When grandpa played it, they called it country. Bill worked to form
his style, but thought he was country until the folk revival folks
said he was something different. Would love to hear Michael tell
that story. Even Bill contradicted himself about it quite a bit,
I've heard Bill stories like that one, but he had a full-time
harmonica player in the 1940s, Curly Bradshaw.
Agreed, they can take their balls and go home.
Dave
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www.elkriverharmonicas.com
----- Original Message ----
From: BostonMoeJo <bostonmoejo@xxxxxxx>
To: David Payne <dave@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>; harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2008 12:43:51 PM
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] My grandpa, the prewar Blues harp player
I recall Michael Rubin of Nashville relating an experience at a
campsite jam at a bluegrass fest in the 70's.. As I recall the
story, he was blowing away pretty good on some bluegrass standard (I
forget exactly which one). When the song was over Bill Monroe came
over to him and said (and I'm paraphrasing here) "Mighty fine
pickin' son...but it's not bluegrass." Who would be more an
authority on what is and isn't bluegrass then Ol' Bill himself?
If bluegrass can be defined as mountain music played on bluegrass
instruments [those instruments that were used by The Bluegrass Boys
(mandolin, guitar, banjo, fiddle, and string bass] then by
definition, anything played on non-bluegrass instruments isn't
bluegrass. Why does it have to be called bluegrass anyway? Flatt &
Scruggs, long considered innovators in bluegrass music (they, among
other things, added the dobro to the list of acceptable bluegrass
instruments) made it a point to not call their music "bluegrass" but
rather "old time mountain music."
Let the bluegrass purists take their ball and go home.
The harmonica has been a part of mountain music since early on (i.e.
pre-"bluegrass") whatever you call it.
Doc Watson plays a mean harmonica and he was certainly instrumental
(no pun intended) in popularizing "bluegrass" in the 70' & 80's but
he's not "bluegrass" per ce, IMHO.
Bill Monroe recorded, at one point, with both piano and drums.
Elvis' first hit record was Bill Monroe's "Blue Moon of
Kentucky." Rockabilly, not bluegrass....
Is bluegrass music played on non-bluegrass instruments still bluegrass?
Who cares?
In a message dated 05/12/08 12:04:00 Eastern Daylight Time,
dave@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx writes:
Thanks for passing that on, Bostonmojo. You're right. I was just
venting against the bluegrass purists who say no harmonica in
bluegrass. Thanks for passing that on, again you're right. Both
those were from the 70s, I think, but Grisman kept up the jazz, so
are guys like Johnny Staats.
I like in that one video where Mark O'Connor looks like he just
picking up his fiddle after a hard day of pimping, with that feather
in his hat, purple pants, etc..
Dave
_____________________
Dave Payne Sr.
Elk River Harmonicas
www.elkriverharmonicas.com
----- Original Message ----
From: BostonMoeJo <bostonmoejo@xxxxxxx>
To: David Payne <dave@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>; harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2008 10:52:13 AM
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] My grandpa, the prewar Blues harp player
I would submit to you that the jazz influence hasn't ended
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x05z27blg80
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imFd1XAMLWI
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