Richard Hayman was born in Cambridge and brought up in Winthrop, Massachusetts. He taught himself to play the harmonica while still in high school. At the age of eighteen, he was invited to join Borrah Minnevitch ’s world-famous Harmonica Rascals. After three years, he left to form his own group and appeared in theatres around the country and as a soloist with many leading orchestras.
A tour with Horace Heidt ’s troupe brought Hayman to Hollywood, where he played small...