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 (Results 26-50 of 56 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
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  
(Results 26-50 of 56 records)

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

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