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The Musical Life and Times of Harry Brabec, Legendary Chicago Symphony Percussionist & Humorist

Archive for the ‘Harry Brabec’s Letters’ Category



Carp in a Barrel and Czech Meals

June 2nd, 2010

A few words about carp, from one of Harry’s letters. When he was a kid, barrels of carp were placed on the sidewalks in front of all the meat markets and vegetable stores.

Two Years with Wayne King's Orchestra

May 1st, 2010

Harry Brabec spent two years with Wayne King’s Orchestra, on the road as well as when the orchestra was performing on television in Chicago. Here are some of his memories of the band in 1949-1951.

Harry’s Czech Ancestry and Thoughts on Being Czech

May 1st, 2010

In this excerpt from Barbara’s memoir, Harry speaks about his Czech ancestry, his visit to Pesek, Czechoslovakia in 1977, and other topics related to being Czech.

Chuck Foster Orchestra at the Blackhawk in Chicago, 1945

May 1st, 2010

An excerpt from THE DRUMMER DRIVES! book with photos of the Chuck Foster Orchestra and band personnel, and Harry and his parents dining with Foster and friends shortly before the band left the Blackhawk in 1945. Article includes links to two soundies on YouTube featuring two of the band’s soloists, and Harry on drums.

Remembering Edward Metzenger

May 1st, 2010

When Edward Metzenger, famous Chicago Symphony Timpanist, was being considered for the Percussive Arts Society (PAS), Harry shared his remembrances of him in this letter.

Big Band One-Nighters

April 28th, 2010

Harry Brabec did a lot of one-nighters with the orchestras of Chuck Foster, Wayne King and others between 1945 and 1951. Here, from one of his letters, are a few of his remembrances of those days.