The most characteristic harmonica sound we hear today is the blues-harp style, developed by the Afro-Americans. It uses soulful note bending to give that bluesy wailing sound we all associate with the harp. You often hear it in contemporary American styles like Blues, Jazz, Country and Rock. However the free-reed that makes the sound in harmonicas is thousands of years old, first documented in ancient Chinese literature. It has long been used in traditional Chinese folk instruments like the Hulusi, Bawu, Sheng etc.
A Global Icon. The Hollywood Sign: It's more than just nine white letters spelling out a city's name; it's one of the world's most evocative symbols â a universal metaphor for ambition, success, glamour...for this dazzling place, industry and dream we call H-O-L-L-Y-W-O-O-D.
Today, the Sign's promise is more subtle-and can only be described as the parade of images, desires and ideas conjured by the word Hollywood.. Come explore the fascinating past and present of this icon, town, industry, and idea in our detailed History of the Sign.