Rhythm Willie

 Rhythm Willie - USA

Biography

Rhythm Willie was a harmonica player active in the Chicago area of the United States. Willie was first advertised in Chicago newspapers in October 1938, where he was often touted as "King Of The Harmonica" or "The Harmonica Wizard. Willie performed in nightclubs in the Chicago area, such as the Club Delisa and the Rhumboogie Café. Willie made his recording debut in 1939, accompanying blues pianist Peetie Wheatstraw on five sides. Willie's distinctive harmonica playing is easily noticeable above Wheatstraw's piano. On the same day, Willie accompanied blues musician Lee Brown on four sides. Willie made his first recordings as leader in October 1940, cutting four sides, all of them instrumental, showcasing Willie's ability on the harmonica. After this session, Willie would not return to the recording studio until 1947, accompanying Earl Bostic and his orchestra. None of the recordings from this session were issued. Willie made his final recordings in 1950, where he led an orchestra on two sides. Willie continued playing live after his final recording session, and was advertised as having played in the months leading up to his death. Willie died in early 1954 at the age of 43. An obituary in the Chicago Defender, gave his funeral date as May 18, 1954.

Harmonica Pioneers: Rhythm Willie

Harmonica jazz pioneer Rhythm Willie (1905 or 1910 – 1954)

Based in Chicago, Willie Hood remained an enigma for a long period of time before a few harmonica and blues fans did the digging. This is the only picture we have of him. He recorded a couple of tunes in the 1940s mostly jazz oriented that he was playing on the diatonic. He uses the harmonica in it’s simplest form but in a very effective way that is strongly influenced by clarinet intonations as we can hear below. This version of St James infirmary is in G and played on a Bb diatonic harmonica most exclusively using the high register from hole 6 to 10. At times you could be lead to believe some notes are bent but they are just attacked differently. Willie Hood, known as Rhythm Willie the Harmonica Wizard, was a popular entertainer in Chicago, up until his death in 1954. His repertoire consisted of jazz-tinged blues and, apparently, pop standards of the time. Here, I have transcribed the opening measures to three of the tunes he recorded at a 1940 session, issued under the name "Rhythm Willie and his Gang". These tracks have been reissued on "Harmonica Blues 1929 - 1940" (Wolf Records WSE106). "Boarding House Blues" is a typical example of Willie's first position jazz style (everything he recorded, with the exception of "Breathtakin' Blues" was played in first position, or straight harp), played here on a G harp. Upper octave first position is often referred to as "Jimmy Reed style", but Willie was playing in this style in the 30s (or maybe even earlier) with a degree of sophistication that Jimmy Reed never achieved.

Bedroom Stomp" is something of an oddity. Again in first position, this time he is using a C major harp to play in the key of C minor! If you work on this one, pay attention to the blow bends - if you don't get them right, the tune will sound horrible."

 

Another minor key tune, "Breathtakin' Blues", is the only pre-war harp recording I have found played in fourth position - in this case, G minor on a Bb harp. Fourth position is the relative minor to first position, so Willie may have been more familiar with this position, than players whose specialty was cross harp. The tune itself is basically "St. James Infirmary", a favorite tune of early jazz musicians - this just goes to show that Howard Levy was not the first to try to play jazz on the 10-hole! It sounds to me like Willie had listened to a lot of jazz clarinet players - listen to that pure tone, that controlled vibrato and those trills, turns and bent notes.

Willie is, in my opinion, one of the most neglected of early blues musicians. I for one, can't wait to see what else Scott Dirks has found out about him.

Donald "Boots" Brasseur

Donald "Boots" Brasseur - Canada (2) 

CLAIRMONT: Forgotten Burlington soldier was harmonica superstar

By Susan Clairmont Spectator Columnist The Hamilton Spectator Wed., Dec. 24, 2014

Perhaps you knew him by his stage name: Boots Brasseur.

He was a famous harmonica player who could play "Stardust" like nobody's business and performed with the likes of Bob Hope and Perry Como.

I wrote about Boots earlier this week. A story about a Canadian soldier who died with no next of kin, few dollars and a lonely, government-funded funeral service set for the day before Christmas. I spent a day trying to learn his story with little luck.

But that's because I didn't know he was Boots.

If I had known that, I would have found his Wikipedia page, his recordings on iTunes.

Instead, I called him by his proper name, the one in his obit and funeral notice: Donald Joseph Brasseur. He was 89 and a veteran and I knew he lived in Burlington and had dementia in the end.

Many of you reached out to me about the column and the funeral, which is happening Wednesday at 10: 30 a.m. at Smith's Funeral Home on Brant Street in Burlington. A firefighter told me he will attend the funeral in uniform. Halton police are providing an escort to the cemetery. There will be an honour guard.

One of the first to email me was Bob Richardson, past president of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 60 in Burlington. Boots was his friend.

Let me fill you in.

Boots was born April 17, 1925 in Midland.

"As a young boy, he heard his mother playing the harmonica," says Richardson. "He asked for one, which he was given. He practised all the time."

He joined the army in 1944 and trained at Camp Borden. He landed at Normandy on D-Day and was later injured at Falaise, receiving a concussion.

His nickname came from "his habit of having a pair of tied boots slung around his neck."

After the war, Boots formed a trio called The Three Reeds, and in the early '50s they won a talent show at Maple Leaf Gardens hosted by Horace Heidt, an American bandleader.

"Heidt's talent show catapulted many performers to prominence," says Richardson, including Art Carney and Al Hirt.

After their win, The Three Reeds got gigs at Toronto clubs.

"In search of more work, they went to the British Isles and played in England, Scotland and Ireland," Richardson says.

A highlight was sharing a billing in Liverpool with headliner Bob Hope. Boots cherished an autograph from Hope that says: "To The Three Reeds. A fine act."

A modest man, Boots did mention to friends he had once played with Perry Como.

Back in Canada, Boots performed solo. He made TV appearances, recorded an album of Christmas music and was featured in a 2009 documentary called "The Life and Times of Donald 'Boots' Brasseur," which aired across the country on CTV.

He became the "darling" of Branch 60 karaoke nights, playing rather than singing.

Boots was often there with his companion of many years, Rita, who sang like Patsy Cline, says Richardson, and together they were a marvellous couple.

In 2011, Boots was a finalist in a televised national talent competition for seniors. One judge, Hee Haw's Gordie Tapp, told him: "You owned the stage."

Video shows a dapper Boots gliding on stage in a tux and red pocket square.

Richardson's wife, Jane, says Boots had tiny harmonica cufflinks he could actually play "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" on.

"He was just beautiful. He was the sweetest man you've ever wanted to meet," she says.

Rita died a few months ago and Boots, who had slipped into dementia, was unaware of her death. He died Dec. 17.

One of Boots' lasting gifts to us is a CD he recorded called "Memories of Christmas." His favourite carol was "Away in a Manger."

Boots played it so sweetly he could make you cry.

 

 

Donald "Boots" Brasseur

Donald "Boots" Brasseur - Canada (1)

Donald Brasseur was born in Midland, Ontario, Canada in 1925 and was originally gifted with a violin, which was broken over his head by a sister shortly afterward. After hearing his mom play a harmonica, Don was awestruck by the sound and soon after learned to play the "harp" (my word) in addition to the baritone horn that he was learning at school.

Not interested in following his father's occupation of carpentry, Don began to pursue musical interests but WWII was an ever- needing service, and most Canadians were more than willing to defend what they saw as their way of life and last stand for freedom at the time.

Don acquired the name "Boots" in the war and that has stuck to this day, for no other reason than "I liked the way they looked;" he carried a pair of German prisoner's boots on his packsack and earned that nickname. His comrades-in- arms remembered him well for the harmonica music he supplied in the marches.

Part of the second wave of D-day, Don was injured and awoke in a Belgian hospital following the war. After the war, Don began to play harmonica in some serious settings; Don returned to Toronto (Canada) and started a band called "The Three Reeds" (the name was based on a harmonica history book, which Don had read; it claimed that the harmonica was first called the "Reed Harp"). The group was taken to England where they toured and also played in Ireland, Scotland and Wales. The highlight of this was a night in 1954 when the group had the opportunity to play on the "Bob Hope Show" at the "Empire Theatre" in Liverpool. Bob Hope declared the group "a fine act" on the autographed playbill Boots keeps to this day.

The "Windmill Theatre" in London, England had them playing among exotic dancers. Jack Hammond, London journalist, had this to say about them: "What a terrific act these boys, ‘The Three Reeds' have on their first visit from Canada. All harmonica fans should really try hard to see and hear this trio or they will miss an education in first class entertainment."

"Boots Brasseur" also known as "Al Ravel" (for play in Montreal originally) played in the "Alley Cats," and "The Three Shades" which later became "The Three Reeds."

Although most of his life, he has made a living performing in Vaudeville, Burlesque, Variety acts, Don has worked as a soldier, vacuum salesman, courier, and has compositions that are featured internationally as well as two commercially available tapes of harmonica music so far. Don has played at Roy Thompson Hall, and has participated in TV variety shows since the 1950's.

Indiara Sfair - Brasil

 Indiara Sfair - Brasil (2)