|
Harry Reser was born in Piqua, Ohio on Friday January 17th 1896. At
the age of sixteen, Reser answered an ad in the paper for a position as a
piano player. This was his first job at a resort in Rhea Springs
Tennessee.
When he saw that
the banjo was the up and coming instrument Harry obtained one and taught
himself how to play. In 1920 he joined a dance band to play plectrum
banjo under the leadership of Paul Gross. When word got out that he
could read music (which was rare at that time) he was in demand by bands
like Ben Selvin,
Bennie Krueger, Sam Lanin, Nathan Glantz and Mike Markel.
In 1922 Reser began recording which would
be the beginning of a long career and numerous records. The first
name he used for the Okeh label was Harry Reser and his Syncopators.
He would record
hundreds of records under different names such as the Jazz Pilots, The Six
Hayseeds, Tuxedo Orchestra, The Bostonians, Harry Reser and the Six Jumping
Jacks, The Clevelanders and many more.
One of the more popular groups was
the Clicquot Club Eskimos. In 1925 Reser was approached by radio
station W.E.A.F to supply
|
 a
special band that consisted mainly of banjos and provide the music of the
day that included bright peppy numbers to go with the advertiser's
sparkling "Cliquot Ginger Ale. This began a ten year association of
the Clicquot Club Eskimos with the product.
The program was so successful that
the broadcast was fed to radio stations all over the country. This
network of radio stations became what is know as NBC, The National
Broadcasting Corporation. Over Seven Million people listened to his
program every week.
For more on Harry Reser see:
"The Great
Harry Reser."
MEMBERS
SECTION:
Password Required
More
Harry Reser
Pictures.
|
