Australian country music artist Blake O’Connor has become the first artist to play the harmonica live in Ray Hadley’s studio.

It’s been a huge year for Blake after he was crowned the 2019 Toyota Star Maker earlier this year.

Since last speaking to Ray, he’s released his debut album Everything I Feel. Blake has also just been nominated for two Golden Guitars for Best New Talent and Male Artist of the Year, an incredible feat for such a young musician.

He treated Ray’s listeners to a performance of If You Wanna Get to Heaven, becoming the very first person to ever play the harmonica live on the Ray Hadley Morning Show.

Blake also performed a song he wrote as a tribute to his mum during her battle with brain cancer.

“About five years ago now… she blacked out and they took her into the hospital there and they did a brain scan and found a brain tumour in her head about the size of a golf ball.

“It was about three years to fully recover from that and had to learn to walk again.

“When she finally got there they found another one in there.”

Click PLAY below to hear Blake’s tribute to his mum

Blake is currently touring with the McClymonts and chatted to Ray about the whirlwind year it’s been after winning Star Maker in January.

“You’ve got to be prepared to put the hard work in, but Star Maker just gives you that platform that gives you all the opportunities to be in front of the right people at the right times and have the time to show your music to everyone and build your audience.”

Click PLAY below to hear the full interview

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