Harvey Matusow

Harvey Matusow (aka Harvey Job Matusow) (October 3, 1926 – January 17, 2002) was an American Communist who became an informer for the Federal Bureau of Investigation and subsequently a paid witness for a variety of anti-subversion bodies, including the House Un-American Activities Committee, before eventually recanting the bulk of his testimony. These activities led to his own perjury conviction and a prison sentence. His McCarthy era activities overshadowed his later work as an artist, actor and producer. (read more on wikipedia)

Links to Peel
Harvey, who was living in England at that time, did a session for Peel's Night Ride show in December 1968, where he headed the Harvey Matusow's Jews Harp Band, consisting amongst others, bells player, Anna Lockwood, and 78 year old, Claude Lintott, who played the altar Jews Harp. In the session, Harvey explained the history of the Jews Harp and the story behind the 18 Nuns track. The session was split between Peel and Jon Curle's parts of Night Ride, where on the first hour, Peel was the host and the second hosted by Jon Curle.

On another Night Ride show, Harvey was a guest on Peel's programme, broadcast on 15 January 1969, but on that occasion, there was no session from the artist.

By the end of the 60's, Harvey gave up on producing music and moved back to America, where he became a Mormon and tragically died in 2002 from complications of a car accident.

Sessions
1. Recorded: 1968-12-18. Broadcast: 18 December 1968
 * Conversation / 18 Nuns / Walking Toenail Blues / War Between Fats And Thins

Other Shows Played

 * None, according to available playlists