harmonicanick
2016 posts
Sep 09, 2013
12:39 AM
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This is the title of a book tracing 'the evolution of the people's instrument' by Kim Field & published in 1993, and a very entertaining and informative read it is, for anyone interested in the harmonica and its place in American music.
Published by Cooper Square press, this is a must read for harmonica enthusiasts.
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didjcripey
610 posts
Sep 09, 2013
2:41 AM
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Another good one is 'Band in a waistcoat pocket' which comes with 2 cds of old timey harmonica music. Traces the huge popularity of the instrument in Australia (it was once proposed to have been adopted as our national instrument!). Also talks about harmonica orchestras and huge competitions with big prize money.
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Lucky Lester
Last Edited by didjcripey on Sep 09, 2013 2:44 AM
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Kingley
3121 posts
Sep 09, 2013
9:36 AM
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I read Kim Field's book about a dozen or so years ago. From what I remember it's a pretty good book.
Last Edited by Kingley on Sep 09, 2013 9:36 AM
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barbequebob
2330 posts
Sep 09, 2013
10:43 AM
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Kim's a friend of mine from his days here in the Boston area and his book is an excellent book.
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Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
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timeistight
1357 posts
Sep 09, 2013
11:15 AM
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I just read it last month. It's a well-written, very well-researched survey of the harp scene circa 1993-2000.
i wish he'd do another update; a lot has happened since the last edition.
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harmonicanick
2018 posts
Sep 09, 2013
11:51 AM
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That is interesting Bob, is he a good harp player?
It would be good to widen the brief world-wide in an up-date
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snakes
716 posts
Sep 09, 2013
2:18 PM
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@ harmonicanick - yes Kim is living in the Seattle area now and plays out in at least two bands. His blues band is called Kim Field and the Mighty Titans of Tone. He is one of the Seattle area harmonica treasures. I was able to acquire one of Kim's books from him at a show and he signed it for me. I believe it was a revised edition, but this was a few years ago. And just to clarify - yes - he is a killer harp player.
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snakes in Snohomish
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barbequebob
2332 posts
Sep 10, 2013
8:13 AM
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Kim is most definitely a good player. I have a signed first edition and he had told me the publisher had him cut some 500 pages down from what he originally wanted published in the first printing as it was something that they probably were afraid wouldn't sell much, but the later edition has most of that extra 500 pages worth in it now.
It was originally going to be just about blues players, but thankfully he expanded it to players of other music genres as well and it's the best book about the different players of the instrument I've ever run across.
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Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
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harmonicanick
2019 posts
Sep 10, 2013
9:57 AM
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Yes, I had no idea of the US harmonica bands of the 1920's, '30's and 40's
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