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

Archive for the ‘Music Biz History’ Category



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.

The Chicago Symphony in the Fifties and Sixties

April 29th, 2010

Like the Chicago Symphony? Here’s a summary of Harry Brabec’s time with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra under Rafael Kubelik and Fritz Reiner in the fifties with a beautiful photo of the Orchestra.

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.