djm3801
212 posts
Sep 17, 2009
5:09 PM
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Got home about 11 PM from a H.A.R.P. (Harmonica Assoc Round Philly) meeting, which was an excellent learning session thanks to some of our more musically trained members, and wife calls me into the living room, backs up TIVO, and plays Robin Williams playing blues harp and singing. She was like "WOW look at him!" He did pretty well and the crowd loved it, even though they cut to a commercial and most of his playing was done on the break - perhaps they just thought it would be amusing - no respect for harp. He started by Leno asking him if he wanted to "take it out now.." whereupon he pulls out what looked like a Special20. After the break, he did a little singing and wrapped up. Crowd was nuts, and Len was impressed. Leno has a great band.
I am 62 and started playing last year, much to the amusement of family and friends. "the old man is finally losing it!" Wife became a believer in harp as an instrument with our club open mic at Holy Smoke, a neat little bar restaurant / club in Philly, and moreso when we saw Satan and Adam and Charlie Sayles in August, but still considered my sudden interest amusing. So now that Robin Williams is into it, we are all redeemed - it is cool! Thanks, Robin! The guy can hire his own band for practice for God's sake! Pay Adam or Jason or Jon G full time. Credit to him for doing it though!! Interest in harp is going through the roof now!
I wonder if he is lurking on this board!! Somene may find a clip on the Net. OK - Cannot spell WILLIAMS!!
Dan M
Last Edited by on Sep 17, 2009 5:12 PM
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Blackbird
112 posts
Sep 17, 2009
5:47 PM
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If you go waaaaaaaaaay back to the 70's, you'll find Robin's character, "Mork" on Mork & Mindy playing some blues harp in one episode:
http://www.tv.com/mork-and-mindy/old-fears/episode/29169/summary.html
That was one of the first times I said "Mom! I want to get a harmonica!" and she bought me a Hohner blues harp in C. Never had the talent to figure it out as a 10 year old. A few decades later, I'm starting to catch on.
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jonsparrow
1033 posts
Sep 17, 2009
6:01 PM
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ha i got a text message about this today. also he plays harp a few times in the movie august rush.
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Patrick Barker
411 posts
Sep 17, 2009
6:27 PM
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That's not really him playing in August Rush- I think someone else recorded the track and he was pretending to play
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It's all in the tongue
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RyanMortos
308 posts
Sep 17, 2009
6:40 PM
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Wish I could have been there last night Dan. Unfortunately I was at the office but I was harping!
[rant]
I cant wait until the economy bounces back & jobs are more available so companies like mine can't screw everyone over & cause them to miss things like harp meetings, etc & tell them if you dont like it leave knowing damn well there's not much out there.
[/rant]
Anyway, I hope the harmonica doesnt ever get some wide spread national craze at which someone in every household plays one! I like the mystic!
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~Ryan
Pennsylvania - H.A.R.P. (Harmonica Association 'Round Philly)
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djm3801
213 posts
Sep 18, 2009
3:16 AM
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Ryan, I am with you there. Sort of like the way it is set apart from other pursuits.
Hey, I worked evenings for 10 years. Loved it. No suits to bug me. Then I became a suit. Will be setting up a web site for HARP. You know anything about doing this, I will be in touch. Have not done it in a while.
Dan M
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