina Verona is located at 1011 S. Main Street, Fort Bragg, CA

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    51st Annual World's Largest Salmon BBQ - July 2, 2022
    This is not the full show - this playlist includes 20-25 minute clips from all 5 of the bands, plus Earl's between the bands' sets. Bands include: The Dune Boys, Tommy Brown and the Blues Progression, Moon Rabbit, Mama Grows Funk and The Steven Bates Band. Check it out!







  • The Groovinators | Coming Engagements | The Walkin' Blues Man | Photos | Press | Dig old guitars? Check out The Bluesbox Collection | Back to the Top

    Read my Ft. Bragg Diary | Visit our Friends!

    Watch Earl with the Queen Jane Lawrence!



    Jazz at the North Coast Brewing Co. Sequoia Room - 6/10/18 - Featuring: Queen Jane Lawrence - piano,
    Laura Maione - bass, John Huxsol - drums, Earl Oliver - vocals.


    The Groovinators | Coming Engagements | The Walkin' Blues Man | Photos | Press












    consists of a core trio featuring guitarist/vocalist Earl Oliver - known throughout Northern California as the Walkin' Blues Man, bassist Erick Kolberg - known for his guitar work with the Gypsy Jazz band, Swingnoodle,and also The Swing Doctors, and drummer, Tom Rickard - a veteran jazz player who performs regularly with John Gilmore, Queen Jane, Dorian May, and a host of other bands. The Trio plays a potent combination of original and traditional Blues, Jazz, and Swing rendered into their own inimitable style. We invite you to...

    Whether playing a large dance venue with full sound reinforcement, or an intimate gathering using little or no sound equipment at all...
    are always a crowd favorite.

    Visit us on
      Headlands Coffeehouse 1/12/17 - With Special Guest, Greg D'Augelli (sax)

      Groovinators Dance REVIEW: "It was an absolute big-time blast. The band was over-the-top great! We had so much fun. I barely remember sitting down. fantastic!"
        --Sunshine Taylor - Member of the Mendocino Swing Dance Society
    Earl Oliver and his Friends have had regular engagements at many of the following venues since 2005:
    Symphony of the Redwoods | Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens | World's Largest Salmon BBQ | Albion/Little River Fire Dept. BBQ | Caspar Fest
    The Franklin Street Cafe | Headlands Coffeehouse | The Caspar Inn | Shanachie Pub | Frankie's of Mendocino | Ukiah Brewing Co. | Hill House
    Mendocino Stories & Music Series | Winter in the Redwoods | Angelina's | The Westport Hotel | Pt. Arena Pier | The Coyote Valley Casino | Cucina Verona
    The Mendocino Hotel | Garcia River Casino | Musica Eclectica Concert Series | Mendocino Community Center | Caspar Community Center | Heritage House
    The Skunk Train | Art in the Gardens | North Coast Brewing Co. Jazz at the Sequoia Room | The MacCallum House | Festival of Lights | 215 Main in Pt. Arena


    Coming Engagements | The Walkin' Blues Man | Photos | Press | Dig old guitars? Check out The Bluesbox Collection
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    The Groovinators opening for the Symphony of the Redwoods!


    The Groovinators opening for the Symphony of the Redwoods!



    Eagles Hall, Fort Bragg - May 21, 2011
    Photo by Lonna Oliver

    The Groovinators bustin' up the joint at Winter in the Redwoods!

       

         

    Photos by Elizabeth Arnold


    The Walkin' Blues Man doin' his thing on the Skunk Train!


    This photo was taken on the Skunk Train sometime in July of 2008.
    Photo by Danny Swarts

    Earl Oliver and Butch Kwan at Local Licks Live!

    Click below to listen to the Pipeline Medley, from the Local Licks Live XII concert.

    Listen to the entire performance!


    Here's Earl with Kevin & the Coconuts!

    There's Earl on the right of the photo, playing the cello pans with Kevin & the Coconuts.
    To his right is Steve Paul, on the seconds, and Kevin Grant on the lead pans.


    For booking and other information or if you would like to be placed on our mailing list to receive
    regular updates of our shows, please e-mail us at earl@solie.org


    The Groovinators | Coming Engagements | The Walkin' Blues Man | Photos | Press | Back to the Top

    Dig old guitars? Check out

    Read my Ft. Bragg Diary | Visit our Friends!



    The Groovinators | Coming Engagements | The Walkin' Blues Man | Photos | Press | Back to the Top

    Visit our friends!


    John Gilmore - Pianist extraordinaire!

    The Badger
    My Bay Area accompanist and one of the best slide players on the planet!

    Jon Emery
    The King of Hillbilly Rock 'n Roll! Earl's former partner.

    Loren Davidson


    Greg Schindel - the guy I used to alternate with on the Skunk Train

    Patrick Landeza

    Michael Masley


    Mendocino Coast Television
    My former day job...


    Classic TV Episodes!


    Scenic Photography by Earl Oliver

    My other business...


    Headlands Coffeehouse

    Our home base and hang out. Great friends.


    These guys play our music. Thanks, KOZT!!

    Sports Fans! Visit Solie's Vintage Wrestling

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