Harmonica Almanac – November 5
Harmonica band leader Borrah Minevitch was born on this day in 1902. Minevitch founded the vaudeville harmonica group, The Harmonica Rascals, which was so popular that dozens of similar bands followed suit, many of them even had their own harmonica playing midgets.
Classical composer Serge Lancen wrote “Concerto for Harmonica and Orchestra” in 1958 for Larry Adler. Lancen was born on this day in 1922.
Chicago Blues guitar and harmonica player Studebaker John Grimaldi was born on this day in 1952. Grimaldi has been playing harmonica since he was seven and has been a regular in the Chicago music scene since the late 1960’s.
Blues guitar and harmonica player Robert Lee McCoy recorded on the harmonica quite a bit before moving to Chicago in 1937. He then changed his name to Robert Nighthawk and concentrated on playing guitar. McCoy died on this day in 1967.
https://youtu.be/1riKlML7IaQ
That’s it for today. Have fun and practice!