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Collom, Wayne "Tookie"
Blues Harmonica Player
Wayne Collom, a native of Vivian, Louisiana, currently lives in Rayville, Louisiana with his wife Joelle. Tookie acquired the skill of harmonica playing from his grandfather and Bobby Weaver. He also learned the "Blues" from listening to the radio and records. He first started playing the harmonica when he was merely eleven years old, and now he is one of the leading figures in blues music.
Tookie's style of playing the harmonica has often been compared to famous musicians such as Little Walker, Sonny Boy Williams, and Junior Parker. Together with Po' Henry, they compose music that is described as "Old Delta Blues."
Po' Henry and Tookie play together at festivals and as opening acts such as: Gate Mouth Brown, Buckwheat Zydeco, The Preservation Hall Jazz Band, and the Bobby Blue Band. They have also been frequent performers at festivals: Baton Rouge Folk and Heritage Festival and the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.
Updated November 30, 2016 by Natchitoches-NSU Louisiana Folklife Center Staff