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Happy Hour Harmonica Podcast

Roly Platt interview

April 19, 2024 Neil Warren Season 1 Episode 108

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Roly is based in just north of Toronto in Canada

Canadian harmonica players, including Steve Mariner

Canadian harmonica drew influences from its US neighbours, with Roly also listening to a lot of John Mayall in his early days of playing

Bands would travel up to Toronto from New York

Listening to brothers records and bought himself a harmonica aged 17

Roly is about to complete writing a book

Paul Butterfield was a big influence on Roly, with the double live album the first he heard of Butter

Listened to Bluegrass music early on and playing along with this more traditional form of music influenced the direction Roly took on harmonica

Jimmie Fadden from Nitty Gritty Dirt band plays some Country / Bluegrass harmonica and had an influence on Roly

These early influences took Roly down the path of the diverse range of session work he has recorded through his career

Roly’s first band was a country band called the Cement City Swampers

Charlie McCoy was another early influence on Roly

Most of Roly’s early session work was to play country music

Session work was around Toronto, where there was a lot of studios back then

How the internet has changed recording sessions in studios

Started playing professionally 18 months after picking up the harmonica, after practising ‘like a mad man’ in the early days

Great music scene in Toronto in those days with gigs 6 nights a week

Joining his first band (the Cement City Swampers) was one of happiest days of his life

Started touring Canada with Matt Minglewood and other bands played with early on

Had to find a way to make harmonica fit in music which didn’t previously have harmonica in it

Started listening more to other instruments and not just harmonica which developed his style

First recording session Roly did was age 19 when he knew very little, but they liked his playing so he got more work

Recording on albums with bands came after the more commercial session work

Started session work in the late 1970s

Has made 1700 individual session cuts

Roly’s career has been as a sideman harmonica player as opposed to harp players who run their own bands

Some recordings with Canadian bands

Played in a Bollywood movie called ‘Delhi Belly’ with a big Indian star as the main character

Recorded numerous jingles for commercials

Most of working life has been as a professional harmonica player, with a brief interlude as a graphic designer

Recordings with Wayne Buttery

Released own album ‘Inside Out’ in 2017

Hard process to put the album together, but worth it

If recorded another album would need a game plan as to why and how it would be used, such as for self-promotion

Advent of streaming makes albums financially challenging to make

Has own YouTube channel where puts out material which is under his complete control and is easy to release

The book that Roly is writing is about his life in harmonica and what it will be about

Book is almost complete and should be out in July 2024

Roly’s advice for anyone else interested in writing a book

Compares writing a book to creating an album

YouTube channel and song recordings Roly has made on there and generating backing tracks

Always does YouTube videos in one take

Using AI to pull out individual tracks from recordings to enable creation of backing tracks from the original recordings and the moral conundrum this brings

Recorded the Toronto Blue Jays baseball team theme song, in which Roly had to imitate a seagull on harmonica

Won some music awards as part of recording on other artists albums

Does some teaching, including at harmonica camps, and has pre-recorded video tutorials via his website

Ten minute question

Roly’s Harp Wah product, like playing the harmonica through a cup or glass

Harp Wah is a specific effect to be used when required

Sound you get from the Harp Wah and the material used

Resonates best on the low notes

Released a handle with it later, to make it easier to hold

Roly has gear reviews on his website

Roly is a Seydel endorser and plays the 1847 after first trying out the Session Steels for a harp where the reeds laster longer

Doesn’t play any chromatic, although owns several

Has used some different tunings on recordings

How Roly discovered Country tuning via Charlie McCoy

Embouchre: mainly puckers but some tongue blocking for splits and octaves

Holds harp on almost a vertical angle, except when tongue blocking

Amps: Bassman re-issue, Gibson Maestro,

Uses Ultimate 58 and 57 mics, also uses bullet mics

Makes some use of effects generated by computer when recording YouTube videos

Uses Sub n Up pedal for octave effect

Uses some pedals when playing live

Future plans is to complete book this year and see where that takes him, as well as selling the Harp Wah, recording sessions and playing out live

Info

Happy Hour Harmonica Podcast

Roly Platt interview

Apr 19, 2024 Season 1 Episode 108

Neil Warren

Roly Platt joins me on episode 108.

Roly is a Canadian player who has recorded countless sessions over his 45 year career. He started out playing in a country band which set the scene for him playing a diverse range of genres throughout that time. Roly has recorded 1700 individual session cuts, with the numerous bands he has played in, and also various film, tv and commercial jingles.

Roly ecorded his own album in 2017, Inside Out, where he showcased his versatility by including a range of different types of song.

Roly produced and sells the great Harp Wah harmonica mute and later this year he will be releasing a book about his life with the harmonica.

Links:
Roly’s main website:
https://www.harmonicamute.com

Other website:
https://rolyplatt.com/

The Book - pre-order:
https://www.harmonicamute.com/product/i-play-harmonica-book-preorder/

Roly’s harmonica workshops:
https://www.harmonicamute.com/2-hour-harmonica-workshops-prerecorded/

Roly’s gear reviews:
https://www.harmonicamute.com/gear-reviews/

Ross Garden interview with Jimmie Fadden:
http://www.rossgarren.com/jimmie-fadden.html

Videos:
With Matt Minglewood:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbXuNtkxTSY

Inside Out album interview:
https://rolyplatt.com/canadian-harmonica-player-roly-platt-talks-debut-cd-inside.html

It Ain’t Right:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tx0NOq5ma5Q

Toronto Blue Jays theme song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTGDF0dc5T0

New Orleans Funk:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPljRQKt59o

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
AND
The Harmonica Company. Use promo code: 'happyhour7'.
Email Jonathan at: sales@theharmonicacompany.com

Support the Show.

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Roly Platt joins me on episode 108.

Roly is a Canadian player who has recorded countless sessions over his 45 year career. He started out playing in a country band which set the scene for him playing a diverse range of genres throughout that time. Roly has recorded 1700 individual session cuts, with the numerous bands he has played in, and also various film, tv and commercial jingles.

Roly ecorded his own album in 2017, Inside Out, where he showcased his versatility by including a range of different types of song.

Roly produced and sells the great Harp Wah harmonica mute and later this year he will be releasing a book about his life with the harmonica.

Links:
Roly’s main website:
https://www.harmonicamute.com

Other website:
https://rolyplatt.com/

The Book - pre-order:
https://www.harmonicamute.com/product/i-play-harmonica-book-preorder/

Roly’s harmonica workshops:
https://www.harmonicamute.com/2-hour-harmonica-workshops-prerecorded/

Roly’s gear reviews:
https://www.harmonicamute.com/gear-reviews/

Ross Garden interview with Jimmie Fadden:
http://www.rossgarren.com/jimmie-fadden.html

Videos:
With Matt Minglewood:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbXuNtkxTSY

Inside Out album interview:
https://rolyplatt.com/canadian-harmonica-player-roly-platt-talks-debut-cd-inside.html

It Ain’t Right:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tx0NOq5ma5Q

Toronto Blue Jays theme song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTGDF0dc5T0

New Orleans Funk:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPljRQKt59o

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
AND
The Harmonica Company. Use promo code: 'happyhour7'.
Email Jonathan at: sales@theharmonicacompany.com

Support the Show.

Roly is based in just north of Toronto in Canada

Canadian harmonica players, including Steve Mariner

Canadian harmonica drew influences from its US neighbours, with Roly also listening to a lot of John Mayall in his early days of playing

Bands would travel up to Toronto from New York

Listening to brothers records and bought himself a harmonica aged 17

Roly is about to complete writing a book

Paul Butterfield was a big influence on Roly, with the double live album the first he heard of Butter

Listened to Bluegrass music early on and playing along with this more traditional form of music influenced the direction Roly took on harmonica

Jimmie Fadden from Nitty Gritty Dirt band plays some Country / Bluegrass harmonica and had an influence on Roly

These early influences took Roly down the path of the diverse range of session work he has recorded through his career

Roly’s first band was a country band called the Cement City Swampers

Charlie McCoy was another early influence on Roly

Most of Roly’s early session work was to play country music

Session work was around Toronto, where there was a lot of studios back then

How the internet has changed recording sessions in studios

Started playing professionally 18 months after picking up the harmonica, after practising ‘like a mad man’ in the early days

Great music scene in Toronto in those days with gigs 6 nights a week

Joining his first band (the Cement City Swampers) was one of happiest days of his life

Started touring Canada with Matt Minglewood and other bands played with early on

Had to find a way to make harmonica fit in music which didn’t previously have harmonica in it

Started listening more to other instruments and not just harmonica which developed his style

First recording session Roly did was age 19 when he knew very little, but they liked his playing so he got more work

Recording on albums with bands came after the more commercial session work

Started session work in the late 1970s

Has made 1700 individual session cuts

Roly’s career has been as a sideman harmonica player as opposed to harp players who run their own bands

Some recordings with Canadian bands

Played in a Bollywood movie called ‘Delhi Belly’ with a big Indian star as the main character

Recorded numerous jingles for commercials

Most of working life has been as a professional harmonica player, with a brief interlude as a graphic designer

Recordings with Wayne Buttery

Released own album ‘Inside Out’ in 2017

Hard process to put the album together, but worth it

If recorded another album would need a game plan as to why and how it would be used, such as for self-promotion

Advent of streaming makes albums financially challenging to make

Has own YouTube channel where puts out material which is under his complete control and is easy to release

The book that Roly is writing is about his life in harmonica and what it will be about

Book is almost complete and should be out in July 2024

Roly’s advice for anyone else interested in writing a book

Compares writing a book to creating an album

YouTube channel and song recordings Roly has made on there and generating backing tracks

Always does YouTube videos in one take

Using AI to pull out individual tracks from recordings to enable creation of backing tracks from the original recordings and the moral conundrum this brings

Recorded the Toronto Blue Jays baseball team theme song, in which Roly had to imitate a seagull on harmonica

Won some music awards as part of recording on other artists albums

Does some teaching, including at harmonica camps, and has pre-recorded video tutorials via his website

Ten minute question

Roly’s Harp Wah product, like playing the harmonica through a cup or glass

Harp Wah is a specific effect to be used when required

Sound you get from the Harp Wah and the material used

Resonates best on the low notes

Released a handle with it later, to make it easier to hold

Roly has gear reviews on his website

Roly is a Seydel endorser and plays the 1847 after first trying out the Session Steels for a harp where the reeds laster longer

Doesn’t play any chromatic, although owns several

Has used some different tunings on recordings

How Roly discovered Country tuning via Charlie McCoy

Embouchre: mainly puckers but some tongue blocking for splits and octaves

Holds harp on almost a vertical angle, except when tongue blocking

Amps: Bassman re-issue, Gibson Maestro,

Uses Ultimate 58 and 57 mics, also uses bullet mics

Makes some use of effects generated by computer when recording YouTube videos

Uses Sub n Up pedal for octave effect

Uses some pedals when playing live

Future plans is to complete book this year and see where that takes him, as well as selling the Harp Wah, recording sessions and playing out live