Charles Leighton (24 June 1921 – 26 June 2009) was an American classical and jazz harmonica player who performed from the mid-1940s to the mid-1950s. After a hiatus while he managed a recording studio, he performed again in the 1980s until his death.[1] He performed as a soloist and as a member of international ensembles. He worked as a studio musician for radio, film, and television.
In the 1950s, Leighton founded JAC Recording, a small recording studio in his apartment in Manhattan. Several years later, the studio hired record producer Phil Ramone, who was mentored by Leighton and other audio engineers. Ramone attributes his love of engineering to Leighton.
Career
Charles Leighton, a native New Yorker, taught himself to play the harmonica at the age of twelve. At age sixteen (1937), he toured the U.S., playing lead harmonica in vaudeville theaters with harmonica groups such as the Philharmonicas [2]
and the Cappy Barra Harmonica Gentlemen. During the early 1940s, he worked in Hollywood, both in the studio and on screen, appearing in motion pictures for Columbia and RKO. He played country music on the radio with the Hollywood Barn Dance and The Hoagy Carmichael Show. He recorded with the Andrews Sisters, Johnny Bond, Merle Travis, and the Riders of the Purple Sage.
In the 1950s Leighton co-founded and operated JAC Recording, Inc., a recording studio, and abandoned performing. Years later a friend asked him to practice and record a harmonica transcription of a flute solo called "Poem" by Charles Griffes. Never having heard the piece and underestimating its difficulty, Leighton agreed to do it. He produced a studio recording, which motivated him to record a classical music album.[4]
For nearly 30 years until his death, Leighton hosted jam sessions at his apartment every Tuesday. He called it "Tuesdays at Leighton's". Members included Charles Spranklin, William Galison, Randy Weinstein, Stan Harper, Stanley Silverstone, Gregoire Maret, Phil Caltabelotta, and Rob Paparozzi.
Musicians: Dominic (Don Henry) Quagenti, Cham-Ber Huang (1925–2014), Charles Leighton, Frank (Moose) Mitkowski, Victor Pankowitz (né Victor Paulukewich; 1919–2000), Alan Pogson (né Joseph Alan Pogson; 1915–2006), Alan (Blackie) Schackner (né Irving Schackner; 2013–2013)
The Fi Is Hi, Eddy L. Manson (1958)
Musicians: Charles Leighton, Alan (Blackie) Schackner (né Irving Schackner; 2013–2013), Alan Pogson (né Joseph Alan Pogson; 1915–2006), Michael Chimes (1914–1970) (harmonicas); Eddy Manson (né Eddy Lawrence Manson; 1919–1996) (leader & arranger)
Harmonica: Alan (Blackie) Schackner, Alan Pogson, Chamber Huang, Charles Leighton, Eddy Manson (né Eddy Lawrence Manson; 1919–1996) (David's father), Leonard Schwartz, Michael Chimes, Richard Hayman
Other musicians: Accordion – Dominic Cortese (accordion), William Costa (accordion), Milt Hinton (bass), Maurice Brown (cello), Arthur Marotti (drums), Bob Rosengarden, Phil Kraus, Tony Mottola (guitar), Moe Wechsler (piano), Mac Ceppos (1905–1990) (violin)
Charles Leighton, Introduction to Jazz for the Chromatic Harmonica (book & audio tape), arranged and accompanied by Ted Simons on piano, The F & R Farrell Company (publisher & distributor),[ii]Grove City, Ohio (internet & mail-order harmonica retailer, now out of business) (1990) — An audio tape has harmonica alone on one side and harmonica with piano on the other side
Notes and references
Notes
^Tabby Andriello, also known as Frank Andriello (né Rocco Carmelo Andriello; 1920–1988), was a musician and an award-winning studio sound effects specialist
^The F & R Farrell Company, which sold harmonicas, closed in 2005 due to declining health of its proprietor, Richard E. Farrell (1920–2007)
