Charlie Musselwhite to perform at Raven Theater

Charlie Musselwhite, photo By Kenji Oda

Blues harmonica master Charlie Musselwhite was born in the deep south, and most of the year, he tours the nation and the world.

But since 1991, he has made his home in Geyserville in Sonoma County.

“I started out in Mississippi, grew in Memphis, then moved to Chicago and lived there for awhile. And then I moved out to California,” Musselwhite said. “I’ve been in California ever since, except when I’m on the road.”

Musselwhite spoke by phone from New York, where he had just performed in concert with his newest recording partner, singer-songwriter Ben Harper.

But this month, Musselwhite’s travels bring him much closer to home, for a St. Valentine’s Day concert at the Raven Theater in Healdsburg. It’s certainly not the first time Musselwhite has performed locally, but a show so close to home is still rare enough to cause excitement among his Sonoma County fans.

“There’s a lot of people I know out in the audience when I play in Sonoma County,” he said. “I do like being on the road, but I like being at home, too. I remember a couple of years ago, I was home for just 30 days that year. I was touring with Cyndi Lauper and my own band, too.”

Lauper’s style and Harper’s music are nothing alike, and indeed, over a long career Musselwhite has performed with a long and diverse list of blues, gospel, rock and pop stars. But he has never lost his own style.

“I just do what I do, but I make it fit what they do, too,” Musselwhite said. “It might be a different chord change, but it’s still me playing what I play.”

Like his musical style, Musselwhite’s Mississippi accent remains strong, despite his travels and the passing decades.

Musselwhite marked his 69th birthday last month, but he still insists, “I’ve been 39 for 30 years now.”

When he’s not on the road, often accompanied by his wife of 32 years, Henrietta, or at home in Geyserville, Musselwhite heads from the blues stronghold of Clarksdale, Miss. His most recent solo album, “Juke Joint Chapel,” was recorded there.

“I have a house in Clarksdale, and I go there once or twice a year, as often as I can,” Musselwhite said. “Just bein’ there feels good. Some of my earliest memories are from around there.”

Just the same, he looks forward to his Healdsburg show, a benefit for Rotary Club of Healdsburg Sunrise, and performing for a local crowd.

“We’re gonna have a lot of fun,” he drawled. “Everybody should bring their dancing shows. Come early and stay late. We’re gonna have a real good time.”

And then he’s back on the road again.

“I’d like to tour all the places I haven’t toured yet, like Russia, Greece and Africa,” he said. “And I’d like to go back to Japan and China and South America.”

You can reach Staff Writer Dan Taylor at 521-5243 or dan.taylor@pressdemocrat.com. See his ARTS blog at arts.blogs.pressdemocrat.com.

What: Valentine’s Day concert by Charlie Musselwhite
When: 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 14
Where: Raven Theater, 115 North St., Healdsburg.
Admission: $50.
Information: 433-6335, raventheater.org.