Jerry Adler

Hilliard Gerald Adler (October 30, 1918 – March 13, 2010) was an American harmonica player whose performances have been used in numerous film soundtracks.

Adler was born in Baltimore, and early in his childhood mastered the harmonica, winning a local talent contest sponsored by the Baltimore Evening Sun at age 13. His older brother Larry Adler, four years his senior, had won the same contest five years earlier, performing the same piece, Beethoven's Minuet in G.

Later, Adler found work with Paul Whiteman and performed regularly with his orchestra. After starting his solo career, he joined the Army Air Corps, where he did theater and film work in the entertainment division.

Adler focused on popular music as his career developed, and he soloed in numerous film soundtracks from the 1940s to the 1960s, including Shane, High Noon, Mary Poppins, and My Fair Lady. He also taught actors how to pretend to play the instrument convincingly where their on-screen performances required.

He published an autobiography, Living from Hand to Mouth, in 2005.

Jerry Adler died of prostate cancer in 2010, aged 91.

Birth and Death Data: Born October 30, 1918 (Baltimore), Died March 13, 2010 (Ellenton)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1941 - 1951

Roles Represented in DAHR: harmonica

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia H437 10-in. 8/12/1941 Those gone and left me blues Johnny Bond ; Red River Valley Boys Male vocal solo, with string band instrumentalist, harmonica  
Columbia H438 10-in. 8/12/1941 I won't stand in your way Johnny Bond ; Red River Valley Boys Male vocal duet with string band instrumentalist, harmonica  
Columbia H439 10-in. 8/12/1941 Down in the dumps Johnny Bond ; Red River Valley Boys String band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, harmonica  
Columbia H440 10-in. 8/12/1941 Don't you weep anymore darlin' Johnny Bond ; Red River Valley Boys String band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, harmonica  
Columbia H441 10-in. 8/12/1941 The road is way too long Johnny Bond ; Red River Valley Boys String band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, harmonica  
Columbia H442 10-in. 8/12/1941 Baby, you're thru foolin' me Johnny Bond ; Red River Valley Boys String band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, harmonica  
Columbia H443 10-in. 8/12/1941 I'm poundin' the rails again Johnny Bond ; Red River Valley Boys String band, with male vocal duet instrumentalist, harmonica  
Columbia H467 10-in. 8/19/1941 I've had the blues before Johnny Bond ; Red River Valley Boys Male vocal solo, with string band instrumentalist, harmonica  
Columbia H585 10-in. 12/2/1941 You brought sorrow to my heart Johnny Bond ; Red River Valley Boys Male vocal solo, with string band instrumentalist, harmonica  
Columbia H586 10-in. 12/2/1941 You don't care Johnny Bond Male vocal solo, with string band instrumentalist, harmonica  
Columbia HCO2161 10-in. 11/25/1946 Divorce me C.O.D. Johnny Bond ; Red River Valley Boys Male vocal solo, with string band instrumentalist, harmonica  
Columbia HCO2162 10-in. 11/25/1946 So round, so firm, so fully packed Johnny Bond ; Red River Valley Boys Male vocal solo, with string band instrumentalist, harmonica  
Columbia HCO2163 10-in. 11/25/1946 Rainbow at midnight Johnny Bond ; Red River Valley Boys Male vocal duet, with string band instrumentalist, harmonica  
Columbia HCO2249 10-in. 3/6/1947 Don't look now (your broken heart is showing) Johnny Bond ; Red River Valley Boys String band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, harmonica  
Columbia HCO2250 10-in. 3/6/1947 Too many years too late Johnny Bond ; Red River Valley Boys String band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, harmonica  
Columbia HCO2251 10-in. 3/6/1947 Take it or leave it baby Johnny Bond Male vocal solo, with string band instrumentalist, harmonica  
Columbia HCO2252 10-in. 3/6/1947 Rock my cradle once again Johnny Bond ; Red River Valley Boys String band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, harmonica  
Columbia HCO2353 10-in. 6/4/1947 The daughter of Jole Blon Johnny Bond ; Red River Valley Boys String band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, harmonica  
Columbia HCO2354 10-in. 6/4/1947 Blind alley Johnny Bond String band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, harmonica  
Columbia HCO2355 10-in. 6/4/1947 It's a sin Johnny Bond ; Red River Valley Boys String band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, harmonica  
Columbia HCO2356 10-in. 6/4/1947 What's been going on (while I've been gone) Johnny Bond String band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, harmonica  
Columbia HCO2472 10-in. 7/22/1947 Smoke! smoke! smoke! (that cigarette) Johnny Bond String band, with male vocal solo and male vocal group instrumentalist, harmonica  
Columbia HCO2473 10-in. 7/22/1947 Fat gal Johnny Bond ; Red River Valley Boys String band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, harmonica  
Columbia HCO2474 10-in. 7/22/1947 Wasted tears Johnny Bond String band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, harmonica  
Columbia HCO2475 10-in. 7/22/1947 I like my chicken fryin' size Johnny Bond String band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, harmonica  
Columbia HCO2593 10-in. 8/30/1947 Put me to bed Johnny Bond String band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, harmonica  
Columbia HCO2594 10-in. 8/30/1947 Sad, sad and blue Johnny Bond String band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, harmonica  
Columbia HCO2595 10-in. 8/30/1947 Women make a fool out of me Johnny Bond Male vocal solo, with string band instrumentalist, harmonica  
Columbia HCO2894 10-in. December 1947 What would you do Johnny Bond Male vocal solo, with string band instrumentalist, harmonica  
Columbia HCO2895 10-in. 12/7/1947 Read it and weep Johnny Bond Male vocal solo, with string band instrumentalist, harmonica  
Columbia HCO2896 10-in. 12/7/1947 Bartender's blues Johnny Bond Male vocal solo, with string band instrumentalist, harmonica  
Columbia HCO2897 10-in. 12/7/1947 Drowning my sorrows Johnny Bond Male vocal solo, with string band instrumentalist, harmonica  
Columbia HCO2926 10-in. 12/10/1947 That's right Johnny Bond String band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, harmonica  
Columbia HCO2928 10-in. 12/10/1947 John's other wife Johnny Bond String band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, harmonica  
Columbia HCO3494 10-in. 12/29/1948 Tennessee Saturday night Johnny Bond Male vocal solo, with string band instrumentalist, harmonica  
Columbia HCO3495 10-in. 12/29/1948 A heart full of love (for a handful of kisses) Johnny Bond Male vocal, with string band instrumentalist, harmonica  
Columbia HCO3496 10-in. 12/29/1948 Till the end of the world Johnny Bond Male vocal solo, with string band instrumentalist, harmonica  
Columbia HCO3655 10-in. 3/18/1949 I wish I had a nickel (for every tear you shed last night) Johnny Bond Male vocal solo, with string band instrumentalist, harmonica  
Columbia HCO3656 10-in. 3/18/1949 I'm bitin my fingernails, and thinking of you Johnny Bond Male vocal solo, with string band instrumentalist, harmonica  
Columbia HCO3657 10-in. 3/18/1949 Somebody loves you Johnny Bond Male vocal solo, with string band instrumentalist, harmonica  
Columbia HCO3659 10-in. 3/18/1949 Put me to bed #2 Johnny Bond Male vocal solo, with string band instrumentalist, harmonica  
Columbia HCO3982 10-in. 12/30/1949 Cherokee waltz Johnny Bond String band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, harmonica  
Columbia HCO3983 10-in. 12/30/1949 Love song in 32 bars Johnny Bond ; Red River Valley Boys String band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, harmonica  
Columbia HCO3984 10-in. 12/30/1949 Tennessee, Kentucky and Alabam' Johnny Bond ; Red River Valley Boys String band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, harmonica  
Columbia HCO3985 10-in. 1/4/1950 I offer you my second hand heart Hank and Frank Male vocal duet, with string band instrumentalist, harmonica  
Columbia HCO3986 10-in. 1/4/1950 Cream of Kentucky Johnny Bond Male vocal solo, with string band instrumentalist, harmonica  
Columbia HCO3987 10-in. 1/4/1950 I'm kickin' the bucket over you Hank and Frank Male vocal duet, with string band instrumentalist, harmonica  
Columbia HCO3988 10-in. 1/4/1950 Mean mama boogie Johnny Bond ; Red River Valley Boys String band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, harmonica  
Columbia HCO4085 10-in. 6/8/1950 Star spangled waltz Johnny Bond Male vocal solo, with string band instrumentalist, harmonica  
Columbia RHCO4087 10-in. 6/8/1950 Barrel House Bessie Johnny Bond Male vocal solo, with string band instrumentalist, harmonica  
Columbia RHCO4088 10-in. 6/8/1950 It ain't a gonna happen to me Johnny Bond Male vocal solo, with string band instrumentalist, harmonica  
Columbia HCO4193 10-in. 8/2/1950 Steppin' out Johnny Bond Male vocal solo, with string band instrumentalist, harmonica  
Columbia RHCO4194 10-in. 8/2/1950 Set 'em up Joe Johnny Bond Male vocal solo, with string band instrumentalist, harmonica  
Columbia RHCO4446 10-in. 3/13/1951 Sick sober and sorry Johnny Bond Male vocal solo, with string band and vocal chorus instrumentalist, harmonica  
Columbia RHCO4447 10-in. 3/13/1951 Tennessee walking horse Johnny Bond Male vocal solo, with string band instrumentalist, harmonica  
Columbia RHCO4448 10-in. 3/13/1951 Keep your cotton pickin' hands off my gal Johnny Bond Male vocal solo, with string band instrumentalist, harmonica  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Adler, Jerry," accessed May 17, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/371446.

Adler, Jerry. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved May 17, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/371446.

"Adler, Jerry." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 17 May 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/371446

External Sources

Wikipedia: Jerry Adler

Discogs: Jerry Adler

Allmusic: Jerry Adler

Linked Open Data Sources

LCNAR: Adler, Jerry, 1918-2010 - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n2006053064

Wikidata: Jerry Adler - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q2193305

VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/75743904

MusicBrainz: Jerry Adler - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/1a468aea-eaab-46b4-8323-07cbeba62e07

FAST: http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1735490

Wikipedia content provided under the terms of the Creative Commons BY-SA license

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