[Harp-L] RE: A Jon Gindick Story

[David Payne <dave@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I wouldn't be playing harmonica today if it hadn't been for picking up Jon
Gindick's "Country and Blues Harmonica for the Musically Hopeless" when I
was a kid. I learned that intro on the accompanying tape note for note at
age 12 probably. I could probably still play that dang thing note for note
23 years later... I played it that much when I was 12.

 I remember when I was about 13, I was playing in a junior high talent show,
which I thought was the biggest thing in the world. I was so excited! I
can't even remember playing in the thing, I can only remember writing Jon
Gindick about it. That's how much respect I had for the man.
So, I sent Jon this letter (the internet did not exist in those days), and
told him how much I loved the harmonica, that I was playing in the talent
show or whatever, and that he was responsible for this love affair I had
with the harmonica, etc..

I'll be danged if Jon didn't send me a letter reply in the mail. Wasn't a
form letter either. It was a REAL letter.  To ME. I thought that was the
awesomest thing ever. He said how awesome he thought all this was, that he
was proud and whatnot & all kinds of stuff that makes a 13 year old player
jump in his shoes.

I sent him another "you are awesome!" letter when I was about 15. He wrote
me again. He asked me to send him a tape of my playing. 22 years later, I
still haven't sent him that dang tape. I wish I still had those letters.

David

www.harrisonharmonicas.com



> Message: 3
> Date: Fri, 13 Aug 2010 12:32:37 +0800
> From: Tomcat Colvin <bluesasia@xxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: [Harp-L] a jon gindick story
> To: Harp-l <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
> Message-ID:
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> >
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>
> Jon's comment about my recent post brings back some important memories.
>
> While I've been playing harmonica since 1969, back when there was only one
> instructional book available, it was only in 1993 that I really got serious
> about it.  I had joined a Manila blues called Newly Industiralized Combo
> [specialing in "industrial-strength" blues], which almost immediately was
> featured on the front page of a prominent magazine in the Philippines.  I
> suddenly realized, I've got to get serious!
>
> Even though the internet was in its very early days, I did some research
> and
> found a Harmonica Newsletter, available in print, not available online at
> that time.  It was Jon's newsletter.  Once it arrived over here in Manila,
> that newsletter opened the door to the harmonica world for me.  I learned
> about the World Harmonica Championships in Trossingen and SPAH, with
> gathering only two weeks apart later in the year.  I attended both -- and
> my
> world literally changed.direction.
>
> So, a very belated thanks to Jon for setting me on the parth.  And thanks
> for your other materials and books, which I consumed to feed my hunger.
>
>
> Thomas "Tomcat" Colvin
>
> www.bluesasianetwork.com
> www.lampanoalley.com
>
>
>