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OBIT: Larry Adler
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Subject: Larry Adler From: GUEST,Roger tjhe skiffler Date: 07 Aug 01 - 04:43 AM Larry has gone to join George and Ira whose names he loved to drop. He usually referred to his instrument as a mouth organ, not a harmonica (even less a blues harp or gob iron). Musician Larry Adler dies Highly acclaimed musician Larry Adler, widely acknowledged as the world's greatest harmonica player, has died at the age of 87. Adler, who had been in showbiz for an astonishing 73 years, had been battling cancer and recently suffered a series of health setbacks.
Adler made the harmonica a newly respected instrument He died last night at St Thomas's Hospital in London surrounded by his family. His manager, Jonathan Shalit, said: "Only three weeks ago we were talking about him doing a concert in China." "He was very active until the end, that was one of the things which made him such a remarkable man." The musician's last recording was with Cerys Matthews from the Welsh pop band Catatonia. He was known for his original collaborations with a range of musicians but also his own virtuoso performances. Show business friends, including Elton John, Sting and Sir George Martin, had sent messages in recent days to the legend. Shalit said: "He was without doubt one of the greatest musicians of the 20th century and the world is a poorer place without him. Adler, who was Jewish, was born in the US but moved to London in the 1949. He was forced to leave the States after accusations of pro-communist sympathies during the McCarthy era. The slurs ruined his career in the US, though he was widely respected for his refusal to accuse other musicians or acquaintances. Besides his musical fame, Adler also appeared in a number of films and was known as a prolific letter writer, his correspondence to Private Eye becoming legendary. He was nominated for an Oscar for his work on the soundtrack of the movie Genevieve, although his name was originally kept off the credits because of the McCarthy blacklisting.
Adler is survived by four children, two grandchildren and two great grandchildren. RtS (I thought Tommy Reilly did the Genevieve soundtrack?) |
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Subject: RE: OBIT: Larry Adler From: Pene Azul Date: 07 Aug 01 - 06:06 AM Copied from a thread that was posted the same minute: Subject: Larry Adler Just heard that Larry Adler, the 'world's greatest' harmonica player has died. Subject: RE: OBIT: Larry Adler Sad news, always loved his soundtrack for the film 'Genevieve' |
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Subject: RE: OBIT: Larry Adler From: Ella who is Sooze Date: 07 Aug 01 - 06:08 AM Apparantly, my grandfather used to have mouth organ lessons from Larry Adler, some years ago now, (in the 1950's ish or earlier) when he used to live in London during the week. Grandfather was an architect, but liked to mix in the acting and music circles at the time. Never met grandfather, would have liked to have asked him about the above too. Ella |
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Subject: RE: OBIT: Larry Adler From: fat B****rd Date: 07 Aug 01 - 07:14 AM RIP indeed. Could any veteran English Catters tell me if I might have seen Mr. Adler with the "Archie Andrews Show" |
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Subject: RE: OBIT: Larry Adler From: Fiolar Date: 07 Aug 01 - 07:18 AM Farewell Larry: To quote the poet John Davidson "The music that you made below, is now the music of the spheres." My God, the great entertainers are dropping like flies this August and it's only the 7th. |
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Subject: RE: OBIT: Larry Adler From: Brakn Date: 07 Aug 01 - 07:21 AM A wonderful musician. I first came across his music in the sixties when I was in my teens. There was a play/film on the BBC about some Canadian hobo and the music was done by Larry Adler. I never found out, or could remember the title of the show. Or if the soundtrack was available. A sad loss. |
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Subject: RE: OBIT: Larry Adler From: Steve Parkes Date: 07 Aug 01 - 08:37 AM Roger, definitely Larry on Genevieve. (But Tommy did Gunsmoke, Rawhide, The Fugitive, Those Magnificent Men and Their Flying Machines, and Midnight Cowboy. And Dixon of Dock Green, of course.) A man who did more than anyone else, including Tommy Reilly, just about, to make the harmonica respectable; and a gentleman too. Steve |
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Subject: RE: OBIT: Larry Adler From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler) Date: 07 Aug 01 - 09:47 AM I'm sure you're right, Steve. (see my contribution to the old "Don't do X with Y" thread!) RtS |
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Subject: RE: OBIT: Larry Adler From: Rick Fielding Date: 07 Aug 01 - 11:59 AM Damn, what a fine player! Interesting guy too. I forget what his autobiography was called, but it was a great read. Rick P.S. Since Tommy Reilly's name has been mentioned, anyone remember Max Geldray? I guess a lot of us on Mudcat play some blues harp, and have probably made an attempt on a chromatic....hell of a difficult instrument. These guys were GOOD! Rick |
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Subject: RE: OBIT: Larry Adler From: GUEST,Max G Date: 07 Aug 01 - 12:06 PM Oh boy! My conk's still getting the breaks! |
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Subject: RE: OBIT: Larry Adler From: vindelis Date: 07 Aug 01 - 02:33 PM Are there anymore Greats left? RIP Larry. |
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Subject: RE: OBIT: Larry Adler From: John MacKenzie Date: 07 Aug 01 - 03:45 PM Max Geldray YO!!! memories of the one and only fabulous enequalled GOON SHOW!! Jock |
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Subject: RE: OBIT: Larry Adler From: Peter K (Fionn) Date: 07 Aug 01 - 04:27 PM A really principled guy, and I guess when it came to name-dropping he had few peers. In Britain, Prince Philip's was about the lowest circle he moved in (and you can't get much lower than that). Just a few months ago on BBC Radio 3 (but maybe it was a recording) he recalled playing doubles with Charlie Chaplin, Greta Garbo and Salvador Dali. I assume the umpire was God or some such. |
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Subject: RE: OBIT: Larry Adler From: bobby's girl Date: 07 Aug 01 - 05:49 PM One of the most wonderful things I ever heard was Larry and Itzak Perlmann dueting together on the Michael Parkinson Show years ago, playing Summertime. Just the memory of it brings me out in goosebumps! |
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Subject: RE: OBIT: Larry Adler From: Seamus Kennedy Date: 08 Aug 01 - 12:54 AM Jeez! Another great gone, and some truly great music with him. What a trio that would have been: Adler, Reilly and Geldray. Three tenors my ass! Seamus |
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Subject: RE: OBIT: Larry Adler From: Seamus Kennedy Date: 08 Aug 01 - 12:55 AM And just for the sake of argument - Toots Thielemanns and Charlie McCoy. Seamus |
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