Blues harmonica player “Shakin’” Smith was born on this day in 1950. Smith began playing the harmonica when he was five and while he was still a teenager be began sitting in with blues greats like Howlin’ Wolf, Junior Wells and Jimmy Reed.
Classical composer Ralph Vaughan-Williams wrote “Romance for Harmonica, Strings and Piano in D Flat” in 1951 for Larry Adler. Vaughan-Williams died on this day in 1958.
Harmonica band player Leon “Cappy” Lafell died on this day in 2002. Cappy began playing the harmonica at the age of five and by the time he was fifteen he had won his first harmonica competition. He was a member of Albert Hoxie’s harmonica band, The Harmonica Harlequins, The Cappy Barra Harmonica Ensemble and even the Harmonicats.
That’s it for today. Have fun and practice!
