Through his work as a harpist, producer, and a disc jockey, Dennis Gruenling kept the sound of classic postwar electric blues alive in the 21st century. Performing in a rough, emphatic style that shows the influence of harmonica masters such as Little Walter and Junior Wells, Gruenling's gutsy tone is a superb match for the tough, streetwise sound of his harp work and his equally emphatic vocals. A three-time winner of Real Blues magazine's Best Modern Blues Harmonica Player trophy, he made a splash as a solo artist and bandleader on releases like 1999's Dennis Gruenling & Jump Time and 2008's I Just Keep Lovin' Him (A Tribute to Little Walter). He's also a respected sideman who has toured and recorded with the Nick Moss Band, notably on 2023's Get Your Back into It.