Mickey Raphael

Mickey Raphael is an American harmonica player who is most known for his long association with the country singer Willie Nelson.

Raphael has worked throughout his life with many other artists such as U2, Neil Young, Elton John and Emmylou Harris.

He has also released solo projects such as the 1988 released album Hand to Mouth.

His career as a professional musician began one evening in 1973 during a party of the football coach Darryl Royal in his hotel room. Willie Nelson and a few other singer-songwriters were there to play a few songs for the coach and some of his friends. Royal had seen an appearance of Raphael in Austin and invited him for the jam session. Nelson took a liking to his harmonica playing, after Raphael was included in the band. Later, however, the harpist should say that he had never been officially hired, but you have him never to go ask for it.

By the time he was an integral part in Nelson's band and toured regularly since 1974 with the musician. He has substantially contributed to the famous Willie Nelson style to create, as this mid-70s reoriented.

Raphael was also seen in the movies Honeysuckle Rose and Songwriter in which Nelson played the lead role. He is also in an episode of the TV series Monk here.