Marcos Coll

Blues Blues Blues

When Marcos Coll closes his eyes and listens to a harmonica player, he knows who is playing after just a few notes. That’s because every player sounds different. That’s exactly what makes the instrument so irresistible to him, says Marcos. The human voice sounds just as individual.

Childhood in Galicia
Born in Madrid, Marcos spends most of his childhood in Galicia – beautiful, relaxed years in which he plays a lot of basketball with his friends. During this time, his parents – and therefore Marcos too – listen to music from America and England, such as the Rolling Stones, The Who and Jimi Hendrix. But it is his uncle who has the greatest musical influence on the young Marcos. Only seven years older, he was like a big brother to him. His uncle played the guitar and encouraged Marcos to play the harmonica. The blues in particular struck a chord with him.

Marcos learns primarily by listening a lot and trying things out. Step by step, he develops his own voice on the harmonica. He forms his first bands with school friends and plays on the street, in parks and eventually in smoky bars. This is where he earns his first money and buys records with it. For him, it is a carefree and easy time.

Madrid and the Tonky Blues Band
In 1999, Marcos moves to Madrid, where he can play with the most successful Spanish blues band of the time: the Tonky Blues Band. Here he gets the opportunity to tour and record with music greats such as Mick Taylor of the Rolling Stones, Tom Jones and Buddy Miles of the Jimmy Hendrix Band of Gipsys. By now, there is no turning back for Marcos: he is one of the best blues harmonica players in Spain and far beyond. In 2004, he decides to move to Berlin, a city where he quickly feels at home: “Berlin has a bit of everything, many nationalities. Everyone can find their place here.”

Tours, film and television
Marcos continues to tour, writes music for television series and blockbusters, and has even composed a team anthem for the Spanish basketball club Obradoiro CAB. This brings him full circle, as he made it into the youth team of this Spanish league club back in the day.

AND: he is returning to his roots. Part of his family comes from Mexico, but he himself is Spanish. So Marcos has formed a band that follows these musical traces: the Latino elements of Spanish and Mexican music. He combines all this with the blues.

Marcos has arrived: in Berlin, where he lives with his small family, and in the world, where he performs with the best in the scene as a sought-after harmonica player.
He loves the blues and feels Spanish. He wants to combine both even more in the future. In any case, his exciting journey continues.