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

[Joe and Cass Leone <leone@xxxxxxxx>]

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