Harmonica manufacturer Matthias Hohner died on this day in 1902. Hohner began his harmonica company in his kitchen and by the turn of the century had built it into the world’s largest harmonica company.
Blues singer and harmonica player “Big Mama” Willie Mae Thornton had hits with “Hound Dog” and “Ball and Chain” years before Elvis and Janis Joplin had hits with those songs. Thornton was born on this day in 1926.
Vaudeville harmonica player Sammy Ross died on this day in 2004. Ross was one of the midgets that Borrah Minevitch brought in to replace whenever he couldn’t get Johnny Puleo.
That’s it for today. Have fun and practice!
