Everyone credits one teenage inventor with the harmonica in 1821. The real story is messier, more interesting, and involves at…
Continue readingBrowsing Category: Chromatic
From Patents to Pop Culture: The Rise of the Chromatic Harmonica (Part 3)
How a decades-long patent race produced the slide mechanism that let the harmonica play jazz, classical music, and Motown —…
Continue readingThe harmonica, a small but mighty musical instrument
The harmonica, a small but mighty musical instrument, is cherished for its soulful melodies and bluesy wails. Whether tucked in…
Continue readingWas the harmonica the first instrument John Lennon learned to play?
There seems to be some confusion or misinformation regarding John Lennon’s first instrument. While John Lennon was indeed a talented…
Continue readingHugo Diaz: Legend of Tango
Hugo Díaz was indeed a renowned virtuoso of the harmonica from Argentina. He was born on September 10, 1927, in…
Continue readingThe History of the Harmonica: The Sheng
The harmonica was developed in Europe in the early part of the 19th century. Free-reed instruments like the Sheng had been…
Continue readingMan with the harmonica
Harmonica is the secondary protagonist of Sergio Leone’s epic 1968 Spaghetti Western film, Once Upon a Time in the West. He is…
Continue readingHarmonica lessons with Zoom
Zoom harmonica lessons and video calls are definitely an elegant solution to start to play this fantastic instrument. Due to the COVID-19…
Continue readingStevie Wonder performance with his chromatic harmonica
Stevie Wonder performs “Alfie” with his chromatic harmonica in the East Room to tribute Hal David and Burt Bacharach as…
Continue readingLarry Adler
Larry Adler was certainly one of the greatest harmonica player of all times. He played compositions by George Gershwin, Ralph…
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