Harmonica virtuoso Larry Adler plays St Louis Blues - 1937

Lawrence Cecil Adler, who was Jewish, was born in Baltimore, USA on 10 February 1914.
He taught himself the harmonica and began to play professionally at the age of 14.
Adler wrote his autobiography in 1985
Adler moved to the UK in 1949 having been 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 - playing himself.
He also wrote an autobiography - It Ain't Necessarily So - in 1985, and worked as a food critic for Harper's & Queen.
The 1953 movie Genevieve brought him an Oscar nomination for his work on the soundtrack, although his name was originally kept off the credits because of the McCarthy blacklisting.

[@garylynch9809]

I met him in 1980 after a performance in Los Angeles. I had some LP recordings of his, and he was surprised. He asked when I bought them, and where I bought them, among other things.

[@ramonysuarmonica1]

Gracias por subir este y recordar al gran Maestro Larry Adler

[@MsHellcat08]

My Da loved this bloke! R.I.P PL ❤

[@user-cv3yg5yg5x]

Прекрасно! Просто потрясающий виртуоз! Спасибо тебе, Миша! Ты находишь таких музыкантов, что даже лексикона не хватает! Этот музыкант, Ларри Адлер - просто гениален!

[@beckycification]

Never heard it called a "slider" but it does have a button that slides in and out allowing you to play sharps and flats that a regular harmonica can't. Mr Adler has such fantastic technique and feel to his playing it really is an extension of his soul. Thank you Larry.

[@MrEngranaje]

Impressive. I didn't know harmonicas could have a slider letting you play every key.

[@Themaddprof]

Its a Chromatic harmonica that has the slider. Stevie Wonder also plays this type. Far more difficult to play than your traditional 10 hole harmonica, which is called diatonic. I started out playing blues on the diatonic harmonica in the 80s and 90s, but converted to the Chromatic in 2010 and have several you tubes on the subject.

[@marly1017]

a chromatic isnt harder to play than a diatonic, its also not easier, diatonics have tons of uses you wont see in chromatics(thought most are possible) both can be basically as hard as it gets

[@garyskiller1909]

Melbourne's Gary skiller I love it from the other side Australian.

[@kempo9jo]

素晴らしい！

[@ThePapasmurf1946]

Virtuoso playing, for sure. So many artistic performances from the 1930's are excellent, it makes me wonder. Too bad he looks and acts like Mr Bean, but just to listen to, it's wonderful

[@nunitoism]

He looks pretty classy if you ask me.

[@fandangodinaturezza9716]

Well…he was the first soloist to do that. He would be an original. Once he played Rachel’s bolero like this and had applauses. The following day he normally played it and it as a flop. He was told he loose his « swordsmanship », so…