Five Harmaniacs

by Verne Buland
The Five Harmaniacs were a jug band that was responsible for the tune "Coney Island Washboard" which was recorded by dozens of bands and sung by hundreds of barbershop quartets. Curiously, the Five Harmaniacs recording didn't use a vocalist. Clyde Shugart was usually the singer and played kazoo, but Walter Howard does the vocal on What Makes My Baby Cry? Otherwise, it is uncertain which of the instruments the other musicians listed below played.


*The photo scans have been graciously contributed by Wouter Maréchal and Walter T. Howard Jr.*

Title	Recording Date	Recording Location	Company
Carolina Bound	11-27-1926	New York, New York	Brunswick 3664-A Brunswick 3703 Brunswick 7002 Vocalion 1130
Coney Island Washboard (Five Harmaniacs)	9-17-1926	New York, New York	Victor LPV-540 36327-1
Coney Island Washboard (Five Harmaniacs)	9-17-1926	New York, New York	Victor 20293-B 36327-2
Harmaniac Blues	6-1926	New York, New York	Paramount 20476 Broadway 1034 Puritan 11476
It Takes A Good Woman (To Keep A Good Man At Home) (Jack Yellen / Milton Ager)	New York, New York	2-8-1927	Victor LPV-540 37751-1
It Takes A Good Woman (To Keep A Good Man At Home) (Jack Yellen / Milton Ager)	2-8-1927	New York, New York	Victor 20507-B 37751-2
Rippin' It Off (Stubby Gordon)	12-14-1926	New York, New York	Edison 51902-R
Sadie Green, Vamp of New Orleans (Gilbert Wells)	9-17-1926	New York, New York	Victor LPV-540 36326-1
Sadie Green, Vamp of New Orleans Vocal refrain by Clyde Shugart (Gilbert Wells)	9-17-1926	New York, New York	Victor 20293-A 36326-2
Sleepy Blues Vocal refrain by Walt Howard	3-19-1927	New York, New York	Brunswick 7002
What Did Romie-O-Juliet (When He Climbed Her Balcony) (Fess Williams)	12-18-1926	New York, New York	Gennett 6033-A
What Did Romie-O-Juliet (When He Climbed Her Balcony) (Fess Williams)	12-14-1926	New York, New York	Edison 51902-L
What Makes My Baby Cry (Sosnilk / Hibbler / Squires)	2-8-1927	New York, New York	Victor LPV-540 37750-1
What Makes My Baby Cry? (Sosnilk / Hibbler / Squires)	2-8-1927	New York, New York	Victor 20507-A 37750-2

Artist	Instrument
Jerry Adams (real name: Harold Whitacre)	(Harmonica, Ukulele, Jug, Washboard, Banjo)?
Wayne Durand	(Harmonica, Ukulele, Jug, Washboard, Banjo)?
Walter Howard	Vocals, (Harmonica, Ukulele, Jug, Washboard, Banjo)?
Ned Nestor	(Harmonica, Ukulele, Jug, Washboard, Banjo)?
Clyde Shugart	Kazoo, Vocals