Larry Adler

Despite choosing the humble harmonica as his main instrument, Larry Adler's talent and huge personality led to an extraordinary life and 70-year career that saw him play for Al Capone, work with Fred Astaire, George Gershwin and Elton John and even have an affair with Ingrid Bergman. Originally he played piano as a child, but when a German man in his Baltimore neighbourhood started a group of mouth organ players, he naturally picked up the technique and was soon winning talent contests and playing professionally by the age of 14. He ran away to New York soon after, and performed as a harmonica-playing street urchin in travelling vaudeville revue shows, before featuring on soundtracks to cartoons, backing tap dancers on Broadway and making an appearance in the 1934 comedy movie 'Many Happy Returns'. His showmanship led to him working with comedians like Eddie Cantor and Jack Benny and he also became a big hit in London where he performed at the Empire Theatre, but his recordings with legendary guitarist Django Reinhardt in 1938 were not regarded as a success and after being blacklisted during the McCarthy-era red scare, he left America in 1951. He went on to perform across the world with some of the finest orchestras and record acclaimed soundtracks to many films, and in later life became a much loved celebrity in Britain appearing on chat shows and writing for satirical magazine 'Private Eye'. He celebrated his 80th birthday by recording album 'The Glory of Gershwin' in 1994 with a host of modern day stars including Sting, Lisa Stansfield, Kate Bush and Bon Jovi, and continued to perform and recant wild stories up until his death seven years later in 2001.

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