Role

:

Composer  

Country

:

United States of America

Birth

:

February 10, 1914 in Baltimore, MD

Death

:

August 6, 2001 in London, England

Genre

:

Orchestral

 

Larry Adler was an American harmonica player and composer who was born on February 10, 1914, in Baltimore, Maryland. He was the youngest of four children born to Jewish immigrants from Russia. His father was a jeweler, and his mother was a seamstress. Adler's parents were not musical, but they encouraged their children to pursue their interests. Adler showed an early interest in music and began playing the harmonica at the age of six. He was self-taught and learned to play by listening to recordings of classical music. He quickly became proficient and began performing in public at the age of ten. Adler's talent was recognized by the famous conductor, Arturo Toscanini, who invited him to perform with the NBC Symphony Orchestra in 1934. Adler's performance with Toscanini was a turning point in his career. He became known as a serious musician and began performing with orchestras around the world. He also began composing music for the harmonica and recorded numerous albums. One of Adler's most famous performances was his rendition of George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue." He performed the piece with the composer himself on the piano, and the performance was recorded in 1938. The recording became a best-seller and helped to popularize the harmonica as a serious instrument. Adler also performed with other famous musicians, including Benny Goodman, Frank Sinatra, and Yehudi Menuhin. He was known for his virtuosity on the harmonica and his ability to play a wide range of musical styles, from classical to jazz. In addition to his performing career, Adler was also an advocate for civil rights. He was a vocal opponent of segregation and performed at numerous civil rights rallies. He also refused to perform in South Africa during the apartheid era. Adler received numerous awards and honors throughout his career. He was awarded the Order of the British Empire in 1997 for his contributions to music. He was also inducted into the Harmonica Hall of Fame in 1986 and the American Classical Music Hall of Fame in 1996. Adler continued to perform and compose music until his death on August 6, 2001, at the age of 87. He was a pioneer in the world of harmonica music and helped to elevate the instrument to a level of respectability in the classical music world. His legacy continues to inspire harmonica players around the world.

More....