Norman R. Dobson Jr., or Norm, as he was known to all his harmonica friends everywhere, was the US Vice President of the National Harmonica League from 1982 until his death, aged 90. He lived in Peabody, near Boston, and for many years he looked after the interests of NHL members who lived in the […]
Chromatic
Steve Jennings – Feb 1954 to Nov 2019 – a tribute
With contributions from Steve’s wife Josie, and his friends – Tom Hunter, Steve Jones, Rowena Millar, Johnny Mars, ‘Pip’ Rowland, and Paul Gillings. Stephen John Jennings or ‘Steve’ as he was universally known was one of the small group of volunteers who are responsible for the survival and success of the National Harmonica League (NHL) […]
HarpTalk Tumblr Blog
I stepped down as editor of Harmonica World magazine after the August 2019 issue and I decided to do the simple blog I never seemed to have time to do before . I used to use the blog to announce when the new magazine was being mailed out. Now I want to make it more […]
Tommy Reilly – A Life in Music – Vintage Tommy Reilly.
This is an extended version of the review that was published in the Aug/Sept 2019 issue of Harmonica World. Tommy Reilly – A Life in Music – Vintage Tommy Reilly.Chandos CD20143 – CD Review by Cheng Jang Ming Tommy Reilly is widely recognised as the master of the chromatic harmonica. He was born 100 years […]
Charlie Leighton’s 65th birthday party, June 24th, 1986
A humorous, musical tribute recording compiled by Tabby Andriello for Charlie Leighton’s 65th birthday party in 1986. It contains rare recordings from Charley’s illustrious career with the Philharmonicas, Cappy Barra and as a soloist. It was played at the party attended by Charley’s wife, Roseann, Tabby Andriello, Phil Solomon, Stan Harper, Charles Spranklin, Richard Gain, […]
The Harmonicats 40th Anniversary Testimonial Concert 1981
It Was a Great Celebration . . . Thanks, Everyone? by Norm Dobson This audio is taken from a cassette recording of most of the concert. Microphone placement and the age of the tape has affected the quality somewhat. Edited from Harmonica Happenings, Spring 1981. Well, the long awaited testimonial to the Jerry Murad Harmonicats […]
SPAH – The first 20 years
The Society for the Preservation and Advancement of the Harmonica, SPAH, was founded in 1963 by Earl Collins (1924-88), Gordon Mitchell (1927-2001) and Richard Harris (1938-2015). Fortunately, the youngest member of the trio, Richard Harris, was an enthusiastic photographer and recording engineer so you get a chance to hear the history of SPAH as it […]
Tommy Reilly – In his own words
Tommy Reilly set the standard for playing chromatic harmonica and he was mainly responsible for the acceptance of the harmonica as a solo instrument on the classical stage. He had a prolific recording career. He was born in Canada in 1919 but spent most of his life in the UK. Here Tommy talks about his […]
Larry Adler – In his own words
Larry Adler was the first harmonica superstar. He was born in 1914 and he took the chromatic harmonica onto the concert stage and into films, playing popular and classical music. This recording was made in 1998 for the BBC when Larry was 84. Larry Adler’s Century was broadcast as seven weekly programmes but Larry produced […]
Concerto Scherzoso – Graham Whettam – Setting the record straight
Jim Hughes saw a video of Graham Whettam’s composition Concerto Scherzoso for Harmonica and Orchestra on YouTube, which was attributed to Larry Adler but did not sound like him. I checked with the person who posted the video and he said that his recording did not name the harmonica player. Because the piece was written […]