"Cappy Barra" redirects here. For the animal, see Capybara.
The Cappy Barra Harmonica Band was an American harmonica ensemble — originally a trio, then a quartet, then two groups — that played big band arrangements. Cappy Barra flourished from 1935 to 1945.
Cappy Barra was assembled by promoter Maurice Duke. The name was derived from "capybara," the largest extant rodent in the world, native to South America. In 1940, Sam Scheckter and Sam Sperling left the group, George Fields replaced Schekter.[1] Shortly after, the act split into two groups. The first unit worked primarily in the Chicago area. A second unit, based in New York, formed around Phil King, who enlisted newcomers George Fields, Charley Leighton, Alan Greene and Pro Robbins (né Irving Rubenstein).
The Chicago unit, a trio, disbanded in 1942 when Nat Bergman and Cappy LaFell enlisted in the Armed Forces. Don Ripps returned to Freeport, Texas.[2]
The New York unit worked steadily in vaudeville and in nightclubs through the war years. George Fields left in 1941 to move to California, and the group played as a trio, with Charles Leighton handling the lead, Alan Greene playing chord harp and singing, and Pro Robbins on bass harp. Phil King booked the band, played an occasional Polyphonia, did comedy bits, and fronted the group. The group disbanded in 1944.[3]
Post World War II
Around 1945, Duke reorganized Cappy Barra as a quartet and moved it to Los Angeles with the aim of getting Hollywood studio work. The performers were Charley Leighton on lead, George Fields on second, Pete Petersen on third, and Pro Robbins on fourth.[4][5][6]
The 1942–44 musicians' strike banned musicians from recording with major labels. A year earlier (1941), the motion picture industry began producing short music films, which were not banned. The films were the early version of music videos — known as "soundies. Cappy Barra performed on the following soundies: The Smoothies (vocal group) and The Cappy Barra Harmonica Boys Smoothies personnel: Babs (Blanche Redwine?) and the two brothers, Charlie & Little Ryan (né Reinhart)
Showbar Frowlics, assembled and released by Soundies Distributing Corporation of America, Program 1107 (February 22, 1943), re-issued at Program 1187 OCLC 423356297[17][18][19]
Rosie the Riveter, directed by John C. Graham OCLC 423340319 (February 2, 1943)
^Obituary: Lehrfeld, Leon S "Cappy," 89,Chicago Tribune, August 26, 2002
^Obituary: Frances Bergman, 84; Ret. Admin. Secretary, Sullivan County Democrat (Callicoon, New York), September 29, 2006
^Obituary: Samuel Scheckter, was musician and teacher: Newspaper Obituary and Death Notice, Union News (Springfield, Massachusetts), December 20, 1995, pg. B7
^Obituary: Fields, George Joseph; 83; Brooklyn; Palm SpringsThe Desert Sun, February 2, 2005
^Roy Liebman, Musical groups in the movies, 1929–1970, McFarland & Company (2009) OCLC 335189431
^Movie Machine Reviews: Program 1107, Billboard Magazine, pg. 64, March 20, 1943
^Maurice Terenzio, Scott MacGillivray, Ted Okuda, The Soundies Distributing Corporation of America: A History and Filmography of Their "Jukebox" Musical Films of the 1940s, McFarland & Company (April 1, 1991) OCLC 22543173, 468460185 ISBN0899505783ISBN9780899505787
^Soundies Distributing Corporation of America photographs, 1940-1946 (archival material), Margaret Herrick Library, Beverly Hills, CaliforniaOCLC 801268308
December 15, 2023
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Cappy Barra redirects here For the animal see Capybara The Cappy Barra Harmonica Band was an American harmonica ensemble originally a trio then a quartet then two groups that played big band arrangements Cappy Barra flourished from 1935 to 1945 Contents 1 History 2 Filmography 3 Discography 4 Sheet music 5 See also 6 Other harmonica ensembles 7 ReferencesHistory edit1938 to 1942 Cappy Barra was assembled by promoter Maurice Duke The name was derived from capybara the largest extant rodent in the world native to South America In 1940 Sam Scheckter and Sam Sperling left the group George Fields replaced Schekter 1 Shortly after the act split into two groups The first unit worked primarily in the Chicago area A second unit based in New York formed around Phil King who enlisted newcomers George Fields Charley Leighton Alan Greene and Pro Robbins ne Irving Rubenstein The Chicago unit a trio disbanded in 1942 when Nat Bergman and Cappy LaFell enlisted in the Armed Forces Don Ripps returned to Freeport Texas 2 The New York unit worked steadily in vaudeville and in nightclubs through the war years George Fields left in 1941 to move to California and the group played as a trio with Charles Leighton handling the lead Alan Greene playing chord harp and singing and Pro Robbins on bass harp Phil King booked the band played an occasional Polyphonia did comedy bits and fronted the group The group disbanded in 1944 3 Post World War II Around 1945 Duke reorganized Cappy Barra as a quartet and moved it to Los Angeles with the aim of getting Hollywood studio work The performers were Charley Leighton on lead George Fields on second Pete Petersen on third and Pro Robbins on fourth 4 5 6 Performing members Cappy LaFell ne Leon S Lehrfeld 1913 2002 7 Joe Mullendore aka Raymond Joe Sanns ne Joseph Milton Mullendore Jr 1914 1990 Nat Bergman aka Nate Burton ne Nathaniel Bergman 1916 1994 8 Phil Solomon Don Ripps 1918 1965 Samuel Scheckter 1913 1995 9 Sam Sperling George Joseph Fields 1921 2005 10 Charley Leighton 1921 2009 Alan Greene Pro Robbins ne Irving Rubenstein Pete Petersen Milton Freeman Eddie Shu ne Edward Shulman 1918 1986 Non performing members Maurice Duke 1910 1996 11 12 Phil King served as spokesman and leader but not a musician Harry Morton 1912 2004 comedian 13 14 Henry Nemo 1909 1999 composer amp arranger 15 Filmography editMusical Airwaves 1936 a 10 minute short Milton Edward Schwarzwald 1891 1950 director Universal Pictures Mad About Music 1938 Universal Pictures 16 I Love to Whistle by Jimmy McHugh amp Harold Adamson lyrics 1938 sung by Deanna Durbin with the Cappy Barra Harmonica Band at party audio clip Pot o Gold 1941 video clip Cappy Barra is dubbed Rockin in the Rockies 1945 video clip Radio Stars on Parade 1945 video clip Bowery Boy 1945 Musical film shortsThe 1942 44 musicians strike banned musicians from recording with major labels A year earlier 1941 the motion picture industry began producing short music films which were not banned The films were the early version of music videos known as soundies Cappy Barra performed on the following soundies The Smoothies vocal group and The Cappy Barra Harmonica Boys Smoothies personnel Babs Blanche Redwine and the two brothers Charlie amp Little Ryan ne Reinhart Showbar Frowlics assembled and released by Soundies Distributing Corporation of America Program 1107 February 22 1943 re issued at Program 1187 OCLC 423356297 17 18 19 Rosie the Riveter directed by John C Graham OCLC 423340319 February 2 1943 Lalapaluza Lu OCLC 423101609Discography editCappy Barra Harmonica Swing Ensemble Recorded April 5 1937 Variety Recordings 600 M359 Voo Doo OCLC 78101562 M356 Stardust by Hoagy Carmichael OCLC 7911081478 rpm 10 inch 1937 Casa Loma Stomp by Gene Gifford OCLC 33255776 Solitude by Duke Ellington arranged by Gene GiffordSheet music editNocturne in Blue by Al Greene lyrics amp Raymond Joe Sanns ne Joseph Milton Mullendore Jr 1914 1990 music c February 11 1941 249699 Joseph Milton Mullendore Jr Philadelphia Voo Doo by Raymond Joe Sanns ne Joseph Milton Mullendore Jr 1914 1990 Leon Lafell ne Leon S Lehrfeld 1913 2002 and Maurice Duke 1910 1996 c June 10 1937 62625 Exclusive Publications Inc New York It s Nature All Around Me by Joseph Milton Mullendore Jr 1914 1990 c January 18 1934 81496 Leon Lafell ne Leon S Lehrfeld 1913 2002 See also editThe Harmonica Gentlemen List of harmonicistsOther harmonica ensembles editUnited States The Harmonica Gentlemen The Harmonica Rascals The Harmonica Scamps The Harmonicuties The Harmonica Harlequins The Philharmonicas The Harlemonicats The Three Harpers see Stan Harper The Harptones The Stagg McMann Trio The Harmonica Hi Hats The Harmonica Lads The Don Henry Trio The Harmonica Gang The Stereomonics The Big HarpNetherlands The 5 HotchasEddie Sernee Joop Heijman Geert van Driesten Cor Belder Wim Belder dd Ireland The BachelorsFrance Trio RaisnerHong Kong King s College Harmonica BandReferences editGeneral references The Cappy Barra Story by Art M Daane from the memoirs of Nat Bergman self published by Duane Bergman Helmond 2003 Sam Scheckter collection Cappy Barra ensemble music arrangements OCLC 122687147Tin sandwich anyone A history of the harmonica DVD with Jake Yapp amp Roger Pomphrey 2008 OCLC 778893553 Inline citations Kim Field Harmonicas Harps and Heavy Breathers The Evolution of the People s Instrument Cooper Square Press 2000 OCLC 265451277 ISBN 0815410204 ISBN 9780815410201 Club Talent Chicago Billboard Magazine June 6 1942 pg 17 John H Broecker born 1949 Milwaukee Harmonica Club 2010 Jaine Rodack born 1944 Be of Good Cheer Memories of Harmonica Legend Pete Pedersen pg 123 AuthorHouse 2006 ISBN 9781425960063 Alfred V Smith born 1932 Confessions of Harmonica Addicts self published by Al Smith Richfield Ohio 2008 Peter Krampert The Encyclopedia of the Harmonica Tatanka Publishing Mel Bay Pacific Missouri 2002 OCLC 50556559 ISBN 0786658959 ISBN 9780786658954 Obituary Lehrfeld Leon S Cappy 89 Chicago Tribune August 26 2002 Obituary Frances Bergman 84 Ret Admin Secretary Sullivan County Democrat Callicoon New York September 29 2006 Obituary Samuel Scheckter was musician and teacher Newspaper Obituary and Death Notice Union News Springfield Massachusetts December 20 1995 pg B7 Obituary Fields George Joseph 83 Brooklyn Palm Springs The Desert Sun February 2 2005 Harris M Lentz III Obituaries in the Performing Arts 1996 Film television radio theatre dance music cartoons and pop culture McFarland amp Company Jefferson North Carolina 1997 OCLC 37328425 ISBN 0786403020 ISBN 9780786403028 Myrna Oliver Obituary Maurice Duke Colorful Movie Producer Los Angeles Times November 2 1996 Harry Morton Manager agent Variety magazine July 9 2004 Look Out For Harry Morton stories told by Harry Morton LP United Artists Records 1962 OCLC 13167701 Cappy Barra s Swing Harmonica Ensemble Retrieved 2016 12 26 Roy Liebman Musical groups in the movies 1929 1970 McFarland amp Company 2009 OCLC 335189431 Movie Machine Reviews Program 1107 Billboard Magazine pg 64 March 20 1943 Maurice Terenzio Scott MacGillivray Ted Okuda The Soundies Distributing Corporation of America A History and Filmography of Their Jukebox Musical Films of the 1940s McFarland amp Company April 1 1991 OCLC 22543173 468460185 ISBN 0899505783 ISBN 9780899505787 Soundies Distributing Corporation of America photographs 1940 1946 archival material Margaret Herrick Library Beverly Hills California OCLC 801268308 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Cappy Barra Harmonica Band amp oldid 1131219122, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
