Re: [Harp-L] Toots called Howard a name

[Joseph Leone <3n037@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Yes, I realized that after I sent it. But I didn't correct it at the time because I didn't think it was worth the band width.
Toots was 18 when Belgium was invaded. A..He was undraftable because he was asmatic. B.. It was all moot as Belguim surrendered in 28 hours. 
I had 2 uncles fighting in Belgium in 44 (and a father in Italy). One was the same age as Jean Batiste ( & wounded), and the other a year younger ( & killed). So, yes you are correct. 
That would make Toots about 91. I just lost the uncle that was his age. 

As for his best work, again, I think you are correct. 'Best' is hard to quantify, but some of his stuff around the late 50s was so out into orbit in terms of pushing the limits of 'rolling' the chord structure(s), that I have a hard time imagining anyone who could even dream to come close. His later stuff, while more mature and polished, is not in the same league. BUT, having said that  I have been watching one Yvonnic Prene for several years, and in my (humility...and stomach churning illness, I must add), in this era of talking about who or whom is going to inherit this one or that ones crown, I see Prene as being deserving of a 'throne of his own', so to speak. 

He is what I have I have been preaching for years. Namely becomming ONE with your instrument, he has, just Like Wikus Van der Werwe 'melded' with a Prawn in the movie District 9, Prene has become an entirely new breed of human/harmonica.  

Just my opinion.... smokey-joe

On Jun 6, 2013, at 1:28 AM, Chuck Dean wrote:

> Oops, hey Joe, I think you're a little off on your math. Toots was born in 1922 so he'd be about 36 in 1958. 
> So, do you consider his best work when he was 45... or in the late fifties? 
> 
> Chuck (mobile)
> Pleez x cuze any tie ping or spelin airors. 
> 
> On Jun 5, 2013, at 5:37 PM, Joseph Leone <3n037@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> 
>> All one has to do is listen to Toots from around the time he was 45 years old (and that would be around 1958). NO ONE could touch him then....... and, frankly, he's hard to catch...even now. 
>> 
>> smo-joe
>> 
>> On Jun 5, 2013, at 7:06 PM, The Iceman wrote:
>> 
>>> I do not believe for a minute that Toots is jealous of Howard.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> I do know that they were "forced" to perform together at Michalek's Harmonica Summit and that Toots did not particularly care for Howard's approach. (Vicki and I spent some alone time with Toots at that event - he did not enjoy it very much).
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Winslow Yerxa <winslowyerxa@xxxxxxxxx>
>>> To: harp-l <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
>>> Sent: Wed, Jun 5, 2013 1:42 pm
>>> Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Toots called Howard a name
>>> 
>>> 
>>> I don't think Toots meant it in a bad way. It's like when a musician calls 
>>> another musician a bitch or a monster - both are compliments.
>>> 
>>> Winslow Yerxa
>>> Author, Harmonica For Dummies, ISBN 978-0-470-33729-5
>>>           Harmonica Basics For Dummies, ASIN B005KIYPFS
>>>           Blues Harmonica For Dummies, ISBN 978-1-1182-5269-7
>>> Resident Harmonica Expert, bluesharmonica.com
>>> Instructor, Jazzschool for Music Study and Performance
>>> 
>>> 
>>> ________________________________
>>> From: Larry Sandy <slyou65@xxxxxxxxx>
>>> To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx 
>>> Sent: Tuesday, June 4, 2013 3:22 PM
>>> Subject: [Harp-L] Toots called Howard a name
>>> 
>>> 
>>> I was enjoying watching this video when suddenly Toots (jokingly) called Howard 
>>> a freak.  Actually, I think Toots was a little jealous of Howards abilities.  
>>> Who isn't?  This was about the 47 minute mark on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vITStp_usc 
>>> . 
>>> 
>>> <snip>
>>> 
>>> 
>> 
>>