Re: [Harp-L] Re: "Confessions of a Gusser"

"Bill" <bill.eborn@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> · Wed, 11 Nov 2009 08:04:37 -0000

Michelle

That's not Gussing as in Genuine Uninvited Squawker, it's Gipping as in 
Genuine Invited Protege
Bill
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Michelle LeFree" <mlefree@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>

To: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>

Sent: Wednesday, November 11, 2009 3:23 AM

Subject: [Harp-L] Re: "Confessions of a Gusser"
Um, since others are being candid about their own Gussing, I suppose I 
should mention a post I made back in September of 2003, titled, 
"Confessions of a Gusser:"
http://harp-l.org/pipermail/harp-l/2003-September/msg00557.html
In it I told of the generosity of my first harp teacher, Harry Harpoon. I 
had become his protégé, traveling with him to each and every gig over a 
two-year period (he was then performing a couple times a week as a one-man 
band Dr.Ross-style, bass drum, high hat cymbal, slide guitar and harp). He 
wasn't a great teacher in the usual sense of the word -- he couldn't 
articulate how to do something, but the great harp player that he is, he 
would demonstrate a point and have me "parrot" it until I got it. I 
learned by example. [I read where Gary Onofrio (Sonny Jr.) learned from 
Sonny Terry in much the same way.]
As Harpoon's protégé I would help him carry his equipment into each venue 
(read bar), help him set up and then tear down and carry it all back into 
his truck. I watched his every move and took careful notes as to his harp 
playing and showmanship, learning volumes along the way from an old master 
(Harry learned studying under George Harmonica Smith alongside many of the 
Los Angeles greats like William Clarke, Rod Piazza and others.)
After many months, I came to a point where I could credibly follow along 
with Harry's playing and the next step became clear: playing in a live, 
public situation, comping to other musician's playing, learning to 
accompany a singer, etc. Problem was that where I live in the Western 
Colorado outback, there were and are ~very~ few opportunities to do that. 
No blues bands and very few open mic's (a solo harp player isn't often 
well received at open mic's anyway). So one day I meekly asked Harry if he 
would mind if I played along with him very softly in the back of the room 
at his gigs. Without a moment's hesitation, Harry said, "You wanna play 
harp along with me? Go for it!" So I did.
Then a most curious thing happened. People at his gigs started coming over 
to my table to listen to ~me~ play. At first I was very confused by this 
and wondered what to do -- quit and meekly disappear into the background 
or what. The last thing I wanted was to distract Harry's enthusiastic 
fans. But to my amazement, the folks didn't want me to stop; they egged me 
on. So did Harry. So I embraced the situation and obliged. After a while, 
I started to draw my own little crowd of "followers" and made many new 
friends and acquaintances that I never would have otherwise had the 
opportunity to meet (I'm normally very shy). I still treasure the 
long-lasting friendships of many of those kind folks who encouraged a 
budding harmonica player "back in the day." On top of that, I succeeded in 
getting some terrific real-world experience, satisfying my initial goals 
and more. The whole experience allowed my to grow as a harmonica player 
and musician and even personally in ways I never would have otherwise. I 
still owe Harry a huge debt of gratitude. (I might mention that though 
Harry now lives in Utah, whenever he returns the area to gig, I happily 
play on stage with him, and he often defers all the harping to me.)
Anyway, as expected my original 2003 post garnered much attention on the 
"L," initially drawing some harsh criticism and then some surprising 
support. I still rejoice in the fact that the term "Gussing" didn't 
forever turn into "Michelling."  :-)
So that's my "Confessions of a Gusser" revisited.
Thanks again, Harry!
Michelle

_______________________________________________

Harp-L is sponsored by SPAH, http://www.spah.org

Harp-L@xxxxxxxxxx

http://harp-l.org/mailman/listinfo/harp-l 