New initiative celebrates musicians, educators, and ambassadors who advance harmonica playing–regardless of brand.
(EVERETT, Wash., August 22, 2026) — Lee Oskar Harmonicas (LOH) announces the launch of its Harmonica Advocates program, a new initiative recognizing musicians, educators, and other champions of the harmonica who are helping expand the instrument’s reach around the world.
Built on the core idea that the harmonica is bigger than any single manufacturer, this unique program differs from traditional artist endorsement programs in that it does not depend on brand exclusivity or even on playing Lee Oskar Harmonicas.
“We have always believed that the entire harmonica community benefits when someone introduces a new player to the instrument, teaches the harmonica, creates great music with it or simply inspires people to pick one up,” comments Lee Oskar, Founder of Lee Oskar Harmonicas. “Passion for harmonica deserves to be recognized, no matter whose name happens to be on the instrument in their hand.”
The Harmonica Advocates program celebrates individuals who have devoted themselves to the instrument in their own way as performers, educators, content creators, harmonica ambassadors, or those who develop new approaches to making music.
While some LOH Advocates play Lee Oskar Harmonicas and others play different brands, they share a commitment to advancing harmonica music by spreading their enthusiasm for the instrument.
The inaugural group of Lee Oskar Harmonicas Advocates represents a geographically and stylistically diverse community, including educators and musicians from the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Guatemala and beyond.
The program complements Lee Oskar Harmonicas’ longstanding relationships with its LOH Featured Artistswhile creating a broader way to recognize people whose contributions to the instrument extend beyond a conventional endorsement relationship.
For Lee Oskar, whose career as a founding member of the band WAR and multiple award-winning performer and composer helped bring the harmonica into musical territory far beyond its traditional blues and folk associations, the program also reflects a philosophy that has guided much of his career: the harmonica belongs everywhere.
“Every individual who gets someone else excited about this amazing instrument helps keep the music alive and growing,” Oskar said. “That is something well worth supporting.”
The Lee Oskar Harmonicas Advocates and their individual profiles can be found at:
leeoskarharmonicas.com/advocates/
About Lee Oskar Harmonicas
Founded by internationally acclaimed harmonica player Lee Oskar, Lee Oskar Harmonicas has helped redefine the modern diatonic harmonica through an interchangeable system of harmonicas, replacement reed plates, and multiple tunings designed to expand the instrument beyond traditional applications. Lee Oskar Harmonicas are manufactured in collaboration with TOMBO Musical Instrument Co. of Japan and are played by musicians around the world across a wide range of musical genres and styles.
