BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., May 23 -- Jerry Murad, leader of the Harmonicats harmonica trio, has died of a heart attack at his home in Youngstown, Ohio, his son said Thursday. He was 76. Michael Muradian of Beverly Hills said his father died May 11. The Harmonicats were the most popular recording artists in 1946 thanks to the success of their rendition of 'Peg O' My Heart,' which was No. 1 for much of 1946 and was named song of the year for 1947. The group broke sales and attendance records at their many concerts those years, Muradian said. As a teenager just out of the Marine Corps, Murad, who shortened his name for professional purposes, was hired by Borah Minnevitch to play in the vaudeville act the Harmonic Rascals. In 1943 Murad quit the Rascals and formed the Harmonicats in Chicago, his hometown. Muradian said his father has been credited with contributing to the development of the recording technique known as reverb, and the Harmonicats were the first band to use stereophonic sound in live performances. Murad and his partners also were the first harmonica players admitted to the American Federation of Musicians Union. Before the trio's success, the union did not recognize the harmonica as a legitimate instrument so they could not get union jobs. When their record sales reached the 1 million mark, the union took notice and accepted that these 'guys with mouth organs' were more than a passing fad. To date the group has sold 24 million copies of records and has 24 platinum albums.
Muradian said his father, the last surviving member of the original trio, continued to perform around the world with replacement players and this year was named harmonica player of the year by the Society for the Preservation and Advancement of the Harmonica. The Harmonicats released a compact disc last year, their first recording in over 10 years. In addition to Michael Muradian, Murad is survived by his wife, Alyce, son Gerald and daughter Peg, who was named for his hit song.
