Harmonica Frank
Harmonica Frank Floyd (born October 11, 1908 in Toccopola , Mississippi , † August 7, 1984 in Blanchester , Ohio ) was an American blues singer , guitarist and harmonica player .
He was the child of migrant workers, but grew up with his grandparents. At the age of ten he taught himself to play the harmonica and also learned to play the guitar. After his grandparents died, he joined a medicine show where he learned many different things about folk styles. Harmonica Frank has recorded several records for Sam Phillips (released on the Chess and Sun labels ), including Rockin 'Chair Daddy , which was released three weeks before Elvis ' That's All Right Mama . He was the first white musician to record at the Sun studios and gave Sam Phillips the idea that a white man who sings black music should be a huge hit. He is considered a 'legend' among the initiated. As the title of one of his albums says, (The Missing Link) he personally combines the tradition of medical shows with early rock'n roll.
Before he was recorded by Sam Phillips for Sun Records in the early 1950s , he had a long career in medical shows . He perfected a technique of playing the harmonica with one side of his mouth and singing with the other side of his mouth at the same time. He could also play the harmonica with his nose and thus operate two harmonicas at the same time, a skill he shared with blues harpists Walter Horton and Gus Cannon 's partner Noah Lewis .
In 1972 he was 'rediscovered' by Steve LaVere (Stephen C. LaVere) and recorded two long-playing records on the Adelphi and Barrelhouse labels in the following years .
In his 1975 book Mystery Train , Greil Marcus focused his thoughts on the United States and rock 'n' roll on the six musicians Robert Johnson , Harmonica Frank, Randy Newman , The Band , Sly Stone, and Elvis Presley .
Discography
- 1997 The Great Medical Menagerist Genes Records
- 2000 Swamproot Adelphi Records
- 2002 The Missing Link Memphis International
Individual evidence
- ↑ For these recordings see: Escott, Colin / Hawkins, Martin: Good Rockin 'Tonight. Sun Records and the Birth of Rock 'n' Roll . New York City, New York: St. Martin's Press, 1991, pp. 112-114
Web links
- Pete Hoppula's Harmonica Frank discography
- "Harmonica Frank Floyd - The Missing Link" by Nick Tosches (engl.)
- Joe Barrick's One-Man Band Page
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Harmonica Frank |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Floyd, Harmonica Frank; Floyd, Frank (maiden name) |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American blues singer, guitarist and accordion player |
| DATE OF BIRTH | October 11, 1908 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Toccopola, Mississippi , USA |
| DATE OF DEATH | 7th August 1984 |
| Place of death | Memphis , Tennessee , USA |