My Harmonica

Michael Felgate

For my 8th birthday, in 1954, my unexpected present was a Hohner Sonny Boy tremolo harmonica. I took the harmonica everywhere, practised hard and within two weeks, played ‘Frère Jacques’ and ‘God Save the Queen’. At 13, my uncle gave me a Hohner Chrometta 8. Then, at 16, I bought my first Chromonica and a Larry Adler tuition book, but I struggled with it. At 16, I joined my first band. Our debut gig was at the Cumberland Hotel in London. I was the lead vocalist plus harmonica. I was nervous, but arriving on stage, I spotted a BBC sports presenter in the audience. He was larger than I imagined, as just head and shoulders were shown on TV at that time! My nerves vanished. After that, I joined a number of bands as a vocalist and harmonica player. In my late teens, I joined Steve Miller`s Delivery band. There’s a BBC documentary about Eel Pie Island titled ‘Rock Island’, with a brief shot of a poster showing the band’s name on it. Leaving Steve’s band, I explored folk music. At 22, my friends and I formed a band. We recorded a demo (allegedly on the same label as Jethro Tull). We got nowhere, but performed doing covers at functions. At 27, I met my wife at a gig and we married a year later. I also did some solo work. We moved from London to Shoeburyness, near Southend, so our son could train with the swimming coach there. I continued doing solo work and also joined a band. Relocating to Leigh-on-Sea, we joined a church. My friends and I formed a band doing charity gigs. We recorded a demo CD which was played on the church’s PA system. A lady said “That`s Paul Jones!” and I replied, “No, that’s me.” She continued saying “Paul comes to church.” Paul and his wife came in 2013! He asked me where I had played, so I told him about Eel Pie Island, and also that Leigh Operatic and Dramatic Society (LODS) were rehearsing the Rock Opera ‘Tommy’. I played the part of ‘Harmonica Player’ using an ‘F’ and ‘Am’ harp, and was given eight more parts. Eight shows followed, from ‘Ghost’ to ‘All Shook Up’. What a great experience. In 2017, LODS performed ‘Whistle Down the Wind’. I practised the harmonica part, but I needed something sharper. I asked John Cook to source me one. I waited till a month before show week and then called John, who said that Hohner had been on shut-down for six weeks. A CX12 Jazz harmonica arrived. Then came show week and it was first call. I put the harmonica to my mouth, only to be told, the part had to be cut!