Harmonica Almanac – October 14

President Dwight D. Eisenhower was born on this day in 1890. Besides leading the forces that liberated Europe from the Nazis in World War Two, Eisenhower was also one of seven U.S. Presidents who played the harmonica.
Country mandolin player Kenny Hall plays several instruments, including the harmonica. He leads the group, The Sweets Mill String Band. Hall was born on this day in 1923.

Harmonica band leader Paul Baron was born on this day in 1926. Baron took over the Harmonica Rascals after Borrah Minevitch died in 1955 and toured with them well into the 1990’s.

Country singer-songwriter, guitar and harmonica player Kenny Roberts was born on this day in 1926. Roberts learned how to play the harmonica and several other instruments as a child and began performing professionally after winning a talent contest when he was thirteen. He was popular on the radio and recorded dozens of records during his career.

Singer and harmonica player Robert Papparozzi has been performing since the late 1960’s. As a session musician he’s worked with Culture Club, Whitney Houston, Cyndi Lauper and countless other top-name acts. Papparozzi was born on this day in 1952.

Blues guitar and harmonica player Kenny Neal was born on this day in 1957. Neal is the son of harmonica player Raful Neal and learned how to play from Slim Harpo, who gave him his first harmonica at the age of three. He’s recorded several albums of his own as well as appearing on albums by dozens of Blues greats.

That’s it for today. Have fun and practice!