Matthew Skoller (born August 3, 1962)[1] is an American Chicago blues harmonicist, singer, songwriter, and record producer.
He has released five albums, as well as recording his harmonica playing on other musicians work, including John Primer, Lurrie Bell, Koko Taylor, H-Bomb Ferguson, Toronzo Cannon, Bernard Allison, Larry Garner, Big Daddy Kinsey, Big Time Sarah, Michael Coleman, and Harvey Mandel.
[3] His band members have included guitarists such as Lurrie Bell and Larry Skoller, pianist and organist Sidney James Wingfield, bass player Willie "Vamp" Samuels, and the drummers Kenny "Beedy Eyes" Smith and Heitor Garcia.
In October 1996, his band won a prize at the International Blues Challenge, which led to Hohner choosing Skoller as an endorsee of their make of harmonica.
[5] Elsewhere, Skoller provided harmonica work on Knockin' at Your Door, by John Primer (1999), and on Koko Taylor's 2000 release, Royal Blue.
Most of the tracks were original songs penned by Skoller, although James Cotton's, "Down at Your Buryin'," was one of three reworked versions of earlier tunes.
Musicians playing on the recording included the pianist, Johnny Iguana, and guitarists, Carlos Johnson and Eddie Taylor Jr.
Countries in which he has played include Greece, the UK, Belgium, France, Italy, Norway, Spain, Switzerland, Mali, Mauritania, Tunisia, and Cameroon.
[2] Closer to home, Skoller and his band have been regular performers at Chicago's nightclub, Buddy Guy's Legends, since the club opened in 1989.