elkriverharmonicas (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Didn't mean to imply that you did, that was just another direction in a train of thought. Didn't mean to imply that it was entirely Morris that made that sound either. I'm saying that he was responsible for a great deal of its funk.

freereeder (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Well, first, I did not mean to suggest tat Minevitch was on a civil rights crusade. Morris was presumably included simply because he was a topnotch player and Minevitch was willing to fight the good fight to keep him. However, I think it's a bit much to say that the Minevitch sound ws due entirely to Ernie Morris, great as he was. There were also the Diamond brothers, Fuzzy Feldman, and others. Also interesting that Morris, Puleo, and some others held the harmoinca "backwards".

elkriverharmonicas (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

I thought about that, too. Why would Borrah include him since Borrah wouldn't care about any civil rights crusades. Then, I started listening to Ernie's parts. Ernie is what made the Rascals sound like nothing else before or since. Jerry Adler said that as a blues player, he'd put Sonny Terry to shame. Ernie left in 1942 because of mistreatment. Borrah didn't mistreat him because Ernie was black, he did so because Borrah, love him as I do, was a complete prick to everybody.

frogherold (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Wonderful, what a great Sound.

freereeder (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Can't resist another point. In those days, it was almost unknown for an African-American performer to appear on screen with whites. unless in a servant or blue-collar position. (View any number of old videos.) But Minevitch pulled it off, with the great Ernie Morris (screen right). Minevitch must have really stood up to the Hays office!

freereeder (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

This is a medley. The first song is "One in a Million", title song of the film from which this clip was taken. (It also featured Olympic figure skater Sonja Henie, Adolphe Menjou, Don Ameche--who invented the telephone, and Jeam Hersholt-radio's Dr. Christian. There follows a brief snatch of Ravel's "Bolero", followed by "Limehouse Blues".

LathamJoe (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

From Wikipedia: Johnny Puleo...... "Born a dwarf in Washington, DC (he stood 4 feet 6 inches or 1.37 meters as an adult), he worked as a newspaper seller until being discovered at a contest in Boston held by bandleader Borrah Minnevitch, of The Harmonica Rascals..."

Pickinbuddy (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Johnny Puleo actually was not a midget! He was afflicted with that dreaded Polio as a child. Notice that his upper torso features are the normal size for a man.

jasobres (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

I recognize the second song as "Limehouse Blues" but what's the first song?

LathamJoe (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Abolutely, my friend!