About Me
Born Katherine Elise Baloun, July 27, 1956 in El Paso, Texas
I grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio. My mother, Mary Lou (deceased Dec.06) was a classical pianist & organist, and she directed the church choir in which my father and I sang. My mother got me started on the piano with 5 and at 7 I learned the violin and then at 13, I picked up the harmonica. At this time there was a new genre of blues music coming out, along with the old, that had influenced me. During my teens and twenties I played only occasionally. 22 years later (1991) I met several musicians as I was living in San Francisco. They encouraged me to start playing the harmonica again. Shortly thereafter (1992), I joined the Elmer Lee Thomas Delta Acoustic Band as harp player and then was later encouraged to sing.
In 1994 I moved to Berlin and put my own band together.
Through the years I'd met several accomplished musicians in Berlin and the surrounding areas. In 2002 , I formed a band with Nina T.Davis. Together, we assembled The Alleycats and have two cd's.
In 1998 I met Hattie St. John, who had recently moved to Berlin from New Zealand. Together we have our Duo, called, Ladies First. We have done two Cd's together. Our program consists of an acoustic-folk-blues-jazz formulation.
Over the years I would meet many more musicians in Berlin, throughout Germany and Europe. In 2010 I was introduced to the Tomi Leino Trio in Finland and have become a regular in the Finnish Blues Scene. In 2012 we recorder our first cd, She's Got it.
In 2014 I was invited to be endorsed by Hohner Harmonica, which I gratefully accepted and am proud to be a part of a successful line of harmonica's.
I would like to give thanks to my higher power and a big thank you to the help of family, friends and fans. Without them I would not have survived the lean years. Not only do I work with German and European musicians, but I am always encouraging my friends from the USA to come over and play.
Thanks for takin a look at my website and hope to see y'all real soon.