Harmon Bethea

A World War II veteran, he recorded and performed gospel and rhythm and blues with the Progressive Four and the Corinthian Singers for Lillian Claiborne’s D.C. label in 1947 and ’48. In late 1949, Claiborne paired Bethea with another of her local acts, The Cap-Tans. In the midst of the British Invasion and the surge of Motown Records, Bethea took on the persona of “The Maskman", first donning the mask in 1968. His backing group evolved from the Cap-Tans to The Agents. The Bethea continued recording and performing well into his 60s.