[Harp-L] Norton Live

["Marc Spilka" <marc@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Watching some Norton Buffalo videos really brought back memories.  I must 
have seen him live at least 30 times, much more than I saw anyone else. 
Besides his amazing musicianship it is astounding what he does logistically 
and was it was fascinating just to watch him.  On the majority of songs live 
he played more than one harp, often diatonic and chromatic in the same song. 
He is juggling mics, turning volume dials, playing maracas or tambourine, 
looking at  harps to make sure he's got the right one and it's right side 
up, then hanging mic cords around his neck, and singing lead.  In some of 
his band iterations, he would also be plunking out chords on a keyboard in 
the midst of all this.  I certainly didn't know him but was lucky enough to 
meet him a couple times and got to chat.  Not only was he my favorite harp 
player but was an unsurpassed multi-talented entertainer.

Marc Spilka
Los Gatos, CA


On Nov 11, 2009, at 4:19 PM, Ken Hildebrand wrote:

> Rob,
>
> I sure hope we can see some of this tribute to Norton at some point.
> A DVD would be great, and treasured by all of us Norton Buffalo fans.
>
> I like your two choices of favorite Norton Buffalo songs ("Puerto
> de Azul" and "Walking Down to Suzy's").  These 2 have always been
> favorites of mine.
>
> If I could add a 3rd song that has both diatonic and chromatic
> harmonicas, it would be "Nobody Wants Me".  The opening solo is on
> diatonic, and later there's a chromatic solo.  Norton's harmonicas,
> voice, and melody just go together so well.
>
> I made a custom ringtone for my cell phone from "Walking Down to
> Suzy's" for when my wife calls me for sentimental reasons going
> back to when we first met and I made her a cassette tape of
> "traveling songs" for her car.
>
> I've been listening to "Lovin' in the Valley of the Moon" and
> "Desert Horizon" alot the past 2 weeks.  I have the original vinyl
> LP's of these albums, as well as the CD, and they have always been
> my most favorite albums of everything I own.
>
> Here's a YouTube of a very young Norton doing "Nobody Wants Me"...
>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oo8qfIK_ajg
>
>
> Ken H in OH
>
> --- On Mon, 11/9/09, Rob Paparozzi <Chromboy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> > From: Rob Paparozzi <Chromboy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Steve Miller hosts benefit for Norton
> > Buffalo's family
> > To: "Randy Singer" <randy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx"
> > <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
> > Date: Monday, November 9, 2009, 5:41 AM
> > Randy...
> >
> > Thanx for sharin' this link, I may have to hop on a plane
> > in Jan....I miss him already! This will be a beautiful
> > tribute...I'm so happy that Charlie Musselwhite will be
> > there to add his magic to the event.
> >
> > Here's a cool idea...when they do RUNAWAY w/
> > Bonnie....since NO ONE could do it like NORTON, in his honor
> > they get a LINE UP on stage.....say like Charlie, Kim
> > Wilson, Taj and James Montgomery with each respective key in
> > hand.....Four heavy Harpers to pay tribute!!!!!!,-)
> >
> > Anyway......yesterday I was listening to some Buffalo....if
> > someone told me to pick only  TWO of his pieces that
> > really represent what Norton was about...these would be the
> > 2-WOW!!!!!!!!!!:
> >
> > Puerto de Azul (Chromatic)
> > Walkin Down to Suzy's (Diatonic)
> >
> > Sheer BRILLIANCE !! EVERY harp player should study these 2
> > songs, check 'em out......thanx Norton!
> >
> > Best,
> > Rob Paparozzi
>
>
>
>
>
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