[Harp-L] Hello and Introduction

[Rooty Baegga <rooty.baegga@xxxxxxxxx>]

I am the newest member of the mailing list and would like to say HELLO.

I would also like to apologize well in advance for any stupid questions or 
remarks I may make.  Allow me to explain:

I do not play harmonica and I know almost nothing about the harmonica.

Recently, while skulking around the Internet I came across a "Peg O' My 
Heart" MP3,which rang some kind of nostalgic bell with me.  I downloaded it 
and was amazed that it was the exact same all-harmonica arrangement I 
remembered from the distant recesses of my youth (I am 52).

This recording by the Harmonicats, of which I am sure you are all familiar, 
triggered something deep and visceral deep within me that I have yet to be 
able to explain to myself.  It touched a chord, no pun intended.

However, it also started me on a quest to listen to as much harmonica music 
as I can find.

I currently have 267 harmonica songs on my computer hard drive, which 
includes such artists as Toots Thiielemans (an artist with which I was 
familiar before I started this quest through his work with Quincy Jones and 
Diana Krall), Larry Adler, The Harmonicats, Harmonica Rascals (Gang), 
Stevie Wonder, and Alvin and the Chipmonks.  Of that number, 104 songs are 
what would be called Blues Harmonica, but I also have harmonica music in 
the genres of Folk, Rock, R&B, Jazz, Country and Classical, as well as 
examples by The Beatles, with John Lennon blowing.  I even have an old 
episode of the Boston Blackie radio show called The Harmonica Man.  All of 
this discovered in the few short weeks since listening to Peg O' My heart.

It's never been my way to explore something casually.  When I delve into 
something, it becomes an obsession until such time as I have figured it out 
to my heart's content, or lose interest.

My exploration of All Things Harmonica made me aware of this mailing 
list.  I can see by the first two postings I've received that most of this 
group's discussion is going to be way over my head.  Therefore, I hope 
people will have patience with my total lack of harmonica education and the 
stupid questions I may ask.

Here's my first (not so stupid) question: If you were recommending a 
harmonica to a total neophyte, which kind, what brand, what key would it be?