Gary Young and Steve Williams have pressed an album of country originals. Gary is a prolific songwriter and here are thirteen excellent examples of country tunes he has penned on love and loss. Steve helps out and lays some excellent country riffs including harmonizing harps on a couple. You can hear this technique on the … Continue reading Love and Loss-Recordz & Gigz
Will the real Sydney Dickens please stand up? There has been some confusion on the identity of Sydney Dickens or should I say Professor Dickens. On Melbourne's Empire Records back in 1908, two wax cylinder recordings were pressed containing mouth organ medleys credited to 'Professor' Dickens (these are Australia's earliest known mouth organ recordings). For … Continue reading By Dickens
Pinch & punch Raffers. As promised a couple of advertisements from J Hess & Co. The Federal Harp was sold in Australia late in the 19th century from about 1898. It had been trademarked the previous year. The manufacturer Ernst Hess of Klingenthal Saxony had a display at the ‘World Fair’ held in Melbourne, Australia … Continue reading NAWFOS #2-Hess’ Harp
Hi Riffers, "The line of 'Make America great again,' the phrase, that was mine, I came up with it about a year ago, and I kept using it, and everybody's using it, they are all loving it. I don't know, I guess I should copyright it, maybe I have copyrighted it." "Sorry losers and haters, … Continue reading Trump the Mouth Organ
Hi Riff Raffers, Kevin has three shows in Melbourne in January. They kick off at the Westernport Hotel, San Remo on Friday 24th, Saturday 25th they let loose at The Memo Music Hall in St. Kilda and then a final show Sunday arvo at the Way Out West Newport Bowls Club on the 26th. The … Continue reading Kevin Borich Express
Gidday Riff Raffers, Ooh, my little pretty one, my pretty one. My my my aye-aye whoa! Quite awhile back I discovered advertising for this unusually named harmonica, the Harola. I endeavoured to locate its origins and to see if it was actually unique to the Australian market. My initial attempts failed dismally and it would … Continue reading M-M-M-My Harola
Caravan Music Club, East Bentleigh, Sunday 5th January, 2020 "Aaron was a friend of mine. He lived out in the country far away from the city lights. Out among the gentle pines." (Kerryn Tolhurst) The band opened in fine fashion with Kerryn's melodic Aaron from The Dingoes self titled debut album of 1973. Terry Dean … Continue reading DINGORADIO-Songs of Kerryn Tolhurst
6th January, 2020Hey there Raffers & Riffers,Over a year ago I published an article about a young Australian lad (or American if you prefer), who was a big hit down under when he and his parents toured as part of the Tivoli circuit in 1953. Gene Jimae, although born in Detroit in 1943, was of … Continue reading Gene Genius Returns
Happy New Year Raffers, On the first of each month for twenty twenty we will search the old Australian newspapers for mouth organ advertisements and place them under the banner of Now A Word From Our Sponsors (NAWFOS). #1 is a couple of Crackajack promotions. Enjoy (Fair Dinkum) SD PS: Kerryn Tolhurst has his second gig … Continue reading Now A Word From Our Sponsors (NAWFOS) #1-Dinkum Crackajack
G'Day Raffers, First rate mouth organs for sixpenny were sold in Australia as early as 1904 by Allan & Co under the Australian slang terms for first-rate, Boshter and Bonzer. (With permission City of Sydney Archives) In 1908 Chapman's of 634 George Street Sydney sold the Bosker in two models the Vamper for 1/6 and … Continue reading Bosker! Bonzer! Boshter!
