Gerhard Mueller joins me on episode 59.
Gerhard is the Product Manager for Hohner harmonicas, a role he has held for 28 years. His father worked as a gardener at the Hohner factory in Trossingen, and as well as getting his son harmonica lessons, he even had a hand in helping Gerhard land his dream job at Hohner.
Gerhard talks us through the fascinating history of Hohner and how it was established as the leading harmonica brand in the world having sold over 1 billion harmonicas since the company began. Gerhard tells us all about Hohner’s harmonica offerings as well as some of the accessories offered and the yearly events hosted in Trossingen.
Gerhard is also a fine chromatic player himself, having been part of the Hohnerklang Orchestra in Trossingen for over 25 years, he also regularly performs in his harmonica quartet Harmonicamento.
Links:
Hohner website:
https://www.hohner.de
Trossingen harmonica museum:
https://www.hohner.de/en/community/harmonica-museum
Marine Band 125 in 2021:
https://www.hohner.de/#youtube-1
Harmonicamento quartet:
http://www.harmonicamento.de/
Toots Thielemans 100th birthday concert:
https://www.bozar.be/en/calendar/toots-thielemans-100th-anniversary-official-concert
Other Toots 100th birthday celebrations in Brussels:
https://www.thebulletin.be/toots-100-brussels-launches-centenary-celebration-jazz-giants-birth
Hohner endorsees:
https://www.hohner.de/en/community/artists
CShop for parts:
http://www.hohner-cshop.de/en/home/
Harmonica Masters Workshop, happening in June 2022:
https://www.harmonica-masters.de/en/
Videos:
Sheng harmonica:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWt4mf3whxw
Harpin’ By The Sea Hohner presentation (including Trossingen Factory Tour):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuRqqT_eSIM
Harmonicamento at SPAH in 2011:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fmxly46ewM
Steve Baker discussing the HB52 microphone:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5a9V8Grhmr4
Podcast website:
https://www.harmonicahappyhour.com
Donations:
If you want to make a voluntary donation to help support the running costs of the podcast then please use this link (or visit the podcast website link above):
https://paypal.me/harmonicahappyhour?locale.x=en_GB
Spotify Playlist:
Also check out the Spotify Playlist, which contains most of the songs discussed in the podcast:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5QC6RF2VTfs4iPuasJBqwT?si=M-j3IkiISeefhR7ybm9qIQ
Podcast sponsors:
This podcast is sponsored by SEYDEL harmonicas - visit the oldest harmonica factory in the world at www.seydel1847.com or on Facebook or Instagram at SEYDEL HARMONICAS
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