Hans Olson

HANS OLSON (1952.07.03 - ) began his musical career in San Bernardino, California in 1967. He moved to Arizona in 1969 and recorded his first album in 1973. In 1980, he was the opening act for Dave Mason at more than 100 shows, and in 1983, he toured with blues legend Brownie McGhee. In 1986, Olson bought The Sun Club, a nightclub in Tempe, Arizona, and featured blues, jazz, country and rock music, but sold it in 1988 to pursue his music career. In 1992, he toured as the opening act for Michelle Shocked, and headlined a 40-day European tour, performing in France, Germany and Austria.

In 1986, Olson bought The Sun Club, a nightclub in Tempe, Arizona, and featured blues, jazz, country and rock music, but sold it in 1988 to pursue his music career. In 1992, he toured as the opening act for Michelle Shocked, and headlined a 40-day European tour, performing in France, Germany and Austria.

In 1993, Hans Olson performed at the prestigious 9th Annual Peer Rhythm & Blues Festival in Belgium, and the Free Wheels Festival in France. He won "Best Solo Act" of the year at the 1993 Arizona Entertainment Awards show, and also won readers choice "Best Solo Act" of the year in the 1993 Phoenix New Times Weekly "Best of" issue.

In 1994, Olson played a concert with Michelle Shocked at the Fillmore Auditorium in San Francisco for the "Grand Re-opening," and did his 7th European concert tour. In 1996, he toured Europe for the 10th time, and was inducted into the Arizona Blues Hall of Fame.

Hans Olson was hospitalized twice in 1997, first with a severe blood infection and then with a broken ankle, which required six implanted pins to hold it together. In 2003, the Phoenix New Times Weekly presented Olson with it's first ever "lifetime achievement" award at their annual Music Showcase.

Olson also helped establish and organize The Phoenix Blues Society, The Arizona Green Party, The Arizona Blues Hall of Fame, The Arizona Music Heritage Foundation and the Arizona Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame, to which he was elected President in October of 2009.

Hans Olson's music has been released on Virgin Records in Europe and on Fervor Records in the U.S. One of his songs was featured as the title track on the Fantasy Records release Deal It Out by original Credence Clearwater Revival member Tom Fogerty.