Leo Diamond

Leo Gemstone was the principle harmonica soloist, or virtuoso, saving in the “high-fidelity” LP period. Previously a flute and piccolo participant, he earned a competition playing harmonica with Edwin Franko Goldman’s music group in NY City’s Central Recreation area. This resulted in 18 years with Borrah Minevitch’s Harmonica Rascals, and he shaped his very own trio, the Harmonaires. This led him to Hollywood, where he made an appearance in Coney Isle, As Hundreds Cheer, A WEEK Leave, and Lovely Rosie O’Grady. His harmonica soundtracks consist of Calamity Jane, Eddie Cantor Tale, Living It Up, and Miss Sadie Thompson. In 1956, Gemstone and conductor Murray Kellner documented the quintessential harmonica opus, Epidermis Diver Collection. While Aspect Two is regular fare, “YOUR SKIN Divers” is certainly Diamond’s side-long orchestral conception filled with watery sound files. This is the to begin attempt inside a profession of albums made to elevate the harmonica from hobo’s plaything to processed solo instrument. Afterwards Diamond documented “Off Shoreline,” a favorite single which ultimately became a typical. Diamond recorded a small number of amazing but unexciting albums of harmonica-led, orchestral pop. Maybe to stability the earthiness from the harmonica, his two preferred idioms had been exotica (music influenced by Oceana) and continental (French and Italian) requirements. Unfortunately this sort of music, or simply simply the boring agreements from it of all Leo Gemstone albums, just exaggerated the inappropriateness from the harmonica. Gratuitous sound files, amounting towards the strangest impact in Subliminal Noises, also did small to “harmonize” the device with either the materials or backing musical instruments. The harmonica is similar to the accordion and body organ. People either think it?s great or hate it. Unlike also the various other “questionable” instruments, nevertheless, the harmonica has already established hardly any exponents of true talent and motivation. The Harmonicats and Leo Gemstone each acquired a few great moments, however the harmonica itself had not been in charge of any musical magic. Leo Diamond’s triumph had been in a position to record expensively created, fairly imaginative albums despite his selected instrument.