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Musicians of Rochester serves as a portrait of musical life in and around the greater Rochester, New York region.

Musicians of Rochester: "Harmonica" Pete DuPre

Michael DuPre

You'll want to spend time with this dear man. He was an army medic during World War II in the Battle of the Bulge, and he's moved tens of thousands of people with his small, simple instrument of choice, the harmonica. 

Pete DuPre’ has been playing the harmonica since he was a child.  He's now 94.  He continues to tell his stories and to make the harmonica sing in churches, nursing homes, schools, at memorials, and for celebrations of all kinds.  

On the 75th anniversary of the attacks on Pearl Harbor, the World War II veteran flew to Hawaii to play the "Star Spangled Banner" at the Pearl Harbor Invitational.

Click here to hear Pete tell his stories about music, life, and lessons on the pain of war.   You'll hear him play, too.

Brenda Tremblay has served as weekday morning host on WXXI Classical since 2009.