kudzurunner
5597 posts
Aug 13, 2015
4:02 PM
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As thanks for helping the Sonny Terry Estate (overseen by Ms. Delores Boyd) think through some of the issues involved in dealing with Sonny's old harps, I've just received one of Sonny's old A harps in the mail. Dang! It plays beautifully. It's pretty spooky to play "Key to the Highway," his version, one one of his instruments. I swear to god, it sounds more like him!
And yes, I've got a certificate of authenticity. Ms. Boyd is a retired state circuit court judge in Alabama. It's an impressive piece of paper.
More of Sonny's harps will be put up for sale, by and by, and you may be sure that you will hear about it here first.
On my recommendation, Ms. Boyd brought Joe Filisko into the deal, and he has apparently--to judge from her raves--done his usual superb job.
I will make a video, playing this harp, sometime soon.
Last Edited by kudzurunner on Aug 13, 2015 4:03 PM
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marine1896
321 posts
Aug 13, 2015
4:09 PM
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That's great, look forward to the video. This might sound a bit OCD, has it been sanitised/cleaned up? I mean I have always thought of harps as a bit like a toothbrush...or maybe that's just me! I can't do the sharing thing!
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"Those British boys want to play the blues real bad, and they do"
Last Edited by marine1896 on Aug 13, 2015 4:16 PM
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Goldbrick
1092 posts
Aug 13, 2015
5:40 PM
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Sonny has been gone almost 30 years. I think any cooties that were on it are long gone too
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shakeylee
357 posts
Aug 13, 2015
5:44 PM
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wow!! i can't wait to hear it!!! i hope you do a video soon :)
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www.shakeylee.com
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Thievin' Heathen
582 posts
Aug 13, 2015
6:01 PM
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I wonder how Sonny Terry stored his harps? There must be hundreds. Or, maybe he played 'em then tossed 'em when they no longer sounded good and there are only 10 or 20 good ones in existence.
What do you say, Adam?
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jason campbell
38 posts
Aug 14, 2015
6:54 AM
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<--- in Awe
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Frank101
110 posts
Aug 14, 2015
7:21 AM
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It sure would be interesting to read how that harp compares to a modern MB.
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Buzadero
1242 posts
Aug 14, 2015
9:00 AM
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I'm with Jason Campbell. Truly awe-some.
Much green tone congratulations to you.
I'd shank you in the Main Yard for that one.
Watch yer skinny ass, Professor.....
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~Buzadero
Underwater Janitor, Patriot
MBH poster since 11Nov2008
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1847
2677 posts
Aug 14, 2015
9:19 AM
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is it one of his golden melody's?
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al
110 posts
Aug 14, 2015
9:51 AM
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Man that is puir class! Are you going to play it upside down like the great man himself did.
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http://www.reverbnation.com/#!/alprice
Last Edited by al on Aug 14, 2015 9:52 AM
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the_happy_honker
226 posts
Aug 14, 2015
11:50 AM
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Adam would rather be forced to read Corey Harris for all eternity in Hell than play a Golden Melody.
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tookatooka
3753 posts
Aug 14, 2015
12:42 PM
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Was it bog standard or had it been customised? Jealous as hell here.
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kudzurunner
5600 posts
Aug 14, 2015
3:23 PM
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As far as I can tell, it's completely stock, OOTB Marine Band. It has clearly been played quite a bit, and it sounds better for that. It just has the feel of an oft-played harp, but with no notes blown out. (A slight beat tone on one of the blow octaves.) I am NOT going to play it upside down. Honker is right. I can't stand Golden Melodies.
The estate is going to put about 50 of Sonny's harps up for sale, and that will be all. The rest will end up in a museum and/or in Hohner's collection. The number of harps for sale will be strictly limited, and most likely only one or two per customer. Trust me, this is not going to turn into a thing where middlemen rush in, scoop them all up, and then resell them for a profit.
She wasn't sure what price should be charged per harp. (There are 20 Marine Bands and 30 Golden Melodies.) Any ideas? Given their relative rarity and the fact that she can 100% authenticate that they were in Sonny's personal collection, it seems to me that at least $100 per harp is a minimum. Perhaps more than that.
Last Edited by kudzurunner on Aug 14, 2015 3:27 PM
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kudzurunner
5601 posts
Aug 14, 2015
3:26 PM
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Tooka, on a separate note, I REALLY need a version of your MBH favicon design that is somewhat larger. I want to use it on the spine of my busking novel, which I am in the final stages of having a jacket designed for. If you get a chance, please send me a larger saved version of the logo: asgussow (at) aol (dot) com. Thanks.
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waltertore
2874 posts
Aug 14, 2015
6:02 PM
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That is great you got one of those harps Adam. I have 2 of his on my harp case but they are not in too good a playing shape :) I blew them till they died back in the late 70's and then they got bolted to my case. Walter
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walter tore's spontobeat - a real one man band and over 1 million spontaneously created songs and growing. I record about 300 full length cds a year in the Tunnel of Dreams Studio.
" life is a daring adventure or nothing at all" - helen keller
Smiling With Hope Pizza-pizza with a social cause
my videos
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Harmonicatunes
79 posts
Aug 14, 2015
9:17 PM
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Very very cool. Does anyone look over them before they go out?
I think $100 is very reasonable. A little more perhaps, but not much. They should be bought by players in my view, and played, rather than sitting in glass cases.
Perhaps someone will put their hand up to do repairs when reeds go. Theese instruments should live on.
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Tony Eyers
Australia
www.HarmonicaAcademy.com
everyone plays...
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Glass Harp Full
46 posts
Aug 14, 2015
10:09 PM
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Great stuff. I'd definitely be willing to pay $100 for one of Sonny's harps.
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Gipsy
172 posts
Aug 14, 2015
11:50 PM
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At the risk of appearing to speak silly money, I can't help thinking $100 minimum for a genuine slice of harmonica history sounds way too low.
Last Edited by Gipsy on Aug 14, 2015 11:51 PM
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Thievin' Heathen
585 posts
Aug 15, 2015
8:27 AM
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Even though you lose all control of who it goes to, I would recommend an Ebay experiment and see what the market sets. If they goes for less than $100 she can always set the price at $100 and wait for harp playing enthusiasts to come to her, but if they sell for $1500+ or some other figure out of the range of most harmonica players, I see no sin in letting them go to the collectors and speculators.
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sonny3
281 posts
Aug 15, 2015
11:52 AM
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Yeah could be worth 100 to 200 at least but who knows.I wonder when sonny switched from marine bands?I would be down for one of those MBs.
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marine1896
326 posts
Aug 15, 2015
12:10 PM
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3 for sale on Ebay with low opening bid would determine a value overall.
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"Those British boys want to play the blues real bad, and they do"
Last Edited by marine1896 on Aug 15, 2015 12:11 PM
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Glass Harp Full
48 posts
Aug 15, 2015
5:40 PM
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Is there detailed information about the individual harps? If it could be shown that he used a harp for a particular song/album/concert that would add to the value.
I think it's a good thing that some of Sonny's harps will go to museums. That way more than just the 50 or so people who buy one will get to see this important part of harmonica history.
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Frank101
112 posts
Aug 15, 2015
7:53 PM
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Unless it's made clear that there are fifty of Sonny's harps available you won't get a meaningful result from offering just 1 - 3 on ebay.
Also potential legal problems if somebody buys "RARE SONNY TERRY PLAYED HARMONICA" for $1000 and then finds out there's plenty more where that came from.
Kudz, send one to Hohner & have them pepro it as close as possible, that's the way to go.
Museums??? Please. "look, there's a harmonica Sonny Terry played!" "uh ... okay."
Last Edited by Frank101 on Aug 15, 2015 7:54 PM
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Glass Harp Full
49 posts
Aug 16, 2015
12:51 AM
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@Frank101, I was thinking something like the Blues Hall of Fame or Rock and Roll Hall of Fame museum, or a special exhibit on the history of the blues at a major museum. I'm sure there'd be interest.
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SuperBee
2768 posts
Aug 16, 2015
3:01 AM
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Haha, if I was able to get hold of one of those...it would stay in original playable condition as long as I was physically able to maintain it...
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marine1896
328 posts
Aug 16, 2015
3:23 AM
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@Frank101; Theres only 50 and Kudz wrote;"The estate is going to put about 50 of Sonny's harps up for sale, and that will be all. The rest will end up in a museum and/or in Hohner's collection. The number of harps for sale will be strictly limited, and most likely only one or two per customer. Trust me, this is not going to turn into a thing where middlemen rush in, scoop them all up, and then resell them for a profit."
A few on Ebay would give a good idea, also it's selling to the world not just in America or only to the members on this list! Don't know if that's what Frank101 was thinking?. I guess any harp with provenance like him being photographed with it or used on an earlier/later recordings will go to a blues museum like Sonny Boy II harps and bits and bobs did.
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"Those British boys want to play the blues real bad, and they do"
Last Edited by marine1896 on Aug 16, 2015 3:52 AM
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Frank101
113 posts
Aug 16, 2015
6:10 AM
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Thing about museums is, even the best players go through a lot of harps, plus one MB looks a lot like another, so a Sonny Terry harmonica just isn't going to arouse the interest that a Jimi Hendrix guitar would (for example).
But it's good to know there's some out there. I'd like one myself, just to have and be inspired by.
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marine1896
330 posts
Aug 16, 2015
6:25 AM
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I'd like a genuine Sonny Boy II harp I know there are some in collectors hands but would need some solid provenance as there are a good few Sonny Boy II autographs show up on Ebay that I know for a fact are questionable but sometimes the real thing comes along. In fact there was a Sonny Boy II photograph on Ebay last week that sold for over £200 (I dropped out about £50.00) so these guys are very collectible.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Bob-Wooler-Sonny-Boy-Williamson-Original-1964-Cavern-Club-Peter-Kaye-Photograph-/400963304034?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5d5b467a62
An original black and white Peter Kaye photograph of Bob Wooler and Sonny Boy Williamson at the Cavern Club, Liverpool which was taken on the 22nd January 1964. Bob has written ‘Sonny Boy Williamson’ on the reverse of the photo. The photograph is stamped Peter Kaye photography verso. Measures 16.5cm x 12cm (6.5 inches x 4.75 inches). Light creasing in various places. Very good condition.
The photograph originally was part of the collection of former Cavern Club compère Bob Wooler.
Bob was a pivotal figure in the Merseyside music scene. His initial involvement with Merseybeat came via a local skiffle group named The Mars Bars who later became Gerry And The Pacemakers. Bob found his niche as a compère at the Cavern, it was in this role that he made his greatest contribution to popularising Merseybeat. He is most notable for being instrumental in introducing Brian Epstein to The Beatles on his visit to the Cavern on 9th November 1961. He introduced The Beatles on countless occasions during their 292 appearances at the club from 21st March 1961 to their last appearance on 3rd August 1963 and became a great local ambassador for the group, helping to develop and consolidate their popularity on Merseyside. Bob acted as a booking agent for The Cavern until 1967 (the club had folded on 27th February 1966 to re-open four months later). He continued to book acts and promote gigs in and around Liverpool for the rest of the 60s and into the 70s and was active throughout the 80s in organising and contributing to Beatles conventions in the UK. Bob could frequently be seen at the Annual Liverpool Beatles Convention chatting to fans and enthralling them with stories from the 60s. Right until the end of his life Bob remained fiercely proud of his roots and of both The Beatles and of Liverpool’s contribution to popular music and culture. Bob Wooler died on 8th February 2002 in Liverpool.
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"Those British boys want to play the blues real bad, and they do"
Last Edited by marine1896 on Aug 16, 2015 6:30 AM
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kudzurunner
5604 posts
Aug 16, 2015
9:34 AM
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I actually suggested the "put one on eBay and see how it does" idea to Ms. Boyd.
The provenance of these harps is unassailable. Ms. Boyd--Judge Boyd--is, I believe, executor of Sonny Terry's estate. All these harps were in Sonny's personal possessions, and that fact is attested to on the certificate. This isn't one of those shady situations.
glassharpfull: That's a great point. I don't believe that any of the harps was used on specific recordings, but that's something I should ask Ms. Boyd. The soundtrack to the movie CROSSROADS, for example, which was, I believe, Sonny's last recording.
I actually have the C harp (Marine Band) on which I recorded "C. C. Rider" and "Groovy People" with Sterling Magee on HARLEM BLUES. I put it in a box when I got home that night, wrote that info on the box, and retired it from service.
Last Edited by kudzurunner on Aug 16, 2015 9:37 AM
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TetonJohn
263 posts
Aug 17, 2015
10:29 AM
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I would love to see this not go the way of pure supply and demand which could up the price so only the 1% (so to speak) can afford them. Maybe an affordable price and then a lottery for those who wanted in. Of course, I assume this also raises money for Sonny's estate, so high price is good from that angle. Hmmm. I might pay $100 to be in the lottery -- if a lot of folks wanted to be in the lottery/raffle, that would raise money for the estate w/o harps price being wacko. (Just some thoughts.)
Last Edited by TetonJohn on Aug 17, 2015 10:31 AM
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