[Harp-L] Little Walter reputation

[philharpn@xxxxxxx]

I can't remember the first time I heard "Juke" by Little Walter, but from the time I first heard his sound it seemed to be based on the sax players of the 1940s. But even the pre-war (World War II, kids) harmonica players were imitating horn players (sax, cornet, trumpet) since the start of recorded music.


Juke, of course, was the theme song of famed band leader Les Brown. Only it was called "Leap Frog." If you can't find a copy of "Juke," go look it up in the fake book index and find which fake book has the lead sheet.


A lot of guys were playing saxophone riffs and tunes on the harmonica in the 1940s and before. The only people who don't recognize the connection between harp and sax are the ones who never heard recordings of jump bands and sax bands. The sax was king before it was displaced by the guitar.


Little Walter wasn't the first one to play sax tunes on the harp; he was simply one of the best. And he was probably the first to record "Leap Frog" on the harp -- even though many people probably played it live. Released in February 1945 "Leap Frog" was used by many bands, not just Les Brown and his Band of Renown.


Even "Blues With A Feeling" (2002)  by Glover Dirks and Gaines mentions the "Leap frog" connection.


Here's Les Brown:
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhnSFQVI_Oc>


As far as amplified harmonica, anyone who has spent some time on an Army post would have heard the bugle calls spread over the post by loudspeaker. It would not take much insight to consider using a PA (public address system) to make the harmonica louder.


"My Babe" another hit by Little Walter was based on "This Train" (Don't Carry No Gamblers)" which a big 1939 hit by Sister Rosetta Thorpe, who became famous for performing gospel music in night clubs in the 30s and 40s.


Early Little Walter recordings sounded like the original Sonny Boy Williamson (I). Nobody talks about Sonny Boy. Half the reissues confuse him the with imposter Rice Miller who took his name and  whose picture even appears on the real Sonny Boy's recordings.


Phil