Cappy Barra Harmonica Band
The Cappy Barra Harmonica Band was an American harmonica ensemble — originally a trio, then a quartet, then two groups — that played big band arrangements. Cappy Barra flourished from 1935 to 1945.
History
1938 to 1942Post World War II
Performing members
- Cappy LaFell
- Joe Mullendore
- Nat Bergman
- Phil Solomon
- Don Ripps
- Samuel Scheckter
- Sam Sperling
- George Joseph Fields
- Charley Leighton
- Alan Greene
- Pro Robbins
- Pete Petersen
- Milton Freeman
- Eddie Shu ''
- Maurice Duke.
- Phil King, served as spokesman and leader, but not a musician
- Harry Morton, comedian
- Henry Nemo, composer & arranger
Filmography
Musical Airwaves, Milton Edward Schwarzwald, director, Universal PicturesMad About Music, Universal Pictures- I Love to Whistle, by Jimmy McHugh & Harold Adamson, sung by Deanna Durbin with the Cappy Barra Harmonica Band at party Pot o' Gold Rockin' in the Rockies Radio Stars on Parade Bowery Boy
The 1942–44 musicians' strike banned musicians from recording with major labels. A year earlier, the motion picture industry began producing short music films, which were not banned. The films were the early version of music videos — known as "soundies. Cappy Barra performed on the following soundies:
The Smoothies and The Cappy Barra Harmonica Boys
Smoothies personnel: Babs and the two brothers, Charlie & Little Ryan ''
Discography
Cappy Barra Harmonica Swing EnsembleSheet music
Nocturne in Blue, by Al Greene & Raymond Joe Sanns , © February 11, 1941; 249699 Voo Doo, by Raymond Joe Sanns , Leon Lafell , and Maurice Duke, © June 10, 1937; 62625 It's Nature All Around Me,'' by Joseph Milton Mullendore Jr., © January 18, 1934; 81496Other harmonica ensembles
United States- The Harmonica Gentlemen
- The Harmonica Rascals
- The Harmonica Scamps
- The Harmonicuties
- The Harmonica Harlequins
- The Philharmonicas
- The Harlemonicats
- The Three Harpers
- The Harptones
- The Stagg McMann Trio
- The Harmonica Hi-Hats
- The Harmonica Lads
- The Don Henry Trio
- The Harmonica Gang
- The Stereomonics
- The Big Harp
Ireland
France
Hong Kong