Written By Monique Patterson -- Warrnambool Standard 18 October 2024
Warrnambool's Eddy Boyle has been playing the harmonica since he was four-years-old. Picture by Eddie Guerrero
You never know how a minute in time will change your life. When Eddy Boyle's aunty handed him a harmonica and told him to sit in the corner and play it, he never knew it would open so many doors. The 34-year-old, who celebrated 20 years of playing live music gigs on Sunday, October 12, 2024, has had the honour of sharing the stage with the likes of Grammy-nominated blues and roots artist Eric Bibb and Australian musician Andy Baylor. He also is lucky enough to call Joe Camilleri and Jim Hocking mates and has performed with the two on a number of occasions. Boyle said he loved the harmonica almost from the first moment he played it. "When I was about four I was being naughty and my aunty said 'this is a harmonica - go and sit in the corner and blow on it'," Boyle said. "I did and I kept playing it. "A couple of days later Dad said 'I've got this old blues record called Blow by Blow'. "It was a compilation but there was a track called She's Tough by a blues artist named Jerry McCann and that really stood out. "I heard the lyrics and the harmonica solo and I thought - at four-years-old - I want to do that." He took lessons from age 11 to 16 and loved playing live from the first time he performed on stage.Boyle is part of the band The Exciters and also plays with a number of other bands on occasion, including Lost in Suburbia. Boyle said he loved all genres of music but he had his favourites. "As a harmonica player, I'm a blues man first and foremost," he said. "But I love '50s rock and rock and swinging jazz stuff."I love Nat King Cole, Sam Cooke and then obviously '50s rock and roll - Elvis and Johnny Cash and Gene Vincent."One thing not everyone knows is that different harmonicas are used for different songs and genres because they play in different keys, Boyle said. He has about 100 harmonicas, some of which are custom-made.Boyle, who was born with mild cerebral palsy, is also the disability ambassador for Blues Music Victoria."Anyone who is playing blues who has a disability, I try and lend a hand," he said.He also offers advice to venues and event organisers. Boyle said the main impact his disability had on him was that he was told at age 12 he would never be able to drive a car. "That worried me at the time but I got used to it," Boyle said."You try not to let it slow you down."Boyle will sing and play the harmonica on Saturday, October 19 at Warrnambool's Civic Green alongside his mate and guitar player Mark Halliwell.The event is being held as part of Mental Health Week and Boyle will play from 1pm.
