Bill Romel's Harmonica Workshop
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BRomelPhoto.jpgBill Romel's Bio

Here's a short bio for a seventy-two year old.

I have been playing Chromatic for 60 years; yes, I started when I was ten.

The Chromatic has always been my most important Hobby. Music was my first love. I studied Accordion as a teenager. Carried one during my stint in the Army. I am a Vet of the Korean War. Worked in Special Services in a Military Police Unit on the Island of Cheju guarding ten thousand Chinese and Korean POW's while procuring entertainment for the troops, USO Shows etc. Played Chromatic with a really fine Spanish Guitar Player and Singer in some of the shows. We had a ball and he taught me how to sing in Spanish.
I had to choose between making a living to support a family, or becoming a vagabond musician. I chose a career in medicine. Following discharge, I studied with a Pathologist for four years and remained on as his assistant for another three, then left to pursue my own career. I worked in many hospitals and laboratories and as a researcher and teacher in some large companies. Eventually, I opened my own laboratory in Flagstaff Arizona in 1987 specializing in analysis of samples of drugs and substance abuse for Law Enforcement. I retired in 1993.

Sold the Laboratory to a group of Pathologists at a Hospital and moved back to Las Vegas. Oh, I never mentioned that I moved to Las Vegas in 1956. Two of my Daughters were born here and I became a consultant to a Ph. D. Biochemist, Dr. A. William Smith. We developed some new and improved methods for staining blood and tissue cells for the Clinical Laboratory, patented our work and he went on to build a profitable business from our work. At that time I was Director of North Las Vegas Hospital Laboratory and Radiology Departments.


I always found a way find time to play my Chromatic and did a very short period of playing professionally in a club in Orange County CA and then another short time in Las Vegas with a combo of jazz piano, bass, sax and a crooner at the Showboat Hotel and the MGM Hotel lounges. Married with four children. Moved back to Las Vegas in 1994 to set up my Shop.

 

Where did I get all my experience in the repair and construction of Chromatics? While living in California and working in research for the laboratory I learned to construct tools and instruments for the lab when there was nothing available in the market place. I applied these skills to fixing chromatics and building chromatics for my own use. I also met and became friends with the brother of a very famous Harmonica Personality, Dave Doucette of the Harmonica Rascal's era. Dave introduced me to his brother Fred Doucette, a master tool and die maker and chromatic harmonica player. He taught me how to use machine shop tools and equipment and we developed our own prototype chromatics which were the results of much experimentation and trial and error. Unfortunately, Fred passed away too soon to enjoy the fruits of our work together.

Favorite Music:

Classical, Jazz, Big Band, Dixieland Jazz. Ragtime and the music from the 20's to the 70's

Favorite Chromatic Harmonica musicians:

Charlie Leighton
George Fields
John Sebastian Sr.
Larry Adler
Tommy Rielly
Blackie Shackner
Pierre Herbineaux
William Gallison
"Toots" Thielmans
Eddy Lawrence Manson
Stan Harper
Pete Pederson
Tom Stryker
Dave Hart
Stevie Wonder
And many more too numerous to mention. I love them all.

Best Regards,

Bill Romel