[Harp-L] My Rick Dempster story

[Tony Eyers <tony@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

In the late '70s I was in the USA. I knew Jim Fitting, he started me on 
harmonica. Early 80's I was back in Adelaide, Australia. An over 
confident youngster, I  though myself much better than I was.

Then I met Rick Dempster.

It was on the ramp at Adelaide train station. An ideal busking spot. 
Rick was there with a fellow band member, in town for some gigs. We got 
talking. He played me a fiddle tune, Eighth of January. I'd never heard 
anything like it, and remember it to this day.

Rick went back to Melbourne, a few years later I moved to Sydney. I'd 
tried fiddle tunes about the time I met RIck, perhaps inspired by him. 
Too hard. I gave up and played blues.

Forward to the mid 90's. I had kids, couldn't run a blues band any more. 
Wasn't playing, wasn't happy. Then I went to a bluegrass festival. 
Different scene. You jam all day, without fussing about gigs, bar 
managers. I loved it. Still do.

I began a mission to learn the bluegrass fiddle tunes, and play them 
well. Wasn't sure it could be done. Then I heard Brendan Power play 
"Drunken Landlady", via a scratchy, low fi, circa '90s mp3 download. 
Fired up, I kept at it.

I never forgot Rick though.

Early 2000's, I was getting the hand of it. Went done to Melbourne for a 
job. Found Rick online, emailed him. He had a group harmonica class, 
invited me along. At the end I introduced myself, explained how we had 
met 20 years earlier, asked if he would play Eighth of January with me. 
He did. One of my great music moments.

Living in different cities, I see Rick every year of so, at a gig or 
festival. He's a traditional player, and has closely studied pre war 
styles. A true enthusiast, full of insight. Also a fine steel guitar 
player. I've seen his blues band a couple of times, The Brunswick 
Straight Shooters (I think). Don't know if they're still going. Not 
flashy, great to listen to.

Rick is a regular on harp-l. A modest guy, I suspect many don't know how 
good he is. His recent YouTubes will change that. It would be great if 
he made it to SPAH one day. Even better if he met Trip Henderson...

Tony Eyers
Australia
www.HarmonicaAcademy.com
...everyone plays