John Popper
Encyclopedia
John Popper is an American
musician
and songwriter
.
He is most famous for his role as frontman of rock band Blues Traveler
performing harmonica
, guitar
and vocals. He is widely considered a harmonica virtuoso
, and is listed by harmonica manufacturer Hohner
as a "Featured Artist", an accolade reserved for only the best and most successful harmonica players.
. His father was a Hungarian
immigrant who escaped Budapest
in the 1950s. Through him, Popper is related to David Popper
, a 19th-century European cellist whose many solo works for the cello are staples of the instrument's repertoire. John's mother and brother are lawyers.
Popper was raised in Stamford, Connecticut
, New York
, and New Jersey
. He attended Davenport Ridge School
, Stamford Catholic High School (now Trinity Catholic High School) and Princeton High School (New Jersey)
. He took lessons on the piano
, the cello
, and the guitar, but none of those instruments appealed to him and he hated being forced to practice.
He originally wanted to become a comedian
, finding he could use humor to make friends and avoid bullies, but when he and a friend performed a routine as The Blues Brothers
, he found that he enjoyed musical performance. From there, he took up the harmonica. Popper played trumpet
in the Princeton High School Studio Jazz Band, and convinced the teacher to let him play harmonica instead, after an in-class solo on the song "She Blinded Me With Science
".
He formed several garage bands with friends in Princeton, New Jersey
, one of which evolved into Blues Traveler in 1987. After graduating from high school, the group's members all moved to New York City
, where Popper enrolled in The New School for Social Research along with two of his bandmates and high school friend Chris Barron. Popper attended for three years but devoted himself to the band full-time once they signed a record contract in 1990.
. In addition, Popper has played the tin whistle
on some recordings.
A prolific songwriter, he has composed the majority of the lyrics and music of Blues Traveler's songs.
The band grew a following with its extensive touring, sometimes with over 300 dates a year, and gained a reputation in the jam band
scene of the 1990s. Blues Traveler crossed over into mainstream pop/rock radio success with their 1994 album four, which garnered the group extensive media exposure. The Grammy Award
for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal in 1996 was awarded to "Run-Around
", a song which Popper composed.
Bolstered by Blues Traveler's mainstream success, Popper released a solo album, Zygote
, in 1999 and toured in support of it with his own John Popper Band. The album was produced by Terry Manning
, and the backing band consisted of longtime friends Dave Ares, Crugie Riccio, and Rob Clores
of Cycomotogoat, with drummer Carter Beauford
of Dave Matthews Band
. The album's release came less than three months after his heart surgery, and only days after the death of Bobby Sheehan, Popper's band mate and best friend. The subsequent tour was canceled midway due to poor ticket sales, and Popper instead took the time to focus on his health.
Popper has co-written songs with Trey Anastasio
, Warren Haynes
, Chris Barron, and Jonny Lang
. He also frequently appears as a guest performer with musicians both famous and obscure, from a diverse variety of genres. He has performed with, among others, jam bands Spin Doctors
, Dave Matthews Band
, Phish
and most recently, The Allman Brothers Band
in 2009; bluesmen Eric Clapton
and B.B. King; singer-songwriters Jason Mraz
and John Mayer
; saxophonist Karl Denson
; San Francisco's Culann's Hounds; heavy metal band Metallica
; rock trio ZO2
and even with the Hungarian
Ambassador
to the United States, András Simonyi
. He sat in with The Smashing Pumpkins
on the second day of their acoustic
1997 Bridge School Benefit
appearance, contributing harmonica for their song "Porcelina of the Vast Oceans"; Popper's solo garnered major applause from the audience. He also performed with the Grateful Dead at a tribute to Bill Graham in 1991. Lastly, he was even the harmonica player in Hanson
's album This Time Around back in the year 2000, the songs he played harmonica in were "If Only
" and "In The City" -- that album reached #19 on The Billboard 200!
as a venue to gain exposure for up-and-coming independent musicians. It ran until 1998.
Popper was a part of a one-time studio band brought together in 1997 by New York drummer/songwriter Solomon Deniro. Other players included Trey Gunn
, Bernie Worrell
, Marc Ribot
, and Vernon Reid
. The group's only recordings were released as the album Gimme Gimme under the name The Devotees. The same recording was re-released by Deniro in 2001 with the title Solomon.
Popper took over in 1998 as front man of jam-band supergroup
Frogwings, which released the live album Croakin' at Toad's. Frogwings was mainly active until 2000.
Recently, Popper formed a rock
/jazz
/hip-hop fusion
group The John Popper Project
with DJ Logic
, which released an album in 2006 and performs occasionally. He also performs on the album Global Noize by Jason Miles and DJ Logic
(2008).
Popper's latest side project is "John Popper & the Duskray Troubadours", which plays Americana roots music
. The group's self-titled debut from 429 Records was released March 2011 and produced by band member Jono Manson who co-wrote much of the material. The first single, "Something Sweet", written by Manson and Bruce Donnola, was released February 7, 2011 on iTunes.
as a musician similar to himself. Popper appeared on Episode 30 of Space Ghost Coast To Coast
as a musical guest. Popper appeared as a guest on the IFC television comedy series Z Rock
. He plays a role as himself, and befriends the band ZO2
, helping them get a record deal.
In film, Popper had a cameo role as a bowling
tournament MC in Kingpin
and also with Blues Traveler as the Ahmish band singing "But Anyway" at end of movie and an appearance in Howard Stern's Private Parts
as himself. Another cameo followed in Blues Brothers 2000
, with Blues Traveler appearing on the soundtrack. Popper's first major role was in 2000 in Just for the Time Being, an independent film starring Eva Herzigova
.
Popper has provided narration for art projects produced by his friends, including Das Clown, an award-winning short film in slideshow
style that was screened at the Sundance Film Festival
.
Popper served as host of the third annual Jammy awards in 2002.
He has been a recurring guest on Howard Stern
's and Bill Maher
's shows and sits in with The CBS Orchestra on The Late Show with David Letterman on occasion. In 2009, he sat in with The Roots
on an episode of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon
. Popper performed "Something Sweet" with the Duskray Troubadours on the TBS show "Lopez Tonight" on March 1, 2011. He also sat in with the house band for the closing number of the show.
and New Orleans. He currently has a residence near Snohomish, Washington
.
In October 1992 Popper was involved in a traffic accident on a motorcycle
while traveling to a studio to record for Blues Traveler's third album
. The accident put him in a wheelchair for several months, but Popper continued touring with the band despite the difficulties it created.
In 1999, he suffered a near-fatal heart attack
brought on by years of compulsive overeating. (He had been diagnosed with diabetes a few years earlier.) Doctors at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
performed an emergency angioplasty
which saved Popper's life: he had 95% arterial
blockage. Popper later underwent gastric bypass surgery
and lost a significant amount of weight.
Popper has a tattoo
across his chest that says, "I WANT TO BE BRAVE", written backwards.
, and a working $10,000 American Civil War
cannon
. He cites a fascination with their aesthetic of being "life-savingly efficient" machines. Popper is a supporter of Second Amendment
rights, and appeared on an MTV
-sponsored roundtable discussion on gun control
which included panelists from the Law Enforcement Alliance of America
and Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government
. He carries weapons in any state where it is allowed, even wearing them onstage. On his Daily Show appearance, he stated that he decided to move away from New Jersey because of the state's tight gun law
s. He said that his Bucks County, Pennsylvania
property had 32 acres (129,499.5 m²) on which he built a private gun range.
, and has previously expressed support for the Republican Party
. He endorsed George W. Bush in the 2004 U.S. presidential election. Popper (with and without Blues Traveler) has played at conventions, fundraisers, and ceremonies for both Republican and Democratic politicians. He has stated that politics do not influence his choice of performance setting.
Popper has said, "I was a bleeding-heart liberal, until I got a job" and describes himself as "a libertarian who is a Republican when pushed". Popper summed up his political position by saying "I believe in freedom for markets and freedom for individuals, so I guess that makes me a libertarian".
Popper has toured with the USO, both with Blues Traveler and solo. His most recent tour was in the Middle East
, performing with the Band of the Air Force Reserve and Jamie O'Neal
at various military camps.
He has appeared with Rock the Vote
and recorded "The Preamble" for the Schoolhouse Rocks the Vote! album.
In November 2008, Popper said, regarding Barack Obama
, "this is the first time I've voted for a Democrat, ever."
marijuana
. Popper was arrested again on March 6, 2007 near Ritzville, Washington
by the Washington State Patrol. He was the passenger in his own vehicle, which was stopped for speeding, and was found to be in the possession of a small amount of marijuana and weapons. Popper was released the same night. The vehicle had a stash of hidden compartments which contained four rifles, nine handguns, a switchblade
knife, a Taser
, a set of brass knuckles, and night vision goggles
. The vehicle was temporarily seized.
No charges were filed for the weapons, as they were all registered and securely locked away, and Popper was licensed to carry them, with the exception of the brass knuckles
and switchblade knife which Popper agreed to surrender. A deal was reached that allowed the marijuana charge to be dropped if Popper remained free of further drug infractions for one year and attended eight hours of drug counseling. Popper and the driver had been driving back to Washington from Austin, Texas
, and Popper likes to visit gun ranges during long trips.
Special 20 brand blues harp, calling them "the Porsche
of harmonicas".
Popper uses Shure
microphones and Mesa Boogie
amplifiers, similar to bandmate Chan Kinchla. He also uses D'Addario
strings.
, he fashioned belts with enough pockets to hold harmonicas in all 12 keys (plus extras) and wore them as a bandolier
, or slung over his neck. He frequently has to switch keys multiple times within one song, and this arrangement allowed him to quickly trade one harmonica for another without looking. In 2002, he stopped using the belts because they no longer fit him properly due to his weight loss; now he carries his harmonicas in a small black attaché case. He uses a special microphone with switches that change the audio effect
of the harmonica as it is played through an amplifier
, similar to a guitar effects pedal. Popper was inspired by Jimi Hendrix's guitar playing to make his instrument sound however he wanted.
He has also fashioned a number of floppy-brimmed hats with flattened harmonica plates on the band, which he almost always wears during appearances with Blues Traveler.
with Blues Traveler
with The Devotees
with Frogwings
with The John Popper Project
with The Duskray Troubadours
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
and songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
.
He is most famous for his role as frontman of rock band Blues Traveler
Blues Traveler
Blues Traveler is a rock band, formed in Princeton, New Jersey in 1987. The band has been influenced by a variety of genres, including blues-rock, psychedelic rock, folk rock, soul, and Southern rock...
performing harmonica
Harmonica
The harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
, guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
and vocals. He is widely considered a harmonica virtuoso
Virtuoso
A virtuoso is an individual who possesses outstanding technical ability in the fine arts, at singing or playing a musical instrument. The plural form is either virtuosi or the Anglicisation, virtuosos, and the feminine form sometimes used is virtuosa...
, and is listed by harmonica manufacturer Hohner
Hohner
Hohner Musikinstrumente GmbH & Co. KG is a company specialising in the manufacture of musical instruments. Founded in 1857 by Matthias Hohner , Hohner is identified especially with harmonicas and accordions. The Hohner company has invented and produced many different styles, and most of the...
as a "Featured Artist", an accolade reserved for only the best and most successful harmonica players.
Early life
John Popper was born in Cleveland, OhioCleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
. His father was a Hungarian
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
immigrant who escaped Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
in the 1950s. Through him, Popper is related to David Popper
David Popper
David Popper was a Bohemian cellist and composer.-Life:He was born in Prague, and studied music at the Prague Conservatory. He studied the cello under Julius Goltermann , and soon attracted attention...
, a 19th-century European cellist whose many solo works for the cello are staples of the instrument's repertoire. John's mother and brother are lawyers.
Popper was raised in Stamford, Connecticut
Stamford, Connecticut
Stamford is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. According to the 2010 census, the population of the city is 122,643, making it the fourth largest city in the state and the eighth largest city in New England...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, and New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. He attended Davenport Ridge School
Education in Stamford, Connecticut
Education in Stamford, Connecticut takes place in both public and private schools and college and university campuses.-Higher education:Stamford, Connecticut has branches of the University of Connecticut, University of Bridgeport and Sacred Heart University...
, Stamford Catholic High School (now Trinity Catholic High School) and Princeton High School (New Jersey)
Princeton High School (New Jersey)
Princeton High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school in the Borough of Princeton, New Jersey, United States, operating as part of the Princeton Regional Schools district, which serves all public school students in the Borough of Princeton and Princeton Township...
. He took lessons on the piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, the cello
Cello
The cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
, and the guitar, but none of those instruments appealed to him and he hated being forced to practice.
He originally wanted to become a comedian
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
, finding he could use humor to make friends and avoid bullies, but when he and a friend performed a routine as The Blues Brothers
The Blues Brothers
The Blues Brothers are an American blues and soul revivalist band founded in 1978 by comedy actors Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi as part of a musical sketch on Saturday Night Live...
, he found that he enjoyed musical performance. From there, he took up the harmonica. Popper played trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
in the Princeton High School Studio Jazz Band, and convinced the teacher to let him play harmonica instead, after an in-class solo on the song "She Blinded Me With Science
She Blinded Me with Science
"She Blinded Me With Science" is a New Wave song by British musician Thomas Dolby, released in 1982. It was first released as a single in the UK in October 1982 and was subsequently included on the EP Blinded by Science and the second edition of Dolby's debut album The Golden Age of Wireless. It is...
".
He formed several garage bands with friends in Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton is a community located in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. It is best known as the location of Princeton University, which has been sited in the community since 1756...
, one of which evolved into Blues Traveler in 1987. After graduating from high school, the group's members all moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, where Popper enrolled in The New School for Social Research along with two of his bandmates and high school friend Chris Barron. Popper attended for three years but devoted himself to the band full-time once they signed a record contract in 1990.
Blues Traveler
Popper is a founding member of Blues Traveler, serving as the band's front man with lead vocals and harmonica. For some songs, he forgoes the harmonica in favor of guitar, most often a 12-string acousticAcoustic guitar
An acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only an acoustic sound board. The air in this cavity resonates with the vibrational modes of the string and at low frequencies, which depend on the size of the box, the chamber acts like a Helmholtz resonator, increasing or decreasing the volume of the sound...
. In addition, Popper has played the tin whistle
Tin whistle
The tin whistle, also called the penny whistle, English Flageolet, Scottish penny whistle, Tin Flageolet, Irish whistle and Clarke London Flageolet is a simple six-holed woodwind instrument. It is an end blown fipple flute, putting it in the same category as the recorder, American Indian flute, and...
on some recordings.
A prolific songwriter, he has composed the majority of the lyrics and music of Blues Traveler's songs.
The band grew a following with its extensive touring, sometimes with over 300 dates a year, and gained a reputation in the jam band
Jam band
-Ambiguity:By the late 1990s use of the term jam band also became ambiguous. An editorial at jamband.com suggested that any band of which a primary band such as Phish has done a cover of be included as jam band. The example was including New York post-punk band Talking Heads after Phish performed...
scene of the 1990s. Blues Traveler crossed over into mainstream pop/rock radio success with their 1994 album four, which garnered the group extensive media exposure. The Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal in 1996 was awarded to "Run-Around
Run-Around
"Run-Around" is a song by American jam band Blues Traveler, featured on the 1994 album Four. Blues Traveler won their first Grammy Award for the song in 1995.The song was the band's breakthrough hit, peaking at #8 on the Billboard Hot 100....
", a song which Popper composed.
Solo work
In 1990, Popper began to perform occasional solo concerts in addition to touring with Blues Traveler. Several songs which originated as Popper's solo pieces have become part of Blues Traveler's repertoire, and vice versa.Bolstered by Blues Traveler's mainstream success, Popper released a solo album, Zygote
Zygote (album)
Zygote is the debut solo album by musician John Popper of the American jam band Blues Traveler. Produced by Terry Manning, it was released on September 7, 1999, less than a month after Popper lost a good friend and fellow bandmember, Bobby Sheehan...
, in 1999 and toured in support of it with his own John Popper Band. The album was produced by Terry Manning
Terry Manning
Terry Manning is a music producer, songwriter, photographer and recording engineer known for work in rock, rhythm and blues, and pop music genres....
, and the backing band consisted of longtime friends Dave Ares, Crugie Riccio, and Rob Clores
Rob Clores
Rob Clores is a New York based keyboard player who has worked with artists The Black Crowes, Men At Work frontman Colin Hay, Blues Traveler frontman John Popper, Spin Doctors frontman Chris Barron and Gov't Mule leader Warren Haynes.-External links:*...
of Cycomotogoat, with drummer Carter Beauford
Carter Beauford
Carter Anthony Beauford is an American drummer, percussionist, and founding member of Dave Matthews Band. He is known for his ability to adapt to a variety of genres, and both his ambidextrous and his open hand drumming styles. He plays the drums and sings backing vocals in the band...
of Dave Matthews Band
Dave Matthews Band
Dave Matthews Band, sometimes shortened to DMB, is a U.S. rock band formed in Charlottesville, Virginia in 1991. The founding members were singer-songwriter and guitarist Dave Matthews, bassist Stefan Lessard, drummer/backing vocalist Carter Beauford and saxophonist LeRoi Moore. Boyd Tinsley was...
. The album's release came less than three months after his heart surgery, and only days after the death of Bobby Sheehan, Popper's band mate and best friend. The subsequent tour was canceled midway due to poor ticket sales, and Popper instead took the time to focus on his health.
Popper has co-written songs with Trey Anastasio
Trey Anastasio
Trey Anastasio is an American guitarist, composer, and vocalist most noted for his work with the rock band Phish...
, Warren Haynes
Warren Haynes
Warren Haynes is an American rock and blues guitarist, vocalist and songwriter. Haynes is best known for his work as long time guitarist with The Allman Brothers Band and as founding member of the jam band Gov't Mule. Early in his career he was a guitarist for David Allan Coe and The Dickey...
, Chris Barron, and Jonny Lang
Jonny Lang
Jonny Lang is a Grammy award-winning American blues, gospel, and rock singer, songwriter and recording artist. Lang's music is notable for both his unusual voice, which has been compared to that of a forty-year-old blues veteran, and for his guitar solos...
. He also frequently appears as a guest performer with musicians both famous and obscure, from a diverse variety of genres. He has performed with, among others, jam bands Spin Doctors
Spin Doctors
Spin Doctors is an American alternative rock band formed in New York City, best known for their early 1990s hits, "Two Princes," and "Little Miss Can't Be Wrong," which peaked the Billboard Hot 100 charts at #7 & #17 respectively....
, Dave Matthews Band
Dave Matthews Band
Dave Matthews Band, sometimes shortened to DMB, is a U.S. rock band formed in Charlottesville, Virginia in 1991. The founding members were singer-songwriter and guitarist Dave Matthews, bassist Stefan Lessard, drummer/backing vocalist Carter Beauford and saxophonist LeRoi Moore. Boyd Tinsley was...
, Phish
Phish
Phish is an American rock band noted for its musical improvisation, extended jams, and exploration of music across genres. Formed at the University of Vermont in 1983 , the band's four members – Trey Anastasio , Mike Gordon , Jon Fishman , and Page McConnell Phish is an American rock band...
and most recently, The Allman Brothers Band
The Allman Brothers Band
The Allman Brothers Band is an American rock/blues band once based in Macon, Georgia. The band was formed in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1969 by brothers Duane Allman and Gregg Allman , who were supported by Dickey Betts , Berry Oakley , Butch Trucks , and Jai Johanny "Jaimoe"...
in 2009; bluesmen Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton
Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE, is an English guitarist and singer-songwriter. Clapton is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a solo artist, and separately as a member of The Yardbirds and Cream. Clapton has been referred to as one of the most important and...
and B.B. King; singer-songwriters Jason Mraz
Jason Mraz
Jason Thomas Mraz , also known as Mr. AZ and Mr. Raz, is an American singer-songwriter. Mraz released his debut album, Waiting for My Rocket to Come, which contained the hit single "The Remedy ", in 2002, but it was not until the release of his second album, "Mr. A-Z", in 2005, that Mraz achieved...
and John Mayer
John Mayer
John Clayton Mayer is an American pop rock and blues rock musician, singer-songwriter, recording artist, and music producer. Born in Bridgeport, Connecticut and raised in Fairfield, Connecticut, he attended Berklee College of Music in Boston. He moved to Atlanta in 1997, where he refined his...
; saxophonist Karl Denson
Karl Denson
Karl Denson is a funk and jazz saxophonist, flutist and vocalist from San Diego, California. He was a member of Lenny Kravitz's band and has co-founded and led The Greyboy Allstars. Denson has recorded with artists including Jack DeJohnette, Dave Holland, Blind Boys of Alabama, Blackalicious,...
; San Francisco's Culann's Hounds; heavy metal band Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
; rock trio ZO2
ZO2
ZO2 is a Brooklyn-based rock trio.-History:ZO2 has released three albums since its inception. ZO2 was invited to open for Kiss and Poison on their 40-city national VH-1 sponsored "Rock the Nation" tour.-Television series:...
and even with the Hungarian
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
Ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
to the United States, András Simonyi
András Simonyi
h.e. Mr. András Simonyi was the Hungarian ambassador to the United States between 2002 and 2007. He was succeeded by Ferenc Somogyi....
. He sat in with The Smashing Pumpkins
The Smashing Pumpkins
The Smashing Pumpkins are an American alternative rock band that formed in Chicago, Illinois in 1988. Formed by Billy Corgan frontman and James Iha , the band has included Jimmy Chamberlin , D'arcy Wretzky , and currently includes Jeff Schroeder Mike Byrne , and Nicole Fiorentino The Smashing...
on the second day of their acoustic
Acoustic music
Acoustic music comprises music that solely or primarily uses instruments which produce sound through entirely acoustic means, as opposed to electric or electronic means...
1997 Bridge School Benefit
Bridge School Benefit
The Bridge School Benefit is an annual non-profit charity concert held in Mountain View, California, every October at the Shoreline Amphitheatre. The concerts are all organized by musician Neil Young and his wife, Pegi....
appearance, contributing harmonica for their song "Porcelina of the Vast Oceans"; Popper's solo garnered major applause from the audience. He also performed with the Grateful Dead at a tribute to Bill Graham in 1991. Lastly, he was even the harmonica player in Hanson
Hanson (band)
Hanson are an American pop rock band formed in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by brothers Isaac , Taylor , and Zac Hanson . They are best known for the 1997 hit song "MMMBop" from their major label debut album Middle of Nowhere, which earned three Grammy nominations...
's album This Time Around back in the year 2000, the songs he played harmonica in were "If Only
If Only (Hanson song)
"If Only" is a song written and performed by the American pop-rock band Hanson. Outside of the U.S., it was the first single from the band's fifth studio album, This Time Around...
" and "In The City" -- that album reached #19 on The Billboard 200!
Side projects
In 1992, Popper conceived the HORDE FestivalHorde
Horde may refer to:* Ordo * a clan or army of steppe nomads . See Orda * the Blue and White Horde, formed 1226, 1227* the Golden Horde, a Turkic-Mongol state established in the 1240s...
as a venue to gain exposure for up-and-coming independent musicians. It ran until 1998.
Popper was a part of a one-time studio band brought together in 1997 by New York drummer/songwriter Solomon Deniro. Other players included Trey Gunn
Trey Gunn
Trey Gunn is an American musician, known for his membership in progressive rock band King Crimson from 1994 to 2003, playing Warr Guitar and Chapman Stick.-Biography:...
, Bernie Worrell
Bernie Worrell
George Bernard "Bernie" Worrell, Jr. is an American keyboardist and composer best known as a founding member of Parliament-Funkadelic and for his work with Talking Heads. He is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, inducted in 1997 with fifteen other members of Parliament-Funkadelic...
, Marc Ribot
Marc Ribot
Marc Ribot born May 21, 1954) is an American guitarist and composer.His own work has touched on many styles, including no wave, free jazz, and Cuban music. Ribot is also known for collaborating with other musicians, most notably Tom Waits, Elvis Costello, and composer John Zorn.-Biography:Ribot was...
, and Vernon Reid
Vernon Reid
Vernon Reid is an English-born American guitarist, songwriter, composer, and bandleader. Best known as the founder and primary songwriter of the heavy metal band Living Colour, Reid was named #66 on Rolling Stone magazine's 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.Critic Steve Huey writes, "[Reid's]...
. The group's only recordings were released as the album Gimme Gimme under the name The Devotees. The same recording was re-released by Deniro in 2001 with the title Solomon.
Popper took over in 1998 as front man of jam-band supergroup
Supergroup (music)
In the late 1960s, the term supergroup was coined to describe "a rock music group whose performers are already famous from having performed individually or in other groups"....
Frogwings, which released the live album Croakin' at Toad's. Frogwings was mainly active until 2000.
Recently, Popper formed a rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
/jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
/hip-hop fusion
Fusion (music)
A fusion genre is music that combines two or more styles. For example, rock and roll originally developed as a fusion of blues, gospel and country music. The main characteristics of fusion genres are variations in tempo, rhythm, i a sometimes the use of long musical "journeys" that can be divided...
group The John Popper Project
The John Popper Project
The John Popper Project is an American fusion music group. The band's style is a combination of rock, hip hop, and improvisational jazz....
with DJ Logic
DJ Logic
DJ Logic is an American turntablist active primarily in jazz and with jam bands.Kibler was born and raised in The Bronx. An early interest in hip hop led to his using the turntables, practicing often. Kibler was also interested in funk and jazz music, and began collaborating with various musicians...
, which released an album in 2006 and performs occasionally. He also performs on the album Global Noize by Jason Miles and DJ Logic
DJ Logic
DJ Logic is an American turntablist active primarily in jazz and with jam bands.Kibler was born and raised in The Bronx. An early interest in hip hop led to his using the turntables, practicing often. Kibler was also interested in funk and jazz music, and began collaborating with various musicians...
(2008).
Popper's latest side project is "John Popper & the Duskray Troubadours", which plays Americana roots music
Roots music
Roots music can refer to several styles or trends in music:* Americana * Folk music* Roots of hip hop, the conditions which led to creation of the hip hop genre* Roots reggae...
. The group's self-titled debut from 429 Records was released March 2011 and produced by band member Jono Manson who co-wrote much of the material. The first single, "Something Sweet", written by Manson and Bruce Donnola, was released February 7, 2011 on iTunes.
Acting and media appearances
Popper had a speaking guest role in an episode of the sitcom RoseanneRoseanne (TV series)
Roseanne is an American sitcom broadcast on ABC from October 18, 1988 to May 20, 1997. Starring Roseanne Barr, the show revolved around the Conners, an Illinois working class family...
as a musician similar to himself. Popper appeared on Episode 30 of Space Ghost Coast To Coast
Space Ghost Coast to Coast
Space Ghost Coast to Coast is an American animated parody talk show hosted by the 60s Hanna-Barbera cartoon character Space Ghost. The show premiered on April 15, 1994 on Cartoon Network...
as a musical guest. Popper appeared as a guest on the IFC television comedy series Z Rock
Z Rock
Z-Rock was a nationally syndicated radio network based out of Dallas, Texas, USA, in the mid-1980s through the mid-1990s that played heavy metal and hard rock music. The format was one of ABC Radio Network's 24-hour satellite formats...
. He plays a role as himself, and befriends the band ZO2
ZO2
ZO2 is a Brooklyn-based rock trio.-History:ZO2 has released three albums since its inception. ZO2 was invited to open for Kiss and Poison on their 40-city national VH-1 sponsored "Rock the Nation" tour.-Television series:...
, helping them get a record deal.
In film, Popper had a cameo role as a bowling
Bowling
Bowling Bowling Bowling (1375–1425; late Middle English bowle, variant of boule Bowling (1375–1425; late Middle English bowle, variant of boule...
tournament MC in Kingpin
Kingpin (film)
Kingpin is a 1996 slapstick comedy film directed by the Farrelly brothers and starring Woody Harrelson, Randy Quaid, Vanessa Angel, and Bill Murray...
and also with Blues Traveler as the Ahmish band singing "But Anyway" at end of movie and an appearance in Howard Stern's Private Parts
Private Parts (1997 film)
Private Parts is a 1997 American biographical comedy film produced by Ivan Reitman and released by Paramount Pictures. Written by Len Blum and Michael Kalesniko, the film is an adaptation of the 1993 best-selling book of the same name by radio personality Howard Stern, who stars as himself. It...
as himself. Another cameo followed in Blues Brothers 2000
Blues Brothers 2000
Blues Brothers 2000 is a 1998 American musical comedy film that is a sequel to the 1980 film The Blues Brothers. Directed by John Landis, the film featured Dan Aykroyd and John Goodman, with cameos by many musicians.-Plot:...
, with Blues Traveler appearing on the soundtrack. Popper's first major role was in 2000 in Just for the Time Being, an independent film starring Eva Herzigova
Eva Herzigová
Eva Herzigová is a Czech model and actress.-Early life and career:Herzigová was born in Litvínov, Czechoslovakia . She began her modeling career after winning a modeling beauty contest in Prague in 1989, at the age of sixteen. After arriving in Paris, her popularity increased...
.
Popper has provided narration for art projects produced by his friends, including Das Clown, an award-winning short film in slideshow
Slideshow
A slide show is a display of a series of chosen information or pictures, done for artistic or instructional purposes. Slide shows are conducted by a presenter using an apparatus, such as a carousel slide projector, an overhead projector or in more recent years, a computer running presentation...
style that was screened at the Sundance Film Festival
Sundance Film Festival
The Sundance Film Festival is a film festival that takes place annually in Utah, in the United States. It is the largest independent cinema festival in the United States. Held in January in Park City, Salt Lake City, and Ogden, as well as at the Sundance Resort, the festival is a showcase for new...
.
Popper served as host of the third annual Jammy awards in 2002.
He has been a recurring guest on Howard Stern
Howard Stern
Howard Allan Stern is an American radio personality, television host, author, and actor best known for his radio show, which was nationally syndicated from 1986 to 2005. He gained wide recognition in the 1990s where he was labeled a "shock jock" for his outspoken and sometimes controversial style...
's and Bill Maher
Bill Maher
William "Bill" Maher, Jr. is an American stand-up comedian, television host, political commentator, author and actor. Before his current role as the host of HBO's Real Time with Bill Maher, Maher hosted a similar late-night talk show called Politically Incorrect originally on Comedy Central and...
's shows and sits in with The CBS Orchestra on The Late Show with David Letterman on occasion. In 2009, he sat in with The Roots
The Roots
The Roots is an American hip hop/neo soul band formed in 1987 by Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter and Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are famed for beginning with a jazzy, eclectic approach to hip hop which still includes live instrumentals...
on an episode of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon
Late Night with Jimmy Fallon
Late Night with Jimmy Fallon is an American late-night talk show hosted by Jimmy Fallon on NBC. The show premiered on March 2, 2009, as the third incarnation of the Late Night franchise originated by David Letterman....
. Popper performed "Something Sweet" with the Duskray Troubadours on the TBS show "Lopez Tonight" on March 1, 2011. He also sat in with the house band for the closing number of the show.
Personal life
Since the success of Blues Traveler, Popper has lived in various locations, including rural PennsylvaniaPennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
and New Orleans. He currently has a residence near Snohomish, Washington
Snohomish, Washington
Snohomish is a city in Snohomish County founded by the british, Washington, United States. The population was 9,098 at the 2010 census. The mayor of Snohomish is Karen Guzak, and the City Manager is Larry Bauman...
.
In October 1992 Popper was involved in a traffic accident on a motorcycle
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
while traveling to a studio to record for Blues Traveler's third album
Save His Soul (album)
Save His Soul is the third studio album by American jam band Blues Traveler, released in April, 1993 .-Track listing:#"Trina Magna" – 5:49#"Love and Greed" – 4:14...
. The accident put him in a wheelchair for several months, but Popper continued touring with the band despite the difficulties it created.
In 1999, he suffered a near-fatal heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
brought on by years of compulsive overeating. (He had been diagnosed with diabetes a few years earlier.) Doctors at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Originally established as Kaspare Cohn Hospital in 1902, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center is a non-profit, tertiary 958-bed hospital and multi-specialty academic health science centre located in Los Angeles, California, US. Part of the Cedars-Sinai Health System, the hospital employs a staff of over...
performed an emergency angioplasty
Angioplasty
Angioplasty is the technique of mechanically widening a narrowed or obstructed blood vessel, the latter typically being a result of atherosclerosis. An empty and collapsed balloon on a guide wire, known as a balloon catheter, is passed into the narrowed locations and then inflated to a fixed size...
which saved Popper's life: he had 95% arterial
Artery
Arteries are blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart. This blood is normally oxygenated, exceptions made for the pulmonary and umbilical arteries....
blockage. Popper later underwent gastric bypass surgery
Gastric bypass surgery
Gastric bypass procedures are any of a group of similar operations that first divides the stomach into a small upper pouch and a much larger lower "remnant" pouch and then re-arranges the small intestine to allow both pouches to stay connected to it. Surgeons have developed several different ways...
and lost a significant amount of weight.
Popper has a tattoo
Tattoo
A tattoo is made by inserting indelible ink into the dermis layer of the skin to change the pigment. Tattoos on humans are a type of body modification, and tattoos on other animals are most commonly used for identification purposes...
across his chest that says, "I WANT TO BE BRAVE", written backwards.
Weapons collecting
Popper is an avid collector of weaponry, including firearms, swordsSwords
A sword is a cutting/thrusting weapon made of metal. Sword or swords may also refer to:* Swords, County Dublin, Ireland* Suit of swords, a suit in Latin-suited playing cards and Tarot decks* SWORDS, a ground-based military robot...
, and a working $10,000 American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
cannon
Cannon
A cannon is any piece of artillery that uses gunpowder or other usually explosive-based propellents to launch a projectile. Cannon vary in caliber, range, mobility, rate of fire, angle of fire, and firepower; different forms of cannon combine and balance these attributes in varying degrees,...
. He cites a fascination with their aesthetic of being "life-savingly efficient" machines. Popper is a supporter of Second Amendment
Second Amendment to the United States Constitution
The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution is the part of the United States Bill of Rights that protects the right of the people to keep and bear arms. It was adopted on December 15, 1791, along with the rest of the Bill of Rights.In 2008 and 2010, the Supreme Court issued two Second...
rights, and appeared on an MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
-sponsored roundtable discussion on gun control
Gun control
Gun control is any law, policy, practice, or proposal designed to restrict or limit the possession, production, importation, shipment, sale, and/or use of guns or other firearms by private citizens...
which included panelists from the Law Enforcement Alliance of America
Law Enforcement Alliance of America
The Law Enforcement Alliance of America is a non-profit, non-partisan, conservative gun rights corporation in the United States, headquartered just outside of Washington, D.C. in Springfield, Virginia. Its membership is composed of active duty and retired law enforcement officers, crime victims,...
and Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government
John F. Kennedy School of Government
The John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University is a public policy and public administration school, and one of Harvard's graduate and professional schools...
. He carries weapons in any state where it is allowed, even wearing them onstage. On his Daily Show appearance, he stated that he decided to move away from New Jersey because of the state's tight gun law
Gun law
A gun law is a law that pertains to firearms. Restrictions on gun ownership and use vary greatly both by country and the type of firearm used....
s. He said that his Bucks County, Pennsylvania
Bucks County, Pennsylvania
- Industry and commerce :The boroughs of Bristol and Morrisville were prominent industrial centers along the Northeast Corridor during World War II. Suburban development accelerated in Lower Bucks in the 1950s with the opening of Levittown, Pennsylvania, the second such "Levittown" designed by...
property had 32 acres (129,499.5 m²) on which he built a private gun range.
Politics
Popper is a member of the Libertarian PartyLibertarian Party (United States)
The Libertarian Party is the third largest and fastest growing political party in the United States. The political platform of the Libertarian Party reflects its brand of libertarianism, favoring minimally regulated, laissez-faire markets, strong civil liberties, minimally regulated migration...
, and has previously expressed support for the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
. He endorsed George W. Bush in the 2004 U.S. presidential election. Popper (with and without Blues Traveler) has played at conventions, fundraisers, and ceremonies for both Republican and Democratic politicians. He has stated that politics do not influence his choice of performance setting.
Popper has said, "I was a bleeding-heart liberal, until I got a job" and describes himself as "a libertarian who is a Republican when pushed". Popper summed up his political position by saying "I believe in freedom for markets and freedom for individuals, so I guess that makes me a libertarian".
Popper has toured with the USO, both with Blues Traveler and solo. His most recent tour was in the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
, performing with the Band of the Air Force Reserve and Jamie O'Neal
Jamie O'Neal
Jamie O'Neal is a contemporary country singer and songwriter who has had success in the United States. She was born Jamie Murphy in Sydney, Australia, to parents Jimmy and Julie Murphy, who were also professional musicians...
at various military camps.
He has appeared with Rock the Vote
Rock the Vote
Rock the Vote is a non-profit organization in the United States of America whose mission is to engage and build the political power of young people....
and recorded "The Preamble" for the Schoolhouse Rocks the Vote! album.
In November 2008, Popper said, regarding Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
, "this is the first time I've voted for a Democrat, ever."
Religion
Popper was raised Catholic, and for a time attended Stamford Catholic High School in Connecticut, however, he does not actively practice in his adult life. He has described himself as "a recovering Catholic". The song "Trina Magna" was written as an exploration of his religious views.Legal trouble
In 2003, Popper was arrested for possession ofmarijuana
Cannabis (drug)
Cannabis, also known as marijuana among many other names, refers to any number of preparations of the Cannabis plant intended for use as a psychoactive drug or for medicinal purposes. The English term marijuana comes from the Mexican Spanish word marihuana...
. Popper was arrested again on March 6, 2007 near Ritzville, Washington
Ritzville, Washington
Ritzville is a city in Adams County, Washington, United States. The population was 1,673 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Adams County.-History:...
by the Washington State Patrol. He was the passenger in his own vehicle, which was stopped for speeding, and was found to be in the possession of a small amount of marijuana and weapons. Popper was released the same night. The vehicle had a stash of hidden compartments which contained four rifles, nine handguns, a switchblade
Switchblade
A switchblade is a type of knife with a folding or sliding blade contained in the handle which is opened automatically by a spring when a button, lever, or switch on the handle or bolster is activated A switchblade (also known as an automatic knife, pushbutton knife, switch, Sprenger, Springer,...
knife, a Taser
Taser
A Taser is an electroshock weapon that uses electrical current to disrupt voluntary control of muscles. Its manufacturer, Taser International, calls the effects "neuromuscular incapacitation" and the devices' mechanism "Electro-Muscular Disruption technology"...
, a set of brass knuckles, and night vision goggles
Night vision goggles
A night vision device is an optical instrument that allows images to be produced in levels of light approaching total darkness. They are most often used by the military and law enforcement agencies, but are available to civilian users...
. The vehicle was temporarily seized.
No charges were filed for the weapons, as they were all registered and securely locked away, and Popper was licensed to carry them, with the exception of the brass knuckles
Brass knuckles
Brass knuckles, also sometimes called knuckles, knucks, brass knucks, or knuckledusters, are weapons used in hand-to-hand combat. Brass knuckles are pieces of metal, usually steel despite their name, shaped to fit around the knuckles...
and switchblade knife which Popper agreed to surrender. A deal was reached that allowed the marijuana charge to be dropped if Popper remained free of further drug infractions for one year and attended eight hours of drug counseling. Popper and the driver had been driving back to Washington from Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
, and Popper likes to visit gun ranges during long trips.
Equipment
John Popper has expressed a preference for the HohnerHohner
Hohner Musikinstrumente GmbH & Co. KG is a company specialising in the manufacture of musical instruments. Founded in 1857 by Matthias Hohner , Hohner is identified especially with harmonicas and accordions. The Hohner company has invented and produced many different styles, and most of the...
Special 20 brand blues harp, calling them "the Porsche
Porsche
Porsche Automobil Holding SE, usually shortened to Porsche SE a Societas Europaea or European Public Company, is a German based holding company with investments in the automotive industry....
of harmonicas".
Popper uses Shure
Shure
Shure Incorporated is an American corporation originally founded by Sidney N. Shure in Chicago, Illinois in 1925 as a supplier of radio parts kits. The company became a consumer and professional audio-electronics manufacturer of microphones, wireless microphone systems, phonograph cartridges,...
microphones and Mesa Boogie
Mesa Boogie
Mesa/Boogie is a company in Petaluma, California that makes amplifiers for guitars and basses. It has been in operation since 1969....
amplifiers, similar to bandmate Chan Kinchla. He also uses D'Addario
D'Addario
D'Addario is a manufacturer of musical instrument strings, primarily guitar strings, currently headquartered in Farmingdale, Long Island, New York...
strings.
Trademark equipment
Popper has developed some equipment innovations to accommodate his use of harmonicas during onstage performances. Because each individual diatonic harmonica is tuned to one particular keyKey (music)
In music theory, the term key is used in many different and sometimes contradictory ways. A common use is to speak of music as being "in" a specific key, such as in the key of C major or in the key of F-sharp. Sometimes the terms "major" or "minor" are appended, as in the key of A minor or in the...
, he fashioned belts with enough pockets to hold harmonicas in all 12 keys (plus extras) and wore them as a bandolier
Bandolier
A bandolier or a bandoleer is a pocketed belt for holding ammunition. It was usually slung over the chest. In its original form, it was common issue to soldiers from the 16th to 18th centuries. This was very useful for quickly reloading a musket....
, or slung over his neck. He frequently has to switch keys multiple times within one song, and this arrangement allowed him to quickly trade one harmonica for another without looking. In 2002, he stopped using the belts because they no longer fit him properly due to his weight loss; now he carries his harmonicas in a small black attaché case. He uses a special microphone with switches that change the audio effect
Effects unit
Effects units are electronic devices that alter how a musical instrument or other audio source sounds. Some effects subtly "color" a sound, while others transform it dramatically. Effects are used during live performances or in the studio, typically with electric guitar, keyboard and bass...
of the harmonica as it is played through an amplifier
Amplifier
Generally, an amplifier or simply amp, is a device for increasing the power of a signal.In popular use, the term usually describes an electronic amplifier, in which the input "signal" is usually a voltage or a current. In audio applications, amplifiers drive the loudspeakers used in PA systems to...
, similar to a guitar effects pedal. Popper was inspired by Jimi Hendrix's guitar playing to make his instrument sound however he wanted.
He has also fashioned a number of floppy-brimmed hats with flattened harmonica plates on the band, which he almost always wears during appearances with Blues Traveler.
Discography
Solo- ZygoteZygote (album)Zygote is the debut solo album by musician John Popper of the American jam band Blues Traveler. Produced by Terry Manning, it was released on September 7, 1999, less than a month after Popper lost a good friend and fellow bandmember, Bobby Sheehan...
(1999) - Go Outside and Drive (The Vestal Version) single (1999)
with Blues Traveler
- See Blues Traveler discography
with The Devotees
- Gimme Gimme (1997)
with Frogwings
- Croakin' at Toad's (1999)
with The John Popper Project
The John Popper Project
The John Popper Project is an American fusion music group. The band's style is a combination of rock, hip hop, and improvisational jazz....
- The John Popper Project with DJ Logic (2006)
with The Duskray Troubadours
- John Popper & the Duskray Troubadours (2011)
- Something Sweet single (2011)
Featured music appearances
- "Northbound Train" from Broadway musical soundtrack The Civil War: The Complete WorkThe Civil War (musical)The Civil War is a musical written by Gregory Boyd and Frank Wildhorn, with lyrics by Jack Murphy and music by Wildhorn. The musical centers on the American Civil War, with the musical numbers portraying the war through Union, Confederate, and slave viewpoints. The musical was nominated for a Tony...
- Duet with Eric Clapton on "Christmas Blues" from A Very Special Christmas LiveA Very Special Christmas LiveA Very Special Christmas Live is the fourth in a series of Christmas music-themed compilation albums produced to benefit Special Olympics. The album was recorded live in Washington, D.C. in December 1998 at a benefit party held by then-President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton to...
- Duet with BB King on "Back Door Santa" from A Very Special Christmas Vol. 5A Very Special Christmas 5A Very Special Christmas 5 is the fifth in a series of Christmas-themed compilation albums produced to benefit Special Olympics. Several of the album's tracks were recorded live in Washington, D.C. in December 2000 at a benefit concert hosted by then-President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary...
- Solo instrumental track "Harmonica Musings" from the soundtrackSoundtrackA soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show; or the physical area of a film that contains the...
of Blues Brothers 2000Blues Brothers 2000Blues Brothers 2000 is a 1998 American musical comedy film that is a sequel to the 1980 film The Blues Brothers. Directed by John Landis, the film featured Dan Aykroyd and John Goodman, with cameos by many musicians.-Plot:... - Harmonica solos of character Buster Blues in the Blues Brothers 2000 film
- "Regarding Steven" from the 2000 compilation VH1 Storytellers Live
- "Alone" from Warren Haynes Presents: The Benefit Concert, Volume 2
- "Devil Got My Woman", "Alone", and "Sign on the Door" from Warren Haynes Presents: The Benefit Concert, Volume 3"
- "The Preamble" from Schoolhouse Rocks The Vote!
Guest music appearances
| Year | Role | Song | Artist | Album | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Harmonica | "Just One of Those Things" | Gutterboy Dito Montiel Dito Montiel, born as Orlandito Montiel, is an American author, screenwriter, director and musician.Born in New York City, he came into the public eye after the breakup of his hardcore punk band Major Conflict... |
Gutterboy | |
| "Growing Up Under the RR" | Extra track on 1992 re-release | ||||
| 1991 | Harmonica | "More Than She Knows" | Spin Doctors Spin Doctors Spin Doctors is an American alternative rock band formed in New York City, best known for their early 1990s hits, "Two Princes," and "Little Miss Can't Be Wrong," which peaked the Billboard Hot 100 charts at #7 & #17 respectively.... |
Pocket Full of Kryptonite Pocket Full of Kryptonite Pocket Full of Kryptonite is the first studio album by American band Spin Doctors, released in August 1991. It peaked at #1 and #3 on Billboard's Heatseekers and Billboard 200 albums charts, respectively... |
Album reached #3 on Billboard 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
| Backing vocals and 'Inspiration' | "Two Princes Two Princes "Two Princes" is a song by the New York City-based pop rock band Spin Doctors. As a single, it reached #7 in the United States, #2 in Canada, and #3 in the United Kingdom. It was the band's most popular song. It also ranked at #21 on Blender magazine's list of the "50 Worst Songs Ever". It ranked... " |
Reached #1 on Mainstream Rock; #7 on the Hot 100 | |||
| Harmonica | "Off My Line" | ||||
| 1992 | Harmonica | "You Can Leave Your Hat On" | Merl Saunders Merl Saunders Merl Saunders, was an American multi-genre musician who played piano and keyboards, favoring the Hammond B-3 console organ.-Biography:... |
Save the Planet so We'll Have Someplace to Boogie | Randy Newman Randy Newman Randall Stuart "Randy" Newman is an American singer-songwriter, arranger, composer, and pianist who is known for his mordant pop songs and for film scores.... cover |
| "My Problems Got Problems" | |||||
| 1993 | Harmonica | "I Lost My Mule in Texas" | Aquarium Rescue Unit Aquarium Rescue Unit Col. Bruce Hampton and the Aquarium Rescue Unit is an experimental rock group originally founded by Col. Bruce Hampton. The band gained popularity in the Atlanta club scene in the early 1990s and went on to tour with the first H.O.R.D.E. Tour. During the initial years, the band was composed of... |
Mirrors of Embarrassment | |
| Harmonica | "Built for Comfort" | Merl Saunders | It's In The Air It's In The Air It's In The Air was an American Champion filly Thoroughbred racehorse.Bred by Steve and Gary Wolfson's Happy Valley Farm, It's In The Air was from the first crop of Mr. Prospector and out of the mare A Wind Is Rising... |
||
| 1994 | Harmonica | "What Would You Say What Would You Say "What Would You Say" is a song by the Dave Matthews Band, released as a single in 1994, taken from their album Under the Table and Dreaming. It reached #11 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart. It is also featured on Dave Matthews Band's first compilation album, The Best of What's Around Vol. 1. The... " |
Dave Matthews Band Dave Matthews Band Dave Matthews Band, sometimes shortened to DMB, is a U.S. rock band formed in Charlottesville, Virginia in 1991. The founding members were singer-songwriter and guitarist Dave Matthews, bassist Stefan Lessard, drummer/backing vocalist Carter Beauford and saxophonist LeRoi Moore. Boyd Tinsley was... |
Under the Table and Dreaming Under the Table and Dreaming -Songs cut from the album:Songs that were recorded during the sessions, but weren't included on the final cut:*"Granny" – Dave wanted this to be the band's first single, but the song never made it to any of the studio albums. Nonetheless, the song remains a strong fan favorite and is being played... |
Reached #9 Top 40 Mainstream; #11 Modern Rock Tracks Modern Rock Tracks Alternative Songs is a music chart in the United States that has appeared in Billboard magazine since September 10, 1988. It lists the 40 most-played songs on modern rock radio stations, most of which are alternative rock songs... |
| Harmonica | "Louisiana Blues" | Foghat Foghat Foghat are a British rock band that had their peak success in the mid- to late-1970s. Their style can be described as "blues-rock," or boogie-rock dominated by electric and electric slide guitar. The band has achieved five gold records... |
Return of the Boogie Men Return of the Boogie Men Return of the Boogie Men is the thirteenth studio album by British hard rock band Foghat, released in 1994.-Track listing:#"Jump That Train" - 5:16#"Louisiana Blues" - 5:47#"Motel Shaker" - 4:39... |
||
| Harmonica | "Communication Breakdown Communication Breakdown "Communication Breakdown" is a song by the English rock band Led Zeppelin, from their 1969 debut album Led Zeppelin.- Structure :The pounding guitar riff was played by Page through a small, miked Supro amplifier throughout; and ran his Fender Telecaster through a fully closed Vox wah pedal to... " |
Jeff Healey Jeff Healey Norman Jeffrey "Jeff" Healey was a blind Canadian jazz and blues-rock vocalist and guitarist who attained musical and personal popularity, particularly in the 1980s and 1990s.-Early life:... |
Cover to Cover | Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham... cover |
|
| 1995 | Harmonica | "Mule" | Gov't Mule Gov't Mule Gov't Mule is a Southern rock jam band formed in 1994 as an Allman Brothers Band side project by Warren Haynes and Allen Woody.The band released their debut album Gov't Mule in 1995... |
Gov't Mule | |
| 1996 | Harmonica and Vocal duet | "Today I Started Loving You Again" | Dolly Parton Dolly Parton Dolly Rebecca Parton is an American singer-songwriter, author, multi-instrumentalist, actress and philanthropist, best known for her work in country music. Dolly Parton has appeared in movies like 9 to 5, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Steel Magnolias and Straight Talk... |
Treasures Treasures (Dolly Parton album) Treasures is a 1996 Dolly Parton album, made up of covers of rock and country hits from the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. It was her 33rd studio album. Among the selections were work by Merle Haggard, Neil Young, Kris Kristofferson, Cat Stevens and Mac Davis... |
Merle Haggard Merle Haggard Merle Ronald Haggard is an American country music singer, guitarist, fiddler, instrumentalist, and songwriter. Along with Buck Owens, Haggard and his band The Strangers helped create the Bakersfield sound, which is characterized by the unique twang of Fender Telecaster guitars, vocal harmonies,... cover |
| 1997 | Harmonica | "Feather" | God Street Wine God Street Wine God Street Wine was a jam rock group from New York City. The band broke up in 1999. The band toured the U.S. with H.O.R.D.E. four times and opened for the Black Crowes and Allman Brothers... |
God Street Wine | |
| "She Comes Up Softly" | |||||
| 1998 | Harmonica | "Tuesday's Gone Tuesday's Gone "Tuesday's Gone" is the second track on Lynyrd Skynyrd's first album, "". One of the band's most popular songs, its relaxing pace and serenading guitars have made it a fan staple. The lyrics, featuring themes of a relationship ending because of extensive touring, are similar in mood to the band's... " |
James Hetfield James Hetfield James Alan Hetfield is the rhythm guitarist, co-founder, main songwriter, and lead vocalist for the American heavy metal band Metallica. Hetfield co-founded Metallica in October 1981 after answering a classified advertisement by drummer Lars Ulrich in the Los Angeles newspaper The Recycler,... Pepper Keenan Pepper Keenan Pepper J. Keenan , is an American vocalist and guitarist, best known for his work with heavy metal bands Corrosion of Conformity and Down. He joined Corrosion of Conformity in 1989, but did not become the lead singer until the recording of Deliverance in 1994... Jerry Cantrell Jerry Cantrell Jerry Fulton Cantrell Jr. is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter best known for his work with the grunge/metal band Alice in Chains, as lead guitarist, backing and co-lead vocalist, and co-lyricist. He performs lead vocals on his solo projects, and is part of Alice in Chains' harmonizing... Sean Kinney Sean Kinney Sean Howard Kinney is an American musician best known for being the drummer of the influential grunge band Alice in Chains.... "Big" Jim Martin Gary Rossington Gary Rossington Gary Robert Rossington is a founding member of Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. He plays lead and rhythm guitar. He is also a founding member of The Rossington-Collins Band along with former Lynyrd Skynyrd bandmate, the late Allen Collins... Les Claypool Les Claypool Leslie Edward "Les" Claypool is an American musician and writer, best known as the lead vocalist and bassist in the band Primus. Claypool's playing style on the electric bass mixes tapping, flamenco-like strumming, whammy bar bends and slapping.Claypool has also self produced and engineered his... |
Garage Inc. Garage Inc. -Disc two:These tracks are a collection of B-sides from artists Metallica were inspired by, throughout the early years of the band.-Personnel:* James Hetfield – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, lead guitar on "Whiskey In the Jar"... by Metallica Metallica Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ... |
Live Lynyrd Skynyrd Lynyrd Skynyrd Lynyrd Skynyrd is an American rock band prominent in spreading Southern Rock during the 1970s.Originally formed as the "Noble Five" in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1964, the band rose to worldwide recognition on the basis of its driving live performances and signature tune, Freebird... cover; album reached #2 on The Billboard 200 and #3 on Top Canadian Albums |
| 1999 | Harmonica | "She Caught the Katy She Caught the Katy "She Caught the Katy " is a blues standard written by Taj Mahal and James Rachell. The song was first recorded for Taj Mahal's 1968 album The Natch'l Blues, and is one of Mahal's most famous tunes... " |
Taj Mahal Taj Mahal (musician) Henry Saint Clair Fredericks , who uses the stage name Taj Mahal, is an American Grammy Award winning blues musician. He incorporates elements of world music into his music... |
Blue Light Boogie | live |
| Harmonica | "On the Other Side" | Leftover Salmon Leftover Salmon Leftover Salmon is a jam band from Boulder, Colorado, formed in 1989. Their unique blend of bluegrass, rock, country, and Cajun/Zydeco, which the band calls "Polyethnic Cajun Slamgrass", has found favor with the jam band scene... |
The Nashville Sessions | ||
| Harmonica | "Leave Me Alone" | Tino Gonzales | Two Sides of a Heart | ||
| "Twine Time" | |||||
| 2000 | Harmonica | "If Only If Only (Hanson song) "If Only" is a song written and performed by the American pop-rock band Hanson. Outside of the U.S., it was the first single from the band's fifth studio album, This Time Around... " |
Hanson Hanson (band) Hanson are an American pop rock band formed in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by brothers Isaac , Taylor , and Zac Hanson . They are best known for the 1997 hit song "MMMBop" from their major label debut album Middle of Nowhere, which earned three Grammy nominations... |
This Time Around | Album reached #19 on The Billboard 200 |
| "In The City" | |||||
| Harmonica | "Diana" | God Street Wine | The Last of the Wine | ||
| Harmonica | "Scarred But Smarter" | Kevn Kinney Drivin N Cryin Drivin' 'N' Cryin is an American Hard rock/Southern rock band from Atlanta, GA.-History:The band was formed in 1985 in Atlanta. Kevn Kinney hooked up with Tim Nielsen, who was in a popular band called the Nightporters with drummer Paul Lenz at the time... |
The Flower and The Knife | ||
| 2001 | Harmonica | "I'm Gonna Move to the Outskirts of Town" | Chico Hamilton Chico Hamilton Chico Hamilton , is an American jazz drummer and bandleader.-Early life through 1960s:Hamilton was born in Los Angeles, California. He had a fast-track musical education in a band with Charles Mingus, Illinois Jacquet, Ernie Royal, Dexter Gordon, Buddy Collette and Jack Kelso... |
Foreststorn | |
| 2002 | Harmonica | "Country Love" | Cee-Lo Cee-Lo Thomas DeCarlo Callaway , better known by his stage name Cee Lo Green, is an American singer-songwriter, rapper, record producer and actor... |
Cee-Lo Green and His Perfect Imperfections Cee-Lo Green and His Perfect Imperfections - References :... |
|
| Harmonica | "Our Greatest Year" | Bad Astronaut Bad Astronaut Bad Astronaut is an American indie/punk rock band founded in 2000 by Joey Cape, singer from Lagwagon. In Bad Astronaut, Joey Cape explores a new style of pop, with lyrics often about deep and intricate personal matters.... |
Houston: We Have a Drinking Problem Houston: We Have a Drinking Problem Houston: We Have a Drinking Problem is the first LP by Bad Astronaut, released in 2002 on the Honest Don's independent record label. The title alludes to the statement "Houston, we have a problem" somewhat inaccurately attributed to astronaut Jim Lovell aboard the Apollo 13 spacecraft when an... |
||
| Harmonica | "On the Run" | Todd Wolfe | Wolfe | ||
| 2003 | Harmonica and vocals | "I Saw a Bird Fly Away" | Dar Williams Dar Williams Dar Williams is an American singer-songwriter specializing in pop folk.She is a frequent performer at folk festivals and has toured with such artists as Mary Chapin Carpenter, Patty Griffin, Ani DiFranco, The Nields, Shawn Colvin, Girlyman, Joan Baez, and Catie Curtis.-Biography:Williams was born... |
The Beauty of the Rain The Beauty of the Rain The Beauty of the Rain is the fifth studio album by Dar Williams.-Track listing:#"Mercy of the Fallen" – 4:11#"Farewell to the Old Me" – 2:45#"I Saw a Bird Fly Away" – 2:51#"The Beauty of the Rain" – 3:00... |
|
| 2004 | Harmonica | "Curbside Prophet Curbside Prophet "Curbside Prophet" is a song by Jason Mraz. It was released as part of his first major studio album, Waiting for My Rocket to Come, which is one of the lyrics of this song. The song was remixed with additional and modified lyrics for the 2004 film New York Minute... " |
Jason Mraz Jason Mraz Jason Thomas Mraz , also known as Mr. AZ and Mr. Raz, is an American singer-songwriter. Mraz released his debut album, Waiting for My Rocket to Come, which contained the hit single "The Remedy ", in 2002, but it was not until the release of his second album, "Mr. A-Z", in 2005, that Mraz achieved... |
Tonight, Not Again Tonight, Not Again: Jason Mraz Live at the Eagles Ballroom Tonight, Not Again: Jason Mraz Live at the Eagles Ballroom is a live album and DVD by American singer/songwriter Jason Mraz, released in 2004... |
Live; album reached #49 on The Billboard 200 and Top Internet Albums |
| "Too Much Food" | |||||
| Harmonica and vocals | "Invisible" | Buddahead Buddahead Buddahead is a New York City based indie rock band that was most active in the early 00's for several years. While the band no longer tours it still writes and records.... |
Crossing the Invisible Line | ||
| Harmonica | "Stranger Blues" | Wolfe Todd Wolfe Todd Stewart Wolfe is an American blues-rock guitarist and singer-songwriter.During a professional career that has spanned three decades, Wolfe has had numerous album releases with his own band in the blues and rock genre... |
Delaware Crossing | ||
| "Tumblin' Down" | |||||
| 2005 | Harmonica | Tom "Bones" Malone Tom Malone (musician) Tom "Bones" Malone is an American jazz musician. As his nickname implies, he specializes on the trombone, but also plays trumpet, tuba, tenor sax, baritone sax, flutes, piccolo, and other instruments.... |
Soul Bones | ||
| 2007 | Harmonica | "Tequila Mockingbird" | Stolen Ogre Stolen Ogre Stolen Ogre is an American rock band based in Seattle, Washington. Michael McMorrow and Blues Traveler drummer Brendan Hill formed the group after they met on the H.O.R.D.E... |
Tequila Mockingbird EP | |
| 2008 | Harmonica | "The Souk" | Global Noize | Global Noize | |
| Harmonica | "Purifier" | Live Live (band) Live is an American rock band from York, Pennsylvania, composed of Chad Taylor , Patrick Dahlheimer , and Chad Gracey . Lead singer and principal songwriter Ed Kowalczyk left the band in November 2009.... |
Live at the Paradiso - Amsterdam Live at the Paradiso - Amsterdam Live at the Paradiso – Amsterdam is Live's first live concert album and DVD.-History:The DVD and CD were recorded over two nights at the Paradiso in Amsterdam. Two studio recordings, "Forever" and "Purifier" are included on the album. Singer Ed Kowalczyk said of them, "Both songs kind of have... |
||
| Harmonica | "Ghost Town" | John Oates John Oates John William Oates is an American rock, R&B and soul guitarist, musician, songwriter and producer best known as half of the rock and soul duo Hall & Oates .... |
1000 Miles of Life | ||
| 2009 | Background vocals | "No Way Out" | ZO2 ZO2 ZO2 is a Brooklyn-based rock trio.-History:ZO2 has released three albums since its inception. ZO2 was invited to open for Kiss and Poison on their 40-city national VH-1 sponsored "Rock the Nation" tour.-Television series:... |
Casino Logic | |
| 2010 | Harmonica | "Only the Tequila Talkin'" | Lisa Bouchelle | Blue Room with a Red Vase | |
| Harmonica | "Last to Know" | Ron Noyes Band | Dust Bowl Diary | ||
| "There Ya Go" | Beats Antique Beats Antique Beats Antique is an experimental world fusion and electronic music group. Formed in 2007 in conjunction with producer Miles Copeland, the group has become noted for their mix of different genres as well as their live shows which mix samples and heavy percussives with Tribal Fusion dance and... |
Blind Threshold |
Television appearances
- Popper performed a duet with Dolly PartonDolly PartonDolly Rebecca Parton is an American singer-songwriter, author, multi-instrumentalist, actress and philanthropist, best known for her work in country music. Dolly Parton has appeared in movies like 9 to 5, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Steel Magnolias and Straight Talk...
on her TreasuresTreasures (Dolly Parton album)Treasures is a 1996 Dolly Parton album, made up of covers of rock and country hits from the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. It was her 33rd studio album. Among the selections were work by Merle Haggard, Neil Young, Kris Kristofferson, Cat Stevens and Mac Davis...
television special in 1997 - Appeared on a 1996 episode of The Late Show with David Letterman to surprise Manny the HippieManny the HippieManny the Hippie in 1975 was a San Francisco Haight-Ashbury regular in 1996 when Late Show with David Letterman was being hosted from there and David Letterman "discovered" him on the street...
with a harmonica duel - Appeared as a guest on an episode of the Cartoon NetworkCartoon NetworkCartoon Network is a name of television channels worldwide created by Turner Broadcasting which used to primarily show animated programming. The channel began broadcasting on October 1, 1992 in the United States....
comedy talk showTalk showA talk show or chat show is a television program or radio program where one person discuss various topics put forth by a talk show host....
Space Ghost Coast to CoastSpace Ghost Coast to CoastSpace Ghost Coast to Coast is an American animated parody talk show hosted by the 60s Hanna-Barbera cartoon character Space Ghost. The show premiered on April 15, 1994 on Cartoon Network... - Had speaking lines on an episode (#9509 "Of Mice and Dan") of the sitcom RoseanneRoseanne (TV series)Roseanne is an American sitcom broadcast on ABC from October 18, 1988 to May 20, 1997. Starring Roseanne Barr, the show revolved around the Conners, an Illinois working class family...
as character Stingray Wilson, a musician similar to Popper himself (Popper later wrote lyrics for the show's bluesy theme song, which was performed by Blues Traveler in the final season of the show.) - An animated clay caricature of Popper fought a match in the MTVMTVMTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
parodyParodyA parody , in current usage, is an imitative work created to mock, comment on, or trivialise an original work, its subject, author, style, or some other target, by means of humorous, satiric or ironic imitation...
series Celebrity DeathmatchCelebrity DeathmatchCelebrity Deathmatch is a claymation television show that depicts celebrities against each other in a wrestling ring, almost always ending in the loser's gruesome death. It was known for its excessive amount of blood used in every match and exaggerated physical injuries...
. Popper defeated singer Fiona AppleFiona AppleFiona Apple McAfee Maggart is an American singer-songwriter and pianist. Apple met international acclaim for her 1996 debut album, Tidal, which was a critical and commercial success...
. - Popper appeared on Penn and Teller's Sin City SpectacularPenn & Teller's Sin City SpectacularPenn & Teller's Sin City Spectacular was a weekly American television variety show hosted by Penn and Teller that appeared on the FX Networks from August 10, 1998 - June 30, 1999...
, playing harmonica during a card trick performance - Was a guest on Comedy CentralComedy CentralComedy Central is an American cable television and satellite television channel that carries comedy programming, both original and syndicated....
's The Daily Show in 2003 promoting Blues Traveler's album Truth Be ToldTruth Be Told (Blues Traveler album)Truth Be Told is American jam band Blues Traveler's seventh studio album, released on August 5, 2003 .-Track listing:#"Unable to Get Free" – 4:23#"Eventually " – 3:51... - Was a celebrity coach in the final round of America's Got TalentAmerica's Got TalentAmerica's Got Talent is an American reality television series on the NBC television network, and part of the global British Got Talent franchise. It is a talent show that features singers, dancers, magicians, comedians, and other performers of all ages competing for the advertised top prize of...
Other appearances
- Popper has played his Jimi HendrixJimi HendrixJames Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
-inspired harmonica rendition of "The Star-Spangled BannerThe Star-Spangled Banner"The Star-Spangled Banner" is the national anthem of the United States of America. The lyrics come from "Defence of Fort McHenry", a poem written in 1814 by the 35-year-old lawyer and amateur poet, Francis Scott Key, after witnessing the bombardment of Fort McHenry by the British Royal Navy ships...
" at National Basketball AssociationNational Basketball AssociationThe National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
, National Football LeagueNational Football LeagueThe National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
and Major League BaseballMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
games, including the World SeriesWorld SeriesThe World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
(Game 4 of the 1996 World Series1996 World Series-Game 1:Sunday, October 20, 1996 at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, New YorkGame 1 and Game 2 were originally scheduled for Saturday, October 19 and Sunday, October 20, respectively. Rain on October 19, however, washed out Game 1. The schedule was moved up one day, with Game 1 and Game 2 rescheduled for...
at Atlanta-Fulton County StadiumAtlanta-Fulton County StadiumAtlanta-Fulton County Stadium, often shortened to "Fulton County Stadium," was a multi-purpose stadium that formerly stood in Atlanta, Georgia, United States.-History:...
in Atlanta, GeorgiaAtlanta, GeorgiaAtlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
).
External links
- John Popper's biography at BluesTraveler.com
- John Popper collection at the Internet ArchiveInternet ArchiveThe Internet Archive is a non-profit digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It offers permanent storage and access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, music, moving images, and nearly 3 million public domain books. The Internet Archive...
's live music archive