Subject: [Harp-L] Taylor

[EGS1217@xxxxxxx]

Betty writes;
 
"I'm with you guys about Taylor. He has a winning personality that  will help 
to make him a star.  
The next cut will be  counting every flaw noticed between the two - Katharine 
and Taylor.   Taylor will have my vote because I am harmonica predjudiced. 
It  will be hard  because they are both super talents.
But,  regardless of who wins......perhaps, some of the larger well known 
talent  in our harmonica world could reach out and introduce him to the family of  
harmonica talent. 
Who knows, he may not have heard of SPAH and  all the other conferences held 
each year.  
It might just  be the thing he would like to do while climbing the wall of 
success.   
Of course, his climb is not going to be very hard, now.  
I'll just be glad when we can see him perform with the  harmonica.  I'm sure 
that will be a treat.  Wouldn't it be great  to have him at the Denver SPAH?  
If you're going to dream.....dream  big !!

B Welch"
 
......that's an interesting point, Betty...about him perhaps not  being at 
all aware of the "harp community".  Not about Taylor, but  I've just said 
something similar on a chromatic list.  A  few people who post on these lists think 
the world revolves around them  and their opinions and that they speak for 
everyone who plays  harmonica <G> seeming not to realize that the majority of  
harmonica players are "out there" not online, not reading about  harmonicas and 
not posting on lists.  Probably not ever having heard  of SPAH. 
 
 It'd be great to eventually have Taylor Hicks write about  his harp 
experiences growing up...and whatever possessed him to play his  harp into the 
"judgment" room.  That took guts.  He's clearly  someone who has stuck to his own 
style of music from the  beginning....showing that he can be accommodating to 
other styles, but  always, always ...going back to his Blues/R&B songs.  I have 
no  doubt any album of his will reflect the music he so  loves....that is the 
reason he has progressed so far, precisely because  the people who have voted 
for him ALSO like those same songs and  style.  He is also (as far as I know) 
the oldest contestant to make  it this far....at 29.  I can't see the so-called 
"handlers" trying to  force him into a teeny-bopper mold.  Especially since 
they've  not been his primary fan base.  
 
It's nonsensical to think he won't be "allowed near a harp" as has  been 
suggested...since last year's runner-up Bo Bice recorded his album  playing his 
guitar, singing his own Southern rocker music.....all under  the auspices of 
American Idol....and according to what was said last  night, it's selling 
tremendously since December...might even have gone  gold.  From AI's history - they 
play to the strengths of the  winners....last year's winner was a young country 
singer whose  biggest hit was a religious song...the winner before has  been 
nominated for 4 Grammy's on the R&B charts and so  on.  
 
As far as Denver and SPAH goes...it can't happen.  The  American Idols do a 
live tour around the country (they have to pay their  dues, lol)....and during 
SPAH they'll be appearing somewhere else  every day..from Michigan, to 
Kentucky, to Illinois.   We'll just  have to settle for Jason Ricci  in Denver  ;)
 
Elizabeth