John Sebastian (classical harmonica player)
| John Sebastian | |
|---|---|
John Sebastian, c. 1953
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | John Sebastian Pugliese |
| Born |
April 25, 1914 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Died | August 18, 1980 (aged 66) Périgord, France |
| Genres | Classical |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, composer |
| Instruments | Harmonica |
| Years active | 1930–1980 |
| Labels | Schirmer, RCA Victor, Cadence, Columbia, Decca, Deutsche Grammophon, Heliodor |
| Notable instruments | |
| Hohner 64 Chromonica | |
John Sebastian, born John Sebastian Pugliese (April 25, 1914 − August 18, 1980), was an American musician and composer known as a master of the classical chromatic harmonica. He was the first harmonicist to adopt an all-classical repertoire and, along with Larry Adler and Tommy Reilly, established the harmonica as a serious instrument for classical music. In addition to performing, Sebastian increased the range of classical music available for the harmonica by transcribing numerous existing classical works for the harmonica, composing works of his own, and commissioning or otherwise encouraging other composers to write for the instrument.
He was the father of singer-songwriter John B. Sebastian, an original member of the 1960s folk rock band The Lovin' Spoonful.
Sebastian was born John Sebastian Pugliese on April 25, 1914, into a wealthy Italian banking family in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where his father was a bank president. Later in life, Sebastian truncated his name to "John Sebastian." He is sometimes called "John Sebastian Sr." to distinguish him from his rock musician son John Benson Sebastian; however, the Sr./ Jr. designation is not strictly correct as his son has a different middle name.
As a boy, Sebastian became interested in the harmonica, which in the 1920s was being promoted to Philadelphia youth through bands and contests organized by philanthropist Albert N. Hoxie and sponsored by the Philadelphia Rotary Club and Musical League. The harmonica was seen as a cheap instrument, easy to learn and play, that could provide young people with both a social outlet and the basic musical knowledge to stimulate their interest in learning more "important" instruments such as piano and violin. In 1924, approximately 10,000 boys participated in the citywide harmonica contest, and by 1926, an estimated 70,000 Philadelphia boys were members of harmonica groups.
Sebastian's harmonica skills were quickly recognized. He joined Hoxie's Philadelphia Harmonica Band, an elite ensemble of 50 to 60 boys that traveled the country and played for presidents, visiting dignitaries, and special events such as the Philadelphia celebration of Charles Lindbergh's transatlantic flight. He also worked for several seasons as an instructor at Hoxie's summer harmonica camp, teaching other boys to play. By age 12, he was featured as a soloist with John Philip Sousa's band.
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