When I first started playing harmonica I remember being inspired John Sebastian's Night Owl Blues. I met John at SPAH and told him I had his Father's Harmonica Part for the Villa Lobos Harmonica Concerto. This was from the Fleisher Collection from the Free Library of Philadelphia. It had a message at the end that this was the harmonica part with changes made by John Sebastian approved by Villa Lobos. The Cadenza was written by John Sebastian which was not the norm for Modern Classical Music. I asked John if he would like a copy and he said sure and gave me his address. I also sent him a CD of some of my music. By the way the Sebastian family comes from Philadelphia. John told great stories about his Father the great classical Harmonica Virtuoso and about his Grand Father who was president of the Italian Sons of Italy bank in South Philly right near were my grand parents lived.
John is such a gentleman within a week of me sending him the material he sent me a nice letter and a signed picture. He also told me that he had listened to my CD and liked it very much and even told me what his favorite cuts were.
He ended his letter with, "Hope you continue, in my Dad's hometown, to play so well"
Two of the three of John's favorite cuts. Thanks for listening John.
That's funny about a week ago on a thread about why we were inspired to play harp I used the Night Owl track as my inspiration. For the B side of a Hit record it has done well over the years. I wore that 45 out..and a new needle cost my weeks pocket money. 'course now it's on my I Pad Very nice Harmonica on the tracks you posted.
Last Edited by Jehosaphat on Nov 01, 2013 10:15 PM
Sebastian, he hooked the harp spot amongst the highest of the blues echelon, the Roadhouse Blues by The Doors. Top tier eternity definition stuff age of the harmonica blues
Thanks Diggs, for reminding us of John B ---------- Sun, sun, sun Burn, burn, burn Soon, soon, soon Moon, moon, moon
Last Edited by JInx on Nov 02, 2013 1:39 AM
Great music as always Diggs. I remember that Night Owl Blues. I had been playing for a few years when I first heard it and wondered: how the hell does he do that? I was playing the old hillbilly stuff and had no idea about that type of harp playing at the time. ---------- Wisdom does not always come with old age. Sometimes old age arrives alone.
John told a great story about how he was practicing that tune, and his dad (an accomplished classical chromatic harmonica player) asked him, "is it supposed to sound that thin?"
In the late 60’s I was listening to the great Alan Wilson with Canned Heat and then I discovered the Sonny Boy 1 and 2, but I was having trouble tryin to play single notes and bends. Other then listening, and reading Tony Glover’s harp book, there was no other ways to learn. Luckily I noticed that on the flip side of the 45 single, Daydream by the Lovin Spoonful, there was an instrumental called Night Owl Blues. I played it over and over trying to copy John Sebastian’s harp until I realized that by changing the speed to 33 I could slow it down without changing the key. That is how I learned to play harp. Thank you John Sebastian!!!!
