Leo Diamond
{{Short description|American harmonica player (1915–1966)}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Leo Diamond
| birth_date = {{birth date|1915|06|29}}
| birth_place = Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|1966|09|15|1915|06|29}}
| death_place = Los Angeles, California, U.S.
| genre = {{hlist|Easy listening|space age pop|exotica}}
| occupation = Musician
| instrument = Harmonica
| years_active = 1930–c.1966
| label = Ambassador, RCA Victor, ABC-Paramount, Reprise
}}
Leo Diamond (June 29, 1915 – September 15, 1966) was an American harmonica player. He was regarded as a virtuoso of the instrument, and performed in several film scores. Diamond had two US chart hits, "Off Shore" (1953) and "Melody of Love" (1955). He also issued a string of LPs in the 1950s and early 1960s.
Biography
Diamond was born in Brooklyn, New York City, and learned the flute and piccolo before winning a harmonica contest held by bandleader Edwin Franko Goldman in Central Park. Diamond joined Borrah Minevitch's Harmonica Rascals in 1930, and appeared with the group in several films. He arranged and composed tunes for the Harmonica Rascals, toured with them in Europe and South America, and premiered his Concerto for the Harmonica at the Queen's Hall in London.[https://www.discogs.com/Leo-Diamond-Harmonica-Moods/release/13014351 Sleeve notes, Leo Diamond, Harmonica Moods]. Retrieved 24 April 2019
He left to form his own group, the Solidaires (sometimes cited as the Harmonaires) around 1943. They appeared on American Forces Network radio, and in movies including Coney Island, Hi'ya, Sailor (both 1943), Swing Out, Sister and Forever Yours (both 1945).[https://www.allmusic.com/artist/leo-diamond-mn0001380483 Biography by Tony Wilds, Allmusic.com]. Retrieved 24 April 2019[https://mentalitch.com/leo-diamond-and-his-harmonica/ "Leo Diamond and His Harmonica", Mental Itch]. Retrieved 24 April 2019
By 1950, Diamond started to establish a solo career, principally as a recording artist, although he also performed in clubs across the US. He provided the soundtracks to several films, including Miss Sadie Thompson and The Eddie Cantor Story. His self-penned instrumental, "Off Shore", for Ambassador Records, reached number 14 on the US pop chart in 1953,{{cite book| last1 = Whitburn| first1 = Joel| title = Pop Memories 1890-1954: The History of American Popular Music| location = Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin| publisher = Record Research, Inc.| year = 1986| pages = [https://archive.org/details/joelwpopmemories00whit/page/127 127]| isbn = 0-89820-083-0| url = https://archive.org/details/joelwpopmemories00whit/page/127}} and he also recorded an album, Harmonica Moods, for the label.
In 1955, RCA Victor released the album Harmonica Magic of Leo Diamond, and Diamond's version of the 1903 song "Melody of Love" reached number 30 on the pop chart.{{cite book|first=Joel|last=Whitburn|year=2003|title=Top Pop Singles 1955-2002|edition=1st|publisher=Record Research Inc.|location=Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin|isbn=0-89820-155-1|page=[https://archive.org/details/joelwhitburnstop00whitbur/page/190 190]|url=https://archive.org/details/joelwhitburnstop00whitbur/page/190}} This was followed in 1956 by Skin Diver Suite, described as "the quintessential harmonica opus", with conductor Murray Kellner, one of several attempts by Diamond to raise the reputation of the harmonica as a serious solo instrument.
Diamond then moved to ABC-Paramount Records who released the albums Exciting Sounds from Romantic Places (1959) and Subliminal Sounds (1959).[https://www.discogs.com/artist/876507-Leo-Diamond Leo Diamond, Discogs.com]. Retrieved 24 April 2019 On these albums, Diamond "played all parts on a variety of harmonicas, most of his own design. He also mixed in sound effects such as jet noise and bird calls, and experimented with tape mixing methods to produce recordings that rank among the most innovative in exotica.... music that is anything but easy listening."[http://www.spaceagepop.com/diamond.htm Leo Diamond, Space Age Pop]. Retrieved 24 April 2019
Frank Sinatra championed Diamond, and as a result he signed to Reprise Records when it was established in 1960. Diamond released several albums on the label in 1961 and '62: Exciting Sounds of the South Seas, Themes From The Great Foreign Films, Off Shore, and Harmonica Sounds In Country And Western Music. However, by this time "the popular audience had lost what little interest it had in harmonica music", and the albums were criticized for "boring arrangements... [which] only exaggerated the inappropriateness of the harmonica".
Diamond died in Los Angeles, California, in 1966, aged 51.
References
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