Hans Olson (born July 3, 1952), is an American musician and songwriter. He is a singer and plays an amplified acoustic guitar and a harmonica in a neck rack. He is known as one of the best "harp-in-a-rack" players in the world. Olson helped to establish and organize the Phoenix Blues Society (1988), the Arizona Green Party (1991), the Arizona Blues Hall of Fame (1995), the Arizona Music Heritage Foundation and the Arizona Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame (2002). In 1996, Olson was inducted into the Arizona Blues Hall of Fame. Both Phoenix Magazine and Phoenix New Times named Olson as one of the most influential musicians in Arizona.
Musical style and influences Olson usually performs solo, although he has played with many bands throughout his career. Olson combines a blend of blues, country, folk music and original songs. Olson has played with bands and artists such as The Allman Brothers, Tom Waits, ZZ Top, B.B. King, Muddy Waters, Allison Kraus, Chuck Berry, Bonnie Raitt, Joe Cocker, and John Fogerty. His early inspirations were Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, and Muddy Waters. He is currently endorsed by Lee Oskar harmonicas.
Biography Early years Olson was born in San Bernardino, California in 1952. At the age of five, his cousin threw an errant arrow which resulted in the loss of his eye. Olson's father died the same year. At the age of six, he watched Gene Kelly dance on TV and decided he wanted to be in show business. At the age of nine, Olson heard the music of Johnny Cash and decided he wanted to become a musician. He began playing music at the age of 12 and by 13, Olson was playing gigs, which offered the opportunity to be away from his alcoholic stepfather. In his early teens, Olson became depressed and began drinking alcohol and using drugs.
Teenage years In 1967, Olson began his music career in San Bernardino, California as a lead singer in a Rock & Roll band. He also began performing solo gigs in coffee shops. As a stunt, he used to carry around a switch blade. He cut his hand to "freak people out". On one occasion he was too intoxicated to realize he was holding a serrated steak knife. He ended up cutting too deep and temporarily lost all movement in his left hand. Due to his injury and limited mobility, Olson started to play the harmonica because it only required one hand. When his left hand eventually healed, he began to practice what became his trademark skill of playing the harmonica and the guitar at the same time.
In 1969, when he was 17 years old, Olson was disturbed by the news of Charles Manson's murder spree and the violence at the Altamont Speedway Free Festival. He decided to move away from California. He moved to Arizona to complete his high school degree and pursue his music career.
Music career In 1971, Olson was hired to perform radio commercials for Kirk's Electronics in Tempe, Arizona. Over the years he recorded several station identification ads for Phoenix, Arizona area radio stations.
In 1973, Olson was the opening act for The Allman Brothers and Boz Skaggs, with more than 22,000 people in attendance. The same year, he recorded his first album, Western Winds with Phoenix label, Joplin Records. In 2012, on the 100th anniversary of Arizona's statehood, the title song from this album was listed in the Phoenix New Times magazine as one of Arizona's 100 greatest songs.
In 1980, he toured coast to coast with Dave Mason; they played over 100 shows together. The same year, his album, Hans Olson Sings the Blues, reached No. 3 on the local Tower Records sales chart.
In 1981, he recorded his album The Aspen Tapes with session musicians, Al Kooper, Albert Lee, and Mark Naftalin and produced by William E. McEuen, the manager and producer for the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.
In 1982, Olson toured with Brownie McGhee, playing harmonica and guitar. This same year, Tom Fogerty recorded one of Olson's songs as the title track on his Fantasy Records release album, Deal it Out.
In the mid 1980s Olson was part of the quartet, Hans Olson and the Rhythm Masters.
In 1986 Olson helped found the Sun Club, a former hub of the Tempe music scene. The Sun Club was fundamental in launching the careers of acts such as Dead Hot Workshop and the Gin Blossoms. After a few years, Olson filed for bankruptcy, and in 1992, the Sun Club closed.
In 1988, Olson helped to establish and organize the Phoenix Blues Society.
In 1990, Olson sang the opening and closing theme for the Burt Reynold's television series, Evening Shade.
In 1991, he helped establish the Arizona Green Party.
In 1992, he toured as Michelle Shocked's opening act, and headlined a 40 day European tour, performing in France, Germany and Austria. Phoenix radio station, KZON, used his song "You Wish" to launch its programming.
In 1993, he performed at the Peer Rhythm and Blues Festival in Belgium along with Albert Collins, Delbert McClinton, The Five Blind Boys of Alabama, CJ Chenier, and The Jeff Healey Band. He also performed at the Free Wheels Festival in France. He won "Best Solo Act" of the year at the Arizona Entertainment Awards show. He also won "Best Solo Act" of the year in the Phoenix New Times Weekly, reader's choice awards. Several of his songs were played on the Time Warner mini-series "The Wild West."
In 1995, Olson helped create the Arizona Blues Hall of Fame.
In 2000, he created the Sun Club Records label.
In 2002, he helped found the Arizona Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame.
In 2006, Olson signed with Fervor Records and has produced three full-length albums and a music video for the label. Fervor also controls a vast majority of the Hans Olson back catalog.
Legacy Olson continues to perform and owns a recording studio in Arizona. His music has been placed in various TV shows, films, advertisements, and soundtracks for motion pictures.
Olson's music has been released on many different record labels, including Virgin Records in Europe, Fervor Records in Phoenix, Arizona, and his own label, Sun Club Records.
In 2025 Hans released his autobiography book “Arizona Troubadour”. It’s available on Amazon.
Discography +ArtistAlbumFormatRecord labelCAT #Release dateCountryHans OlsonWestern WindsLPJoplin RecordsLP-32661973USLP, Album, REMarshall Records103201980USI'll Be Glad/Where Did it GoBlond Sun Records10011976USBlonde Sun AlbumLP, AlbumBlonde Sun Records10021977USSings The BluesLP, AlbumCreamo Records12801980USThe Aspen Tapes7", EPBlond Sun Records421361983USSoloCassetteBlond Sun Records1004Hans OlsonCD, AlbumSky Ranch RecordsSR 6523141992USCD, AlbumSky Ranch Records, Virgin France8390602, VI 3906021992USWhere's the Grey?CassetteBlond Sun Records10051992Blues SpotlightVHSPhoenix Blues Society1994Arizona BluesCDWilling ProductionsWG9511995FranceKachina BluesCDBlond Sun Records10061995Other SidesCD, AlbumWilling ProductionsWG 98011998FranceThe Best of Hans Olson, Volume OneCD, AlbumSun Club Records708822000The Best of Hans Olson, Volume TwoCD, AlbumBlond Sun RecordsBS 10082003USThe Best of Hans OlsonCD, CompSun Club RecordsSCR 708822000USAnother Day with the BluesDigital OnlyFervor Records2007USHard TimeFervor Records2009USDust to DustFervor Records2013USVariousWisdom For the Road2003Ominous CloudsLP, albumLast Flash Records717521982All Star Rhythm & BluesComp. CassetteTempest Recording11985357 Miles East of L.A.Comp. CassetteZia Records11989Totally BuenoComp. CassetteZia Records21991Southwest HolidayComp. CassetteFervor RecordsFVRC011991Arizona UnpluggedComp. CassetteFervor RecordsFVRC1121992Hijole!Comp. CassetteZia Records31992Studio Z Live KZON RadioComp. AlbumIndio RecordsICD-93021993The Music of the Wild WestComp. AlbumAspen Records1994Studio Brussels-Blues TownDino MusicDNCD14251995BelgiumDesert BluesComp. AlbumCDGB1Jazz, Rhythm & GrooveComp. AlbumOoya Records1997BluestownComp. Album12th Street RecordsTS30021998The Music of the Wild WestVarese Sarabande Records0668212007Blue SaguaroComp. AlbumFervor Records1993Sky Ranch: Discover America, Chapter 1Comp. Album1993Shifting GearsArtdream Entertainment20032 Hours From AnywhereComp. AlbumPerfect Circle Records2003Folk is Not a Four Letter Word, Vol. 22006JustifiedComp.Madison Gate Records2015USTom FogertyDeal It OutFantasy1981John McEuen & Hans OlsonGood Old RebelMP3Varese Sarabande2014Steven MartinThe Crow: New Songs for the Five-String Banjo2009
TV and film credits +ArtistSong titleProgramEpisode #Film/TVNetworkAirdateHans OlsonOpening and Closing Theme SongEvening ShadeTVCBS"Another Day with the Blues"Army Wives710TVLifetime5/12/2013Army Wives501TVLifetime3/6/2011Chicago Fire315TVNBC2/17/2015Chicago Fire205TVNBC10/15/2013"When I Get the Blues"Being Human110TVSyFy3/28/2011"Spirit of New Orleans"Chicago Med104TVNBC12/8/2015"All Night Boogie"Comic Book Men101TVAMC2/12/2012Stevie TVTVVH17/1/2013"On the Porch Blues"Comic Book Men101TVAMC 2/12/2012"Mean Disposition"Comic Book Men105TVAMC3/11/2012Outlaw ChroniclesTVHistory9/1/2015"These Blues and Me"Comic Book Men105TVAMC3/11/2012"Something Bad"Haven403TVSyFy9/27/2013Rock the KasbahFilmOpen Road Films10/22/2015VaugandTVFrench Network Television7/1/2013"Send You Back to Mama"Justified601TVFX1/20/2015"Western Winds"Justified412TVFX2/17/2015"Hard Time"Justified412TVFX3/26/2013"Freeway Boogie"Mr. PigFilmIndependent1/26/2016"50s Ups and 50s Downs"NCIS1217TVCBS3/10/2015Chicago Justice105TVNBC3/19/2017"The Sun's Going Down on Me"One Tree Hill812TVThe CW1/25/2011Chicago PD504TVNBC10/18/2017VaugandTVFrench Network Television7/1/2013"Someday"Stevie TVTVVH17/1/2013Suburgatory112TVABC1/18/2012"Sail On"Goliath103SVODAmazon10/14/2016"Rich Man Poor Man"Wynonna Earp202TVSyFy6/16/2017"Earthman"The Guest Book1TVTBS8/3/2017"Dark Road"Chanel x BarneysAd12/12/2017
His work can also be heard in the following shows: Cold Case George Lopez Ghost Whisperer Criminal Minds It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia Braving Alaska (National Geographic) The Wild West (Time-Life/Warner Bros. mini-series) The Music of the Wild West (TNN) Man Outside (Virgin Vision Films) Mill Ave., Inc. (Independent film)
On tour Olson has toured, performed, been an opening act for, and/or recorded with the following musicians (and others): Michelle Shocked Tom Waits Brownie McGhee Al Kooper Albert Lee Dallas Taylor Boz Scaggs Dave Mason Allman Brothers Band Arlo Guthrie Bonnie Raitt Albert Collins John Hammond Jeff Healey Five Blind Boys of Alabama Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Elvin Bishop Joe Cocker Gatemouth Brown Paul Butterfield Canned Heat John Fogerty Johnny Winter Edgar Winter Tony Martinez Band Stevie Ray Vaughan Willie Dixon John Lee Hooker B.B. King Muddy Waters Upsuck
References
External links
Official website Phoenixnewtimes.com