Person · Male
John Sebastian
harmonica player
- From
- Philadelphia
- Active
- 1914–1980
- Releases
- 5
About
John Sebastian (born John Sebastian Pugliese; April 25, 1914 − August 18, 1980) was an American musician and composer known as a master of the classical chromatic harmonica. He was the first harmonicist to adopt an all-classical repertoire and, along with Larry Adler and Tommy Reilly, established the harmonica as a serious instrument for classical music. In addition to performing, Sebastian increased the range of classical music available for the harmonica by transcribing numerous existing classical works for the harmonica, composing works of his own, and commissioning or otherwise encouraging other composers to write for the instrument.
Read more
He is the father of singer-songwriter John B. Sebastian, a founder of the popular 1960s folk rock band The Lovin' Spoonful.
Discography
Albums
Compilations
Links
Parent
Tags
- classical harmonica
Identifiers
- MusicBrainz
- b23ccb16-b2ba-487c-9a63-66639620b585
- ISNI
- 0000000059366315
Data from MusicBrainz, saved 13 Nov 2026. Photo from Wikimedia Commons, covers from the Cover Art Archive and Apple Music.