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Harry Pitch
Harry Pitch
Harry Pitch
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Harry Pitch

Harold Cecil Pitch (9 May 1925 – 15 July 2015) was an English harmonica player who featured on many recordings and soundtracks between the 1950s and 2000s. According to the National Harmonica League, he "was one of the handful of players who have turned harmonica playing into an art form.... [a] player of enormous fluency and invention..".[1]

Biography

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Pitch was born near Kingston upon Hull, East Yorkshire,[2] but grew up in north London, the son of a Polish father whose family name was originally Picz, and a British mother. Inspired by hearing Larry Adler, he bought his first harmonica when in his teens, and after being evacuated to Peterborough in the Second World War also learned the trumpet after harmonicas became scarce.[1] On returning to London, he found work in dance bands and jazz groups, and met other musicians including Geoff Love and Ron Goodwin. He formed his own dance band in north London in the mid-1950s, and played both harmonica and trumpet.[3][4]

By around 1960, Goodwin, who had become a successful arranger on pop records, began recommending and using Pitch's harmonica on recordings. Pitch quickly established himself as a leading session musician, featuring on Petula Clark's "Sailor" (1961), the Springfields' "Island of Dreams" (1962), and Frank Ifield's "I Remember You" (1962). According to Pitch, he advised John Lennon on harmonica technique in 1962, prior to the Beatles' recording of "Love Me Do".[3] Among the other pop hits that featured Pitch were Val Doonican's "Walk Tall" (1964), Anita Harris's "Just Loving You" (1967), and Mr Bloe’s "Groovin’ With Mr Bloe" (1970).[1][3][4]

Pitch also recorded film music, including a harmonica version of Colonel Bogey for Bridge Over the River Kwai,[5] and in the score of Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines, composed and conducted by Ron Goodwin.[3] In later years he was regularly employed by film soundtrack composers including John Barry, James Horner, and Carl Davis. Among his most notable sessions was for the television series Last of the Summer Wine, for which he played the opening theme as well as much incidental music, written by Ronnie Hazelhurst, over most of the series' long run starting in 1973.[1] He also played the theme music for the detective series Shoestring, and recorded many television commercials, including popular ones for Strand cigarettes, Oxo stock cubes and Nestlé’s Milkybar.[3][4]

He occasionally performed classical works with leading orchestras, and appeared onstage in operas at the Royal Opera House and Sadler's Wells.[4] In later years, though hampered by hearing loss, he led the Thames Valley Jazzmen, played with the Bucks, Berks and Oxon Big Band, and formed Rhythm & Reeds with accordion player Jack Emblow.[3] He released several LPs, including Harmonica Jewel Box, The Lonely Harmonicas of Harry Pitch, Bossa Meets Ballads, Harmonically Yours and Harry Pitch with Strings.[1]

Pitch was married, with two children. He died in 2015, at the age of 90.[3][4]

References

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Harry Pitch

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Harry Pitch is an English harmonica player known for his extensive session work on 1960s pop recordings and his distinctive contributions to television and film music, most notably the iconic theme for the long-running BBC comedy series Last of the Summer Wine. Born in 1925, Pitch was inspired by Larry Adler to take up the harmonica as a teenager after leaving school at 14, later learning the trumpet during his wartime evacuation. He performed with dance bands and jazz groups in postwar London, emulating brass greats like Louis Armstrong and Harry James, before forming his own dance band in the mid-1950s that featured both harmonica and trumpet arrangements. His session career flourished in the early 1960s through connections like arranger Ron Goodwin, leading to prominent harmonica parts on UK chart hits including Petula Clark's "Sailor" (1961), Frank Ifield's "I Remember You" (1962), and Mr Bloe's "Groovin'" (1970). In a notable encounter at Abbey Road Studios, he demonstrated harmonica techniques to John Lennon for The Beatles' first single "Love Me Do". Pitch's television and film work included providing the harmonica for the Colonel Bogey March in The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957), contributions to Ron Goodwin's score for Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines (1965), and the theme for Shoestring (1979–80). His most enduring association was with Ronnie Hazlehurst's music for Last of the Summer Wine, playing the signature harmonica theme and accompanying music for much of the show's 37-year run starting in 1973. He also performed classical harmonica repertoire with major orchestras and appeared in Hans Werner Henze operas at the Royal Opera House. Despite progressive hearing loss in later years, Pitch continued performing into his early eighties with jazz ensembles. He died on 15 July 2015 at the age of 90.

Early life

Family background and childhood

Harold Cecil Pitch was born on 9 May 1925 near Kingston upon Hull, East Yorkshire. He was the son of Polish immigrant garment worker Israel Pitch, whose original surname Picz was altered by an immigration official, and British mother Annie Tinner. Pitch was one of seven children in a working-class immigrant family. His family later settled in north London, where he grew up in a rented basement flat alongside his parents and six siblings in crowded conditions typical of many working-class households of the era. Pitch's childhood interest in music emerged from listening to radio broadcasts, which eventually led him to acquire his first harmonica.

Musical beginnings and influences

Harry Pitch's interest in music was sparked by hearing the radio broadcasts of the virtuoso American harmonica player Larry Adler, whose performances inspired him to take up the instrument. After leaving school at age 14, he used his first pay packet to buy his first harmonica. Pitch was self-taught on the harmonica. During the Second World War, he was evacuated to Peterborough, where he learned to play the trumpet and read music as a second instrument. He was self-taught on both instruments, drawing influence on trumpet from players such as Louis Armstrong and Harry James.

Early career

Post-war dance bands and jazz groups

After returning to London, Harry Pitch found employment with dance bands and jazz groups, where he played trumpet and emulated the styles of American musicians Louis Armstrong and Harry James. Among his fellow brass players in these ensembles were Ron Goodwin and Geoff Love, who later became prominent bandleaders, arrangers, and composers. This period marked Pitch's entry into professional music performance in the post-war era, building on his earlier musical foundations.

Leadership of own dance band

In the mid-1950s, Harry Pitch formed his own dance band in north London, where he served as leader while the group performed at various functions throughout the area. The band's repertoire included popular standards arranged specifically to feature Pitch's distinctive playing on both harmonica and trumpet. Pitch's leadership extended into the early 1960s, with the band providing a platform for emerging musical talents. The young Matt Monro performed as a vocalist with the group at events in venues such as Hornsey Town Hall. In 1963, the Harry Pitch Band headlined the St Valentine's carnival dance at Hornsey Town Hall, supported by the Ray Davies Quartet—a fledgling group that later evolved into the Kinks. A promotional poster for the event advertised "The Harry Pitch Band and his 'Electric Harmonica'" alongside "The Ray Davis Quartet."

Pop session musician career

Breakthrough recordings and hit collaborations

Harry Pitch emerged as a prominent session harmonica player in British pop during the early 1960s, following a recommendation from arranger Ron Goodwin, his former colleague, who suggested him for recordings needing distinctive harmonica solos. This led to his rapid rise as an in-demand musician for hit singles. One of his earliest major contributions was the harmonica part on Petula Clark's "Sailor", which topped the UK Singles Chart in 1961. In 1962, Pitch played on The Springfields' "Island of Dreams" and provided the memorable harmonica introduction on Frank Ifield's "I Remember You", helping the track hold the UK No. 1 position for seven weeks. He continued to feature on successful records through the decade, including Val Doonican's top 10 hit "Walk Tall" in 1964 and Anita Harris' top 10 single "Just Loving You" in 1967. Pitch's work extended into the 1970s with the instrumental "Groovin' with Mr Bloe" by Mr Bloe, where his harmonica was a key element; the track peaked at No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart in 1970 and spent 18 weeks on the chart. Alongside his session contributions, Pitch released several solo albums highlighting his chromatic harmonica technique, including Harmonica Jewel Box (1968), The Lonely Harmonicas of Harry Pitch (1972), Bossa Meets Ballads, Harmonically Yours, and Harry Pitch with Strings.

Notable interactions and contributions

In 1962, Harry Pitch encountered John Lennon in the canteen at EMI's Abbey Road studios, where Lennon approached him for advice on harmonica technique ahead of recording the Beatles' debut single "Love Me Do". This interaction took place soon after the No 1 success of Frank Ifield's "I Remember You", on which Pitch had played the distinctive harmonica riff. Lennon specifically asked Pitch how he had achieved a particular harmonica effect. Pitch demonstrated the technique to him on the spot. Lennon then adopted the approach, incorporating it into his own harmonica performance on "Love Me Do". Pitch later recalled the exchange: “He wanted to know how I achieved a particular effect. I showed him and he got it.”

Film and television contributions

Film soundtrack work

Harry Pitch contributed harmonica performances to several notable film soundtracks over the course of his career, often bringing a distinctive timbre to scores across genres. His earliest documented involvement came in 1957, when he provided the uncredited harmonica rendition of "Colonel Bogey March" for David Lean's The Bridge on the River Kwai, a part mimed by an actor on screen. In 1965, Pitch performed on Ron Goodwin's score for the comedy-adventure Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines, where he played the cowboy theme associated with one of the main characters. This collaboration with Goodwin, building on their prior professional connection, marked his first major film soundtrack engagement and opened doors to further work in cinema. Later, Pitch collaborated with leading composers including John Barry and James Horner on various film projects. He also featured in Carl Davis's 1987 score composed to accompany Buster Keaton's 1926 silent film The General, providing the distinctive harmonica leitmotif that ran throughout the restoration. Pitch's harmonica work extended to other films in subsequent years, including contributions to the score of Ken Russell's The Lair of the White Worm (1988) and the soundtrack for Widows' Peak (1994).

Television themes and long-running series

Harry Pitch's most prominent and enduring television contribution came through his long-running work on the BBC sitcom Last of the Summer Wine. In 1973, composer Ronnie Hazlehurst invited Pitch to perform the signature harmonica on the opening theme and incidental music for the newly launched series. Pitch remained involved for much of the show's run, contributing harmonica to the title music (often uncredited) and as part of the small ensemble providing background music. This established his distinctive sound as integral to the long-running comedy's identity. He also performed the harmonica on the theme tune for the BBC detective series Shoestring (1979–1980), composed by George Fenton. Pitch's earlier television appearances included harmonica contributions to the 1972 mini-series Anne of Green Gables across five episodes, along with performances on various episodes of BBC anthology series such as The Wednesday Play and Comedy Playhouse.

Other musical activities

Television commercials

Harry Pitch was in demand as a harmonica player for television commercials in the early 1960s, a time when the instrument was particularly popular for advertising jingles. This work followed a chance meeting with composer Ron Goodwin, who encouraged Pitch to participate in the growing boom in music for TV advertising. He played on numerous sessions for a variety of products during this period. Among the most notable campaigns featuring his harmonica were those for Strand cigarettes, including the famous advertisement with the slogan "You're never alone with a Strand". Pitch also contributed to commercials for Oxo stock cubes and Nestlé's Milky Bar. These advertisements showcased his distinctive sound as part of his broader session musician activities in the era.

Classical performances and diverse engagements

Pitch occasionally ventured into classical music, performing harmonica in concert hall settings with leading British orchestras, including the London Symphony Orchestra and the London Philharmonic Orchestra, in works that incorporated the instrument. In the 1970s, he participated in stage productions of two operas by composer Hans Werner Henze at prestigious London venues. Pitch played and appeared onstage in La Cubana (1974) at both Sadler's Wells and the Royal Opera House, where he portrayed a dishevelled match-seller and contributed a taped harmonica part. He also performed in We Come to the River (1976) at Sadler's Wells and the Royal Opera House. In 2001, Pitch delivered a harmonica solo for the BBC's broadcast of a 50th anniversary recreation of The Goon Show, emulating the style of original harmonica player Max Geldray.

Later career and activities

Jazz ensembles and final performances

In his later years, Harry Pitch focused on jazz performance, leading and playing with several ensembles while continuing to play trumpet and harmonica. He formed and led the Thames Valley Jazzmen, a traditional jazz group in which he performed trumpet on classics such as "Basin Street Blues," "South Rampart Street Parade," and "I've Found a New Baby," drawing inspiration from early Count Basie and Benny Goodman styles. He was also a long-standing trumpet player with the Bucks, Berks and Oxon Big Band, participating in charity concerts that supported various causes. In 2001, at age 76, Pitch formed the duo Rhythm & Reeds with accordionist Jack Emblow, specializing in songbook standards; the pair performed together for many years, including a 2005 appearance where they recorded "Secret Love." Increasing loss of hearing forced him to work less in recent years, but he continued performing into his early 80s in various ensembles before retiring from professional playing in 2013 at age 88.

Personal life

Marriage, family, and personal interests

Harry Pitch married Ruby in 1946, a marriage that lasted until his death. He and his wife had two children, a son named Ian and a daughter named Gill. At the time of his death, Pitch was survived by five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. One of Pitch's favourite recreations was sailing on the Thames, where he enjoyed cruising in his boat named Harmonica Harry.

Death and legacy

Death

Harry Pitch died on 15 July 2015 in Slough/Maidenhead, Berkshire, at the age of 90. He was survived by his wife Ruby and their son and daughter.

Legacy and recognition

Harry Pitch is remembered as one of Britain's most versatile and influential harmonica players, whose work elevated the instrument beyond its status as a novelty in popular music to a respected voice across multiple genres. His obituaries portrayed him as a virtuoso of enormous fluency and invention, capable of seamless transitions between jazz, pop, television themes, film scores, and classical performances, often within the same day. Pitch was an enthusiastic supporter of the National Harmonica League, making regular appearances at its annual conventions and contributing significantly to the promotion of the chromatic harmonica over more than sixty years through recordings, concerts, and broadcasts. His posthumous reputation emphasizes his role in establishing the harmonica's credibility in British music, particularly through his iconic contributions to 1960s pop hits and enduring television themes. His performance on the theme tune for Last of the Summer Wine remains his most widely recognized achievement, having provided the distinctive harmonica for much of the series' 37-year run and its incidental music, while his earlier work on chart-topping records like Frank Ifield's "I Remember You" helped spark a surge in the instrument's use in British pop during the 1960s.
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