The Sangerfest in St. Louis, Mo at Schnaider’s Beer Garden published in Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper
Summertime and Music Go Together! Two things you won’t want to miss this month are “The German Harmonica and the African-American Blues Culture” and the 25th Annual Sangerfest in Cole Camp.
The German Harmonica and the African-American Blues Culture
Although being probably the most popular American instrument for about a century, the general public in the United States today knows relatively little about the history of the harmonica or mouth organ. In particular, information about its formative role on and huge influence in African American blues culture
is scarce.
Herbert Quelle, the German Consul General for the Midwest in Chicago, has researched 
extensively the German roots of the pocket-sized companion of European immigrants since the 19th century. Among his findings: About one billion harmonicas were imported from Germany between the 1870s and 1980s. Two German factories still exist and produce harmonicas, Seydel (since 1847) and Hohner (since 1857). The harmonica was the instrument of choice for many African Americans, because it was cheap and easily accessible. African Americans deserve credit for developing totally new tonal ranges and forms of expression on the harmonica. The German-produced instrument and the African American way of playing it have constituted a relationship which has been extremely fruitful for the blues as a universally appreciated musical genre. When: Tuesday, June 7 2016 at 3:00 pm, Where: AT&T Foundation Multipurpose Room, How Much: Free
June and July Events Calendar
June 1 Ethnic St. Louis – Elizabeth Terry
7:00 pm St. Charles County German Heritage, St. Charles, Stegton Regency, 1450 Wall Street.
June 7 The German Harmonica and the African-American Blues Culture
3:00 pm Missouri History Museum, AT&T Auditorium Herbert Quelle, the German Consul General for the Midwest in Chicago, has researched extensively the German roots of the pocket-sized companion of European immigrants since the 19th century.
June 11 German Sangerfest and Memorial Dedication at Cole Camp
2:00 pm German Immigrant Memorial Dedication at Cole Camp, Missouri. The public is invited for the dedication of the Memorial that will be at 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 11, 2016 at 209 East Main Street 4:00 pm the 25th Annual Sangerfest (German Singers Festival). The Sangerfest will follow at the Jaycee Gardens at 103 Maple Street, also in Cole Camp. The Sangerfest is a wonderful opportunity to hear the best!!!
June 22 Exhausting U.S. Records to Find Your German!
7:00 pm St. Louis Genealogical Society’s German Special Interest Group, St. Louis County Library Headquarters (Auditorium)
June 25 Sommerfest
German Cultural Society, Donau Park, Old Hwy 21, West Four Ridge Rd. 314-771-8368
July 9 – Missouri’s German Heritage
St. Louis Genealogical Society Annual Meeting – Program speaker : Dorris Keeven-Franke 10:00 am, St. Louis County Library Headquarters 1640 S. Lindbergh
July 17 – Wiener Schnitzel Dinner
German Cultural Society – German Cultural Society Donau Park Old Hwy 21, West Four Ridge Rd. 314-771-8368
July 19 – Germanic Genealogy Special Interest Group -636-537-2784 www.ggsig.org
July 29-31 Milwaukee German Fest
Bus leaves from St. Louis www.germanfest.org
Missouri Germans Consortium 
You must be logged in to post a comment.