A Hohner Marine Band harmonica, key of C, used by Sonny Boy Williamson II (Alex Miller, 1912-1965) and given to an English fan.

As noted in the accompanying letter of authenticity from Terrence McRann, ‘I attended the American Folk Blues Festival concert at Fairfield Hall, Croydon, London in October 1963.  After the concert I asked Sonny Boy if he had a harp he could give me.  He was full of booze, possibly in a good frame of mind, as he gave me one.  He also signed a picture, but unfortunately, he was a little bit full of the happy juice, and the signature written in pencil was not clear [in image with two photos, Sonny Boy’s illegible signature in pencil in group photo, bottom right.]’

McRann elaborates ‘In the mid 1960’s I had an interest in all music, blues artists prominently among them.  I had recordings by Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee, Big Bill Broonzy, Lightning Hopkins and others, prominent at the time. I lived in the UK, but I knew a girl whose brother was a seaman, visiting America frequently. He brought back records by Junior Parker on the Sun Label, Chess and Checker recordings by Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Little Walter and Bo Diddley. He introduced me to Roy Brown and Wynonie Harris.  Eventually I did my own importing.’

McRann emigrated to Melbourne, Australia later in the 1960s, but maintained his enthusiasm for the blues and meeting artists.  In addition to this harmonica, McRann sold us a harmonica he received from Junior Wells, and guitar picks he was given by Muddy Waters, Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry, B.B. King, Buddy Guy, and Sammy Lawhorne. In most cases, he included photographs of himself posing with the artists, or backstage photos he’d taken.  For reference here, we’ve included photos of McRann with Muddy Waters, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley and bandmate Cookie Vee, and Junior Wells and Buddy Guy, with McRann standing to their right.

With Terrence McRann’s letter of authenticity, Recordmecca’s written lifetime guarantee of authenticity, and an 8″ x 10″ photograph of Sonny Boy Williamson playing a similar harmonica.