Dr. Harp's Medicine Band - Essentials (2021)

John McKinley:
John is the Birmingham musician's musician- a perfectionist of the electric and acoustic guitar, a real student and a master of all the musical forms he takes on.
He has played with many of Birmingham's finest jazz, blues, ska and pop performers including Steve Ajao, Mick Hatton, Lupa, Saxa , Roger Hill and many more. He was a member of the Brum jazz supergroup, Into the Blue with Mick Hatton and Danny MacCormack.
Over many years his blues bands have graced Birmingham pub stages. For Dr Harp's Medicine Band, John contributed a wide range of guitar styles but he also filled the role of principal musical arranger and adviser, his cool head and skilful musicianship fashioned many of the arrangements and earned him the title 'Professor'.

Patsy Fuller:
Patsy Fuller is well known to the jazz circuit in Birmingham and the Midlands. She has also performed in London, at the Stephen Lawrence Gallery and at the St Lucia Jazz Festival 2004, with the Emerson Nurse Quartet.
She started her career in music in 2002, when she persuaded Alan Cross, the then promoter of Jazz at the Drum, to give her band Rhapsody a chance to bring something new! He did just that and from that point hence, Rhapsody, together with Patsy Fuller has entertained people in all types of settings, with an eclectic mix of jazz, blues, spirituals and soulful reggae that emanates a new and refreshing sound. She has worked with the likes of Andy Hamilton and the Blue Notes, Steve Ajao, Edgar Macias, and James Renford to name but a few; and shared a set with the famous Gwen Dickey of the 'Car Wash' fame!
Her music is best described as soulful and spiritual, with a repertoire of music that ranges from Ellington to Miles. She believes the 'Blues' is the carrier for the original gospel music, bringing a message that remedies hope, liberation and freedom to a weary and downcast soul and attempts to project this within her original compilations. With the earthiness of Nina Simone, influences of Ella, and a hint of Dakota Staton, she delivers a gospel message in her own unique style.

Doctor Johnny:
The harmonica-toting Dr Harp, aka Dr Johnny, is none other than Dr John Middleton, director of public health for Sand-well Health Authority.
Doctor Johnny's earliest blues performances were with top South London blues performers, Jo-Ann Kelly, Steve Rye, Simon Prager and Bob Hall. During the 80s he recorded four albums with Southampton blues legend John F. Wands.
Since moving to the West Midlands in the late 80s DJ has mainly been found guesting with such Birmingham blues and jazz stars as Big Man Clayton, King Pleasure, Andy Hamilton and the Blue Notes and Steve Ajao.
Since 1998, there have been two spells with the McKinley Electric Blues Band with residencies at the Bear and the Red Lion in the Jewellery Quarter. Lately DJ has been caught at the Live Box at Birmingham's Drum - the hottest venue for live jazz and rap, jamming with Soweto Kinch, the Jazz Warriors, Abram Wilson and Eska