Mickey Raphael, Willie Nelson’s Longtime Harmonica Player Set to Play His First-Ever Headlining Show

Some country music fans may know Mickey Raphael as Willie Nelson’s harmonica player. He has been a member of Nelson’s band, The Family, for more than 50 years. While that alone would make for an impressive resume, Raphael has done much more. He has played on dozens of albums from legendary artists and works as a producer. He has also released two solo albums. Next month, he’ll play his first-ever headlining show.

Raphael’s first headline show will take place at the Hollywood Bowl in Nashville on December 3. Chris Stapleton’s band, The Honchos, will back him during the performance. The legendary musician will also announce special guest performers in the coming weeks.

Tickets for the concert go on sale this Thursday (November 14) at 10 AM Central Time. A portion of the proceeds from ticket sales will go to Outlaw State of Kind, the charity organization founded by Chris and Morgane Stapleton.

More About Mickey Raphael

Most fans know Mickey Raphael as Willie Nelson’s harmonica player. However, he has appeared on albums from dozens of top-notch artists over the years. For instance, he played harmonica on dozens of legendary albums. Fans can hear him on multiple Emmylou Harris albums including Luxury Liner, Elite Hotel, Quarter Moon in a Ten Cent Town, and more. He also appeared on Elton John’s The Fox, Rodney Crowell’s Ain’t Living Long Like This, John Prine’s The Missing Years, B.B. King’s Deuces Wild, Ringo Starr’s Ringo Rama, and many more.

However, Raphael doesn’t just appear on albums from other artists. He has also released two instrumental albums that put his legendary harmonica skills front and center. He dropped Hand to Mouth in 2000 and Red River Valley in 2009.

Raphael is more than a top-notch musician. He’s also a producer. Over the years, he has produced several projects. His credits include Naked Willie, an album of stripped-down versions of Nelson’s early RCA recordings. He also produced the 2016 Highwaymen box set.

In short, Raphael has had an impressive career behind the scenes and as a sideman. Now, he’s stepping into the spotlight with his first headlining show.

Featured Image by Gary Miller/WireImage