SPAH -- Society for the Preservation and Advancement of the Harmonica

Vaudeville, movies, the profusion of nightclubs, as well as playing on the street corner were some of the activities that helped the harmonica reach new heights in the musical world during the '30s, '40s, and early '50s. Then came a number of changes that diminished the visibility of the instrument and, for a short period of time, put the harmonica back into its case. A new generation of families surfaced with more mobility and more leisure time to take vacations and attend organized entertainment events away from home.

A small group of harmonica enthusiasts in the Detroit, Michigan area felt that the harmonica could be compatible with the changing times. They undertook the task of locating other harmonicists in the area, and the group began to grow. Through their efforts the first meeting of SPAH as an organization was held in October 1962. A year later, on October 23, 1963, the Society for the Preservation and Advancement of the Harmonica (otherwise known as SPAH) was officially incorporated in the State of Michigan, USA as a non-profit organization. From that beginning SPAH has grown with membership across the United States and throughout the world.