Re: [Harp-L] Charlie Leighton 1922- 2009

[gshcsunshine@xxxxxxx]

 It is with a heavy heart, upon learning of the passing of this wonderful and inspirational man that I can gather up my thoughts now to share my feelings with you. I was really fortunate to have the opportunity to be part of the "Leightons Leightons" harmonica group that met every Tuesday at Charley's apartment in NYC. I was the faithful audience that attended these wonderful sessions with Phil Caltabellotta for around three years. My role was to listen, clap, take pictures, pretend to conduct and enjoy the comraderie that took place with the three mainstays of the group consisting of William Galison, Charles Spranklin and Randy Weinstein who met at Charley's usually stating at 3:00 in the afternoon,ending between 5 and 6.? I was surrounded by this wonderful sound and always left there truly inspired! Charley would? look forward to the next week's session saying that he never knew who else would be there and that was the only time he would play his harmonica. The guys would be playing and the ring of his doorbell would get Charley out of his chair to buzz in different visitors. Stan Harper, Rob Paparozzi, Paul Davies, Gregoire Maret and Randy Singer were among some who joined in when I was there.? 

And what an amazing sound Charley could produce with that harmonica! Using the backgrounds of Jamey Abersold, Hal Leonard and some tracks put together by Charles Spranklin, there would be non-stop playing with trading off rounds, fun competition with each other and ending every song all together, sometimes the sillier, the better! The one person that would make Charley come alive was William and if Charley was getting a little tired, once William walked in the door, he became totally revived and laughed and played as if he were thirty years old! I can picture William getting down on one knee playing right next to Charley with the two of them conducting a harmonica "duel"!? When Charley's memory began to fade, Randy would sing the song or Charles and Phil would play to get him back on track. It was a loving group that I witnessed, bringing to mind one of Charley's signature songs "I Cant Give You Anything But Love".? That's how I remember Charley.


 


 

-----Original Message-----
From: wgalison@xxxxxxx
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Sun, Sep 27, 2009 12:32 pm
Subject: [Harp-L] Charlie Leighton 1922- 2009










Dear Friends,



Our dear friend and teacher, and perhaps the greatest harmonica player ever, 
Charles Leighton, has died at age 88. Charlie was an eminently elegant, 
generous, gracious and talented man. ?He taught us that as an instrument of 
tonal beauty and range of expression,?the harmonica could stand proudly 
alongside any other melodic instrument.




Moreover, Charlie was a musician of stunning virtuosity and sensitivity. He 
would have been a celebrated master instrumentalist on any instrument, and we 
can only be grateful that he chose the humble harmonica to express his exquisite 
musicianship.




Charles was a great friend and mentor to me and the others who descended on his 
apartment every Tuesday for nearly thirty years, Those "Tuesdays" sessions 
witnessed astonishing performances by Charlie as well as countless laughs, deep 
discussions and simple affection among Charlie and his friends.?




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYV5vU1Ju1k




Charlie was the "gold standard" of harmonica players, whose music will continue 
to inspire and instruct as long as people continue to play the harmonica, in 
terms of tone, technique and sheer musicality.




This posting is not an obituary, just a brief announcement. A few of Charlie's 
friends are working on an obituary for the New York Times to be published soon, 
We will post it here as well.?




At Charlie's request, there will be no formal funeral. We are arranging a 
website to honor Charlie, and a celebration of his life and music, to be held in 
the coming weeks, to which all will be invited. The location and date will be 
announced on Harp L.




In our shared loving memory of Charlie,










Will




Please pass this to other friends and fans of Charlie.






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