copied from an old thread

The Harmonicats were one of the last of the great all-harmonica groups, and the end of an era that began around 1920 with a vaudeville star named Borrah Minevitch and his Harmonica Rascals. The original Harmonicats consisted of Al Fiore, Jerry Murad, and a phenomenal player named Don Les. Don played bass harmonica for the cats, but was a vituoso on the Marine Band. They had a number one song in 1947 called "Peg o' My Heart." Les is considered a pioneer of modern jazz harp, and Howard Levy sites him as a major influence.