The Harmonicats
A harmonica trio with Jerry Murad on lead, Al Fiore on chording, and Don Les on bass, the Harmonicats had a massive number one hit in 1947 with "Peg O' My Heart," and remained popular through the 1950s, even getting a Top 20 album (Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White) as late as 1961. Applying their harmonica arrangements mostly to popular standards, their sound was unusual for that (or indeed any) era, achieving a full ensemble effect via instruments that are rarely used in tandem in popular music. Heard several decades later, their material undoubtedly has a dated novelty aspect -- they preferred sentimental tunes that can sound corny to later generations -- but can also sound fresh, due to the unusual instrumentation. The Harmonicats were still recording for Columbia in the late '60s and tried their hand at contemporary material like "Blowin' in the Wind" and "Get Off of My Cloud" on their 1966 LP What's New, Harmonicats?. The Harmonicats continued performing even after the Murad's death in 1996.
© Richie Unterberger /TiVo
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Discography
21 album(s) • Sorted by Bestseller
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Peg O' My Heart (Live On The Ed Sullivan Show, February 26, 1950)
Pop - Released by SOFA - AV Catalog DD on 3 Jul 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Just at the Turn of the Tide
Dance - Released by turn of the tide on 28 Apr 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Peg O' My Heart (Billboard Hot 100 - No. 01)
World - Released by Music Manager on 19 Dec 2018
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Vintage Dance Orchestras No. 245 - EP: Harmónicas And Cha-Cha-Cha
Latin America - Released by Vintage Music on 17 Apr 1959
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Peg-O-My-Heart (Live On The Ed Sullivan Show, June 1, 1952)
Pop - Released by SOFA - AV Catalog DD on 20 Sep 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Little Brown Jug (Live On The Ed Sullivan Show, June 1, 1952)
Pop - Released by SOFA - AV Catalog DD on 24 Sep 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
In the Land of Hi-fi
Pop - Released by Music Manager on 31 Aug 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Nightingale
Pop - Released by oldies and hits for future on 18 May 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Peg O' My Heart
Blues - Released by Redwood Records on 25 Mar 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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