[Harp-L] Re: The Don Les school of thought as to diatonics




On Apr 2, 2005, at 4:28 PM, Dave Murray wrote:


Wht's that?

Peace and music,
Dave

May be before your time Dave. Back in the 40s, the chromatic, or more correctly, the harmonica trio/ensenble was dying. Along came the Harmonicats, and their quick succession of albums jump started that segment of the harmonica sales. (Diatonics were not having a problem selling). The Bass player (at the time) was one Don Leshenski. The Chord player was one Al Fiore. The chromatic was Gerri Muradian (Jerry Murad).

Don was one hellacious diatonic player who played entire tunes (melody, bridge, interludes).Over the years Don tried many times to be featured on a few tunes but Murad was dead against it because he didn't think 'that' was the sound/image he wanted associated with the Harmonicats (a name, ironically, Don had come up with in the first place).


As long as the record sales were brisk, Don stayed with the group (16 yrs, I think?) but when things tapered off, he quit. Unfortunately when he went on his own he started to go through various illness' and never really DID hit the big time as he should have.

smokey-joe





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