Re: [Harp-L] Ron Kalina

[Joseph Leone <3n037@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Jan 19, 2016, at 12:24 PM, jon kip wrote:

> I've seen several indications today that  Ron Kalina has died.

Sadly, though gaunt and slight of frame, Ron was a giant of a man and my 'champion' has fallen in battle.
Count Joseph Leone.
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> I believe they are true.That's sad. 
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> He's a great example of how much being a piano player can help with playing jazz on The Chromatic Harmonica, and he knew Stuff.

Ron was from Reading Pa., and his mother was (like my great aunt Edith) a piano player for the movie theaters. And while he never 'officially' had a lesson,
I would consider playing along with her to actually BE lessons. He was, in his formative years, a fixture at the Reading Holiday Inn. I currently play with a sax
player who played with Ron. 
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> ...and a Fine Person, who knew more tunes than anyone else I know.

I first met Ron, oh maybe 25 years ago. He would come to spah when they were held in Romulus Mich. and since there was a piano in the bar, he would 
arrive there every day and play flor an hour or so.. I didn't know if he was an employee of the hotel, a visiting guest on holiday or what. I finally worked up 
the courage to sidle up to the piano and try and accompany him. Not knowing that he, himself, was a chromatic player.He didn't 'seem' to get annoyed.

This went on for several years and we were eventually joined by one Randolph H. Singer. Now Ron had this cherubic mischievious thing where he would
change keys about a gazillion times. I struggled to keep up but Randy was able to cruise through it all. 

Probably what will forever endear Ron to me is that he would also appear at other festivals. Like Buckeye (Ohio), or Garden State (New Jersey), and would
set up a 'Jazz showcase' on Saturday afternoons..whose main purpose was to display different styles to the general populace. I was always asked to be a
 participant. I don't know if anyone can imagine how thrilling it can be to be up there with Ron, Hendrik Meurkens, Will Galison, Mike Turk, and this caliber of
star. It was a combination of euphoria and sheer terror. 

I will always have a warm spot in my heart for this amazing gentleman. Who had NO ego, was most respectful to others, and had a heart as big as the outdoors.
God bless you Ron, and I pray that your family can have some solace in knowing that you were truly loved and respected by many many fans and friends. 
I remain forlorn.................smo-joe


 
> I remain not a big fan of Death.
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