DATE: Mon, 28 Nov 1994 15:52:52 CST From: "Charles Williams CS" Subject: Re: Johnny Mars and Harp Belt
Steve, I for one appreciated your remarks about Johnny Mars. Many times harp players are labeled as "blues harp" players when in fact many of us really do try to play all types of music including non-blues originals even though our first love or exposure may have through the blues/rock artists on the radio or record.
I for one have been willing to try new effects for variety as well as for innovation-like playing Christmas carols with a chorus pedal and space echo. I believe Peg of My Heart was recorded with a primitive attempt to record with a very fat reverb/delay effect by miking the harps into a amp that was put out in a stairway with a recording mike. Of course the so called blues experts don't like it when we stray too far but then how many of them have ever listened to other harmonicists who refuse to limit their playing to blues related musical styles or chord progressions. Even Little Walter use of amps was to me a way to achieve "special effects". That was the 50's and now were in the 90's so why not try new things.
>I stand by in trepidation for any brickbats coming my way out of this >- it's only what *I* think, and anyway my mother loves me!! > Steve Jennings, Editor, Harmonica World
Re: harp belts? If you like OD green try to find an old WW2 M1 rifle ammo belt. The pockets are perfect to hold 10 diatonic harps. You can even find hanging pockets to attach for your larger Steve Baker Special models.
cwilli~oarw1.ssw.dhhs.gov (Charlie Williams, Clarksville, MD) alias Choo Choo Charlie - Disclaimer "all opinions are my own".
