Tag: Charlie McCoy

‘Huckleberry’ Harp Hound

Jack Harrison (1931 - 2013) My son found this beauty in an op shop for me. Western Australian Jack Harrison was a music prodigy from the age of five when he first blew melodies from the ten hole diatonic mouth organ. One year later Jackie, as he was known, presented his talent to radio 6PR’s … Continue reading ‘Huckleberry’ Harp Hound →

Over Under Sideways Down Hey!

Charles Porter blowing his Crackajack upside down (Photograph- Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales and Courtesy ACP Magazines Ltd). The origins of this dissertation came about due to the discovery of this newspaper report from 1933 (see below) that expounded Charles Porter’s upside down technique in drinking beer and playing the harmonica. It … Continue reading Over Under Sideways Down Hey! →

Pocketless Piccolo

Shep’s 1938 (?) Hohner Piccolo Following on from last month’s look at the Hohner trademark variations, I had mentioned I might take a look at my Hohner Piccolo harmonica (High G) with the star in the trademark. I have. Piccolo translates to small and this diatonic measures in at a fraction longer than three inches. … Continue reading Pocketless Piccolo →

Diving Into The Bends

Steve Williams (John Farnham Band) was a regular guest on Harmonica Riff Raff, the 3MDR radio show, helping listeners find their way around the instrument with lessons and helpful hints. It was mostly elementary, but at times we headed into territory that was quite sophisticated. One such occasion was introducing the bends on holes three … Continue reading Diving Into The Bends →

The Space Is The Place!

I have been well ministered by Steve Williams on the need to stay away from the vocal when playing harmonica, both in the band and in the recording studio. In recent times I have become increasingly discerning of harp players trying to play too many notes and play phrases that don’t appear to have any … Continue reading The Space Is The Place! →

Old Dogs Never Die.

Old dogs care about you even when you make mistakes; God bless little children while they're still too young to hate. When he moved away I found my pen and copied down that line 'bout old dogs and children and watermelon wine. I want to preface this article by stating that making the charts (or … Continue reading Old Dogs Never Die. →

Bakelite Brevities

Prominent world harmonica collector Harland Crain sent HRR this photograph of a Crackajack Miniature Concert (with bakelite frame). In the Melbourne Weekly Times (Saturday 10th November 1934) advertised alongside the Crackajack Miniature Concert was Ludwigs "Improved Bakelite" mouth organ (maybe the Antoria Concert). It had me reminiscing on the bakelite devices in our family home … Continue reading Bakelite Brevities →

One Link In A Chain

Thirty years to the day the stars aligned for Steve Williams to play harmonica on a John Farnham tune that would change his life forever. A remarkable set of circumstances, links in a chain reaction, would take him from Melbourne's Pub music scene into the heady heights of the concert arena. To celebrate the anniversary … Continue reading One Link In A Chain →