[Harp-L] Harmonica Hater

["davymax" <davymax@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

This info was given to me by a good friend of mine and he said he didn't mind if I shared it with all of you. Perhaps others have an insight or story as well. 
  
 
 At BeatleFest there was a speaker named Bruce Spizer, an expert on the Beatles early days (and breakup) for recording and business. Epstein was trying to get the Beatles recorded by Capital but couldn't get by this David Dexter guy who kept turning them down. His refusals were making money for VeeJay (owned by black couple Victoria & James). Who else did he refuse? John Lee Hooker (Boom Boom), The Four Seasons and several other names. Why did he refuse them? Because they all had harmonica music in their songs and David Dexter was sure the American public didn't want to listen to harmonica music. Epstein then considered recording with VeeJay but their CEO was in gambling trouble with the mob and was told pay up or lose your legs. He embezzled $200,000 from VeeJay and bankrupted them. Epstein then gave I Want To Hold Your Hand to Dexter who refused it. Epstein then went to the President of Capitol and complained. He in turn went to Dexter and said I want to hear the music you're turning down. Dexter argued against releasing it (his last official act I believe) saying it would never be a hit. All of that because the man had an aversion to harmonicas. He turned down John Lee for God's sake!