Re: [Harp-L] How we learned diatonic harmonica in the "olden days:"

["Rob Paparozzi" <chromboy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

"The Olden Days"

Rewind...1965 at 13 years old about 8th grade I picked up a C Marine Band
that was left on a shelf by my older brother, I took it over my friends and
we were playing our fav Beatle records, I realized I could play along a bit
with:

"I Should Have Known Better" and "I'm a Loser". I was teaching myself Guitar
about the same time and me and my friends decided to start a band...we all
sang a song acapella and "I" became the designated Lead Singer.

   The Harmonica had me totally intrigued so I went down to the local Record
shop and bought a D and and A MB for $2.00 each. They alo had the Tony
Glover book so I bought it. With the D, C and A.

     During this time my Mom owned a Candy store and one day Harry Venezia
(sort of an artsy-hoodlum) strolled in the store with The 1st Butterfield
LP, he said to my two older brothers who were already playing Gtr and
Singing, that they should check out this COOL Lp!! They did, and I gave it a
listen as well....I figured if I could make my harmonica sound anything like
Butterfield's that I'd be one of the coolest kids in town!,-)

    With the 3 Keys I had, I was able to Jam with most of the Butter LP and
most of the Beatles stuff....I wasn't very good but soon became the best in
the neighborhood as everyone else was workin' hard on Guitar or Bass or
Drums!

    My older Brother was workin' a summer job at the AMPEG factory in
Linden, NJ....he'd tell me stories how the Rolling Stones came in and took a
bunch of Amps amongst the other touring acts. There was an older Black Man
in the Shipping Department his name was "Major" he lent my Brother a record
"Little Walter".  I listened to it several times but we didn't have
cassettes to tape on back then so I had to give it back! Bummer!!!!!

     In 1971, I met Bruce Springsteen and my band "The Psychotic Blues Band"
opened for him at "The Sunshine In" in Asbury Park. Later that year I
invited him to Jam with me in my home town in Linden, NJ....he liked the
stuff I was doing with my Gtr/rack-Harp and asked me to come down and jam w/
him every Tues at "The Student Prince" a club where he had a steady gig. I
was too busy at the time workin' on my Blues stuff and college and passed on
the offer!!!,-)))

    Fast forward to College 1973 I was now 21 and went to an outdoor show at
the school, J. Giels band, I already wore out there 1st LP so I was excited
about seeing them up close!...I banged into J.Giels in the hall and he was
very nice, I told him I played harp and he insisted I come backstage and
meet Magic Dick.

    I sat with Dick for about 40 minutes and asked him TONS of Harp
questions, this was THE first pro harp player I'd EVER met and he wasn't
gettin' away without my 3rd degree interagation! He explained to me about 9
& 10 hole blow Bending, practicing with a mic & amp and wrote down some
Little Walter LP's that I MUST go get asap if I REALLY wanted to master
blues harp......I was on my way!!

 In 1975 as I was graduating that same college with a Sociology degree, I
went to my last outdoor concert;
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN.....go figure, I should went to his Jam!!!,-) oh
well..........

     1977 couldn't find a gig w/ my degree so I answered an ad in the
Village Voice for Harmonica Player in a new Off Broadway Show "Memphis is
Gone".....they said  you must play Chromatic and Diatonic!!

Got the gig...Bought a 270 and a Toots Record and shortly thereafter called
Robert Bonfiglio for lessons............well...you can figure out the
rest,-)))) Nice thread and thanx for Listenin'.........Iceman is right, had
there been some methodology available earlier....could have saved a LOT of
practice trial & error and TIME.....get a teacher or sign up for a Camp or
Seminar.....wish we had'em back in the "Olden Days"!

best,
Rob Paparozzi