[Harp-L] Re: pathetic - did The Blues invent the light bulb?

["Haka Harri" <harri.haka@xxxxxxxx>]

You are absolutely right, John. Without prejudice against other genres where harmonica appears and shunning off the label of being a "blues nazi" the simple fact remains that the most influential harp players are blues players.

For comparison, look at other instruments. Take, for example, the violin. Probably all would agree that the most influential players come from classical music. Clarence Gatemouth Brown played the instrument occasionally and Papa John Creach even more devotedly but still no one would say that the violin as an instrument owes much to the blues.

Another example is the saxophone. Even though there are great blues sax players like J.T. Brown, not even the hardcore fan would say that the most influential sax players come from the blues. This is clearly an instrument specific for jazz.

There are many genres where the harmonica plays an important role, which is great, but these cases are an exception to the rule (as in the case of blues is flute on John Mayall's "Turning Point").

As to the blues inventing the light bulb, it's pretty much true. To put a long story short, most of the greats have been influenced by the blues. Elvis, Beatles, Rolling Stones, Aretha, James Brown, Dylan etc etc. Rap-artists of today sample blues. Looking at a list of most popular music today, it's pretty hard to find anything that owes nothing to the blues.

Harri


  .Date: Fri, 21 Jul 2006 16:11:57 -0400
From: "John Balding" <John.Balding@xxxxxxxxx>
Subject: RE: [Harp-L] Re: re: pathetic - did The Blues invent the
	light bulb?
To: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
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	<F38163487B9C674E8EF6A3C1701AFB0201967D61@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
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Here is another way to approach this topic:

In the world of music, Blues is a very small part. However, in the world
of HARMONICA, Blues has made the greatest and most lasting impact.

I would be willing to bet that Blues recordings where the harmonica is
the featured or prominent instrument have outsold ALL other genres where
the harmonica is the featured or prominently-displayed instrument. 

I really do not wish to get into a tit-for-tat childish trade-off here.
I am just putting into MY words what I feel that Haka Harri was saying.
Correct me if I am wrong Haka.

John Balding