waltertore
686 posts
Jun 24, 2010
10:34 AM
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Things have been hectic around here. We are moving into a new house, building a full tilt detached recording studio on the site, and selling our current house. I played the local farmers market last week and got a message from the market master. She told me dozens of people have called her to say how much they enjoyed my playing there last saturday. Our village is kind of a throwback to 40 years ago. Kids play on the streets, nobody locks their doors, people walk in to pay their utility bills, bikes sit unlocked, and people go out of their way to make this place a friendly, safe, and an eccentric place. Denison university is in town and is the only college in the country to offer a degree in bluegrass fiddle!
The market master said I fit right in with this philosophy and they have named me the offical music maker for the market. This really touched me because I played just like I would play anywhere and little kids to old folks danced and smiled all day. I love this kind of gig. No pressure of any sort. I just get to be me. I am going to video one of these saturdays.
I also am the offical music maker for the NBC Columbus series called "Stories". Never in my wildest dreams would I think a major network would hire me on my terms. they tell me the theme of the show and I give them songs. It is that simple. I love doing business this way.
My parents are in failing health and that made me reflect on how lucky I am to still be able to hammer nails, cut trees, ride my bike, and basically be totally independent. These are good times and times to enjoy the gift of life.
Here is a link to my new studio. We just removed an old flat roof that sat under the newer peaked roof. I hope to have it all done by the end of the summer. It will have a full bath, central air/heat, and an area to do my artwork as well.
Walter
a photo journal of my studio construction
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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.
" life is a daring adventure or nothing at all" - helen keller
2,000 of my songs
continuous streaming - 200 most current songs
my videos
Last Edited by on Jun 24, 2010 10:38 AM
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LIP RIPPER
243 posts
Jun 24, 2010
10:53 AM
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Heavy duty!
I live in a Mayberry like town too. It's funny to see people from Ft. Lauderdale and Miami come here. It's like they can't lock the car door quick enough. And, when they drive through a neighborhood and people wave they don't know what to think.
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waltertore
688 posts
Jun 24, 2010
12:36 PM
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this is all new to us. Judy and I have spent all of our 30 years together in big cities and in the funky sides of town. I am loving the carefree safety that is here. 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.
" life is a daring adventure or nothing at all" - helen keller
2,000 of my songs
continuous streaming - 200 most current songs
my videos
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rharley5652
163 posts
Jun 24, 2010
3:34 PM
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I WANNA LIVE WHERE WALTER LIVES !!!!
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Simply Unique Kustom Mic's By Rharley
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waltertore
689 posts
Jun 24, 2010
4:08 PM
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rharley5652: Come on out. This is a great little village. My studio will be open to record people I like and who don't play loud. I am obbsessed with making recordings and enjoy recording other sounds than my own - all for free of course! 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.
" life is a daring adventure or nothing at all" - helen keller
2,000 of my songs
continuous streaming - 200 most current songs
my videos
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Hobostubs Ashlock
812 posts
Jun 24, 2010
4:24 PM
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thats cool Waltertore i havent heard from you glad your doing fine,Hey my grandpa;s cousin played bluegrass fiddle,His name was Jesse Ashlock he was the fiddle player for Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys,Any fiddle players around there at the market?I love a good fiddle player.
Last Edited by on Jun 24, 2010 4:25 PM
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waltertore
690 posts
Jun 24, 2010
6:07 PM
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Hobostubs: No fiddle players at the market. Just me. It is a good gig money wise too. I was deep in the heart of texas music in austin. Johnny Gimble was the fiddle man to have back then. 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.
" life is a daring adventure or nothing at all" - helen keller
2,000 of my songs
continuous streaming - 200 most current songs
my videos
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Hobostubs Ashlock
814 posts
Jun 24, 2010
6:12 PM
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I would love to check out Austin i have a good friend that just moved back after 15 years from down there he said it is the live music capital.I never got to meet Jessie except from what my grandpa told me and reading stories on the internet.ill have to check out Johnny Gimble's music
Last Edited by on Jun 24, 2010 6:14 PM
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waltertore
691 posts
Jun 24, 2010
6:20 PM
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It use to be a great music scene. Now it is more window dressing/tourist like Memphis and Nashville. Guys like me, that made up 90% of the austin scene are pretty much all gone now. It use to be dirt cheap to live there and there were over 150 clubs in town and 900 bands. Most of us played 5-10 times a week in town and were able to pay our rents with it. Now it is impossible to play the few remaining small clubs and pay your rent. It is now a tourist town for music lovers more than a musicians town. Our rent was $150 a month for a 2 bdrm house in town. When we left in 96 it was over a grand for the same house. that more than anything, killed the club scene (their rents rose equally as well). Like all the great music centers, it had its day, and it passed. the sad news is there doesn't seem to be any new meccas emerging. The feeeling in places that are hotbeds of music is indescribable. You have to experience it physically. the days of thousands of musicians migrating thousands of miles to places like NYC, SF, Austin, Chicago, Memphis, with no promises and just hopes, are over I fear. It is all net created now. That leaves me flat. Walter
here is a picture of me, my longtime bassist james"rock bottom" dupree, and my wife Judy (and our old caddy) from the austin heyday
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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.
" life is a daring adventure or nothing at all" - helen keller
2,000 of my songs
continuous streaming - 200 most current songs
my videos
Last Edited by on Jun 24, 2010 6:33 PM
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Hobostubs Ashlock
815 posts
Jun 24, 2010
6:57 PM
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yea he is a guitar player that lived on and off the streets down there,I asked him about busking cause i would like to try it,I said can you make enough to live he said HECK YA play, make some change, sleep in the park eat at the YMCA he made it sound cool actually by the way he talked.BUT
Last Edited by on Jun 24, 2010 6:58 PM
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waltertore
692 posts
Jun 24, 2010
7:04 PM
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you will be lucky to make 10 bucks for 4 hours of street playing in austin. that is a dead end for getting by in the usa in general. The fire ants, chiggers, scorpions, rattlesnakes (yes you find them right in town in the parkland by the creeks and river) and mosquitos will tear you up while you sleep. Plus it will be over 80 degrees and humid all night for 4-5 months of the year. Try the SF bay area. the shelters are more abundant and better food, no mosquitos, fire ants, and the weather nicer. You will have to deal with cold nights though if you sleep under the stars. texas summer heat (close to 6 months of the year), can kill you. Your friend must be use to living homeless. I did it for a very short while and it wore me out more than anything else I ever did in my life. 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.
" life is a daring adventure or nothing at all" - helen keller
2,000 of my songs
continuous streaming - 200 most current songs
my videos
Last Edited by on Jun 24, 2010 7:12 PM
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Hobostubs Ashlock
816 posts
Jun 24, 2010
7:10 PM
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yea he moved back here,he's staying at my brother's house for awhile,I mention going out and busking ,I live in a country town in Oklahoma,he says sure but i can tell by the look on his face that i must be crazy.He got him a real job the other day and he's just being nice when i talk about our busking adventure im dreaming up lol
Last Edited by on Jun 24, 2010 7:11 PM
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waltertore
693 posts
Jun 24, 2010
7:14 PM
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I say if this is your dream, start walking south. It is less than a day to austin if you pick up a ride. Life is too short to be sitting around dreaming about things when they can become reality if you just get the feet to moving. I have been putting my feet to walking for almost 40 years and each adventure takes me to a better place than I ever could dream about. 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.
" life is a daring adventure or nothing at all" - helen keller
2,000 of my songs
continuous streaming - 200 most current songs
my videos
Last Edited by on Jun 24, 2010 7:18 PM
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Hobostubs Ashlock
817 posts
Jun 24, 2010
7:29 PM
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yea that takes some stones,Im kinda sticking it around here for awhile,Im helping around the house with rebuilding it for my parents my Dads blind,And there's starting to get a nice music scene in talequae about 30 min away for Red dirt,music a friend of mine is running a nice bar in a college town and booking some good bands,theres some cool music fest, going on i know a few people in the circle there,There getting some press from a oklahoma music newspaper,about stuff and bands in the area,Its starting to be ok spot for music,Green country oklahoma,Im just working on my stuff trying to get it tight,Ive been working on the 1 man band thing,i have a try out for a spot to open for the last band i was in there looking for a acoustic act to open for them,they just did a 2 week tour in there RV they didnt make money but the broke even and had some fun,I got a hours worth of music worked out with harp and guitar,the stopbox is getting better but still could use more time,the harp im doing is just simple stuff but it fits my simple style lol
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Gwood420
212 posts
Jun 24, 2010
8:33 PM
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congrats walter!! thats awesome.. things are comming along well for you!!
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Marty we're no GOD
how i make a living
Facebook
MySpace
Last Edited by on Jun 24, 2010 8:36 PM
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captainbliss
229 posts
Jun 25, 2010
6:58 AM
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@waltertore:
Congratulations!
That's great news!
xxx
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MySpace | Facebook | Calendar | YouTube | London Harmonica Group | My Main Gig
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saregapadanisa
240 posts
Jun 25, 2010
7:04 AM
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Walter, you're a breeze of positive thinking on this forum...
I can only wish you all the best, but it looks like it's already happening to you :-)
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waltertore
694 posts
Jun 25, 2010
7:34 AM
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Gwood420- thanks! You will have to come down and check it out when it is done.
thanks captainbliss! Back in my happening days, I would have thought this gig a waste of time. I never realized all the good stuff I was missing trying to become an established name on the scene. Most club gigs stink on many levels. Power, egos, derranged people, drugs, etc, has made the 10-2 club scene of no interest anymore. The street has always been my best gig for pure musical freedom. the market has no traffic sounds to deal with, so playing totally acoustically sounds perfect. My delta frosts are plenty loud blowing them easy. I crimped the covers back to open them up more.
saregapadanisa: Thanks. The way I see it is if you are following your dreams most of your day will have lots of positive stuff in it. I live my life following my dreams. I get challenged to fear it, forget it, and shame it, till it goes in a corner nice and quiet. Fortunately those moods have yet to win out over the postive ones. Conversely, when you aren't following your dreams, lots of the day is seeped in negative energy. Unfortunately the net attracts a lot of guys that spout off like giants, but play their harps like midgets. 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.
" life is a daring adventure or nothing at all" - helen keller
2,000 of my songs
continuous streaming - 200 most current songs
my videos
Last Edited by on Jun 25, 2010 7:36 AM
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Honkin On Bobo
331 posts
Jun 25, 2010
7:37 AM
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"Unfortunately the net attracts a lot of guys that spout off like giants, but play their harps like midgets."
Walter
This is brilliance, I'm working on a lot less spouting off and a LOT better playing, Walter you will always remain.... The Man.
Last Edited by on Jun 25, 2010 7:40 AM
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waltertore
695 posts
Jun 25, 2010
7:42 AM
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you made me smile Honkin On Bobo! 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.
" life is a daring adventure or nothing at all" - helen keller
2,000 of my songs
continuous streaming - 200 most current songs
my videos
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Hobostubs Ashlock
827 posts
Jun 25, 2010
8:57 AM
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hey they all cant be Waltertore clones or the world have 1000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 of spontanious blues songs :-)Your like a preacher Walter,the words you say could be general but it feels like your talking to me:-) im like have i been spouting off lately,got Walter rilled up again,lol (I hope i dont get in trouble using the P word.)Hey is migets politcally corect i play my harp like a short person.:-)
Last Edited by on Jun 25, 2010 9:03 AM
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waltertore
696 posts
Jun 25, 2010
9:12 AM
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Hobostubs: My comment was in no way related to you. It is just an observation from reading really strong(expert like) posts and then actually watching a video of these people. I use to get quite excited with hoping to hear some new player that turned me on. Almost always I hear a poor to mediocre player that would be better off playing the harp instead of typing such posts.
I have been without my recording set up for the past 2 weeks - 7 year old computer died, my soundcard interface capacitors fried too. So I bought a new computer built specifically for recording, got the caps fixed on the interface, and then my samplitude recording software decides windows 7 is no good. So, I am waiting on the mail for a samplitude 11 package that works with windows 7. Then I will get back to making more music than typed words....... 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.
" life is a daring adventure or nothing at all" - helen keller
2,000 of my songs
continuous streaming - 200 most current songs
my videos
Last Edited by on Jun 25, 2010 9:17 AM
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Hobostubs Ashlock
828 posts
Jun 25, 2010
9:16 AM
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I know but you have that deep lecturing vibe that penetracts into a person and makes a person feel like the speaker is talking to him or her personaly,Just like a good Preacher or Teacher,or Insperational speaker.
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waltertore
697 posts
Jun 25, 2010
9:20 AM
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thanks! IMO a good performer/teacher/preacher/speaker needs that vibe. I also believe it is born to you or not. There are tons of great technical players out there that can put me to sleep better than xanx does and lots of simple players (many of us call them the greats of the blues) that never cease to excite me when I hear them. Put some technical together with the vibe and you got a smoking thing happening. 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.
" life is a daring adventure or nothing at all" - helen keller
2,000 of my songs
continuous streaming - 200 most current songs
my videos
Last Edited by on Jun 25, 2010 9:22 AM
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Hobostubs Ashlock
830 posts
Jun 25, 2010
9:27 AM
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I here ya Sonny Boy 2 is probelly my favorite harp player ive heard so far,and his stuff was so soul touching.But i havent even begun to hear all the greats yet,but so far His acoustic style.just does it for me
Last Edited by on Jun 25, 2010 9:28 AM
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Honkin On Bobo
332 posts
Jun 25, 2010
9:28 AM
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"It use to be a great music scene. Now it is more window dressing/tourist like Memphis and Nashville. Guys like me, that made up 90% of the austin scene are pretty much all gone now. It use to be dirt cheap to live there and there were over 150 clubs in town and 900 bands. Most of us played 5-10 times a week in town and were able to pay our rents with it. Now it is impossible to play the few remaining small clubs and pay your rent. It is now a tourist town for music lovers more than a musicians town. Our rent was $150 a month for a 2 bdrm house in town. When we left in 96 it was over a grand for the same house. that more than anything, killed the club scene (their rents rose equally as well). Like all the great music centers, it had its day, and it passed. the sad news is there doesn't seem to be any new meccas emerging. The feeeling in places that are hotbeds of music is indescribable. You have to experience it physically. the days of thousands of musicians migrating thousands of miles to places like NYC, SF, Austin, Chicago, Memphis, with no promises and just hopes, are over I fear. It is all net created now. That leaves me flat."
-Waltertore
Walter you are a true American Icon.... an American Original, the kind more people should know about.
Someone needs to tell your story (on your terms, of course). On film or in print (book)...or both. I wish I was a talented enough guy to be the one. I was looking at the picture of you, your wife and your bass player with the caddie; and what you wrote about Austin. I was moved just by that. I know the telling of your story would be fascinating.
I've got a friend who has got some screenwriting credits, but he's not the right guy either. He's not passionate about music, though he is fascinated by the human condition. I think the guy who does it has to be an auteur and a music nut. But he's got to let you tell it your way. It would be a tough assignment, but I'm convinced if told right it would be awesome. Hell, the soundtrack alone would be awesome.
Alright, time to stop spouting and start practicing, congrats on your studio in progress and the position you are in.
HOB
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"Unfortunately the net attracts a lot of guys that spout off like giants, but play their harps like midgets."
-Waltertore
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Hobostubs Ashlock
831 posts
Jun 25, 2010
9:32 AM
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Walter did you ever meet SRV he was the greatest,I remember the day i heard on the radio he was killed sad day.
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waltertore
699 posts
Jun 25, 2010
9:46 AM
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many times. He invited Judy and me to his last austin city limits show(you can see us in the front row). He was clean and sober, played quiet, and was great. Sadly he died shortly after that. I was out of money and working at the upper crust bakery in austin (making cakes) when the radio announced he died in a crash. they played tick tock and I will never forget that moment. Austin stopped dead in its tracks that day and night.
When I hit austin I had a guitar that fed back when turned up too loud - this one with louisiana red playing it:
I also had a funky kustom solid state amp. My first gig in austin Will and Charlie sexton came in and sat in. they took me right in the scene. They connected me with this guitar- a 1963 jazzmaster that lonnie mack gave to SRV when they recorded their album together. Lonnie used it alot back in the mid 60's. Stevie never took to it and it kind of floated around austin and once I got it, everyone agreed that it fit me, so I was told to keep it. When Stevie died I called Lonnie and asked if he wanted it back. He said no and heard I was doing good things with it and to keep it. He sent me a cool picture of him in a tux, greased back hair and holding that guitar. I lost the dam picture in one of our moves. Walter
the guitar in action in an after hours jam at the hotlicks bluesfestival 2008
here is Gwen Davis with it. She loves that guitar. she is one my students at newark high school. She is an autistic savant that writes cool songs and I back her up in my studio and live gigs.
here is a link to her songs. I back her up on drums and guitar and overdub the other stuff later. Patti Sterling, who mentored under Sara Vaughn, and is a good friend of mine, is wanting to do a duet album with Gwen.
gwen davis sings
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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.
" life is a daring adventure or nothing at all" - helen keller
2,000 of my songs
continuous streaming - 200 most current songs
my videos
Last Edited by on Jun 25, 2010 9:50 AM
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Hobostubs Ashlock
833 posts
Jun 25, 2010
10:01 AM
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Ive heard one of her songs a while back,I kind of feel guilty when i listened because,her music was pure done for no other reason but to do it. we all could learn something from her,In a way,I dont know what Autism is,I need to look it up,After my brain surgery I had to relearn my songs and i had to work on being able to speak again,I still cant sing:-)But i got a second chance that some people never get in life.It makes me happy to think about some of the things that you do to help teach people with disabilities,You have a good heart.
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waltertore
702 posts
Jun 25, 2010
10:13 AM
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thanks Hobostubs! Gwen is an ongoing inspiration to be just what is in you. I learn from her all the time about this. You are a lucky man to have a second chance. Gwen is like a person locked inside a glass room. She can see everything but can't get out. Watch the movie "the rainman". Dustin Hoffman did a great job portraying an autistic savant. Gwen is very similar to his character. One of her coolest poems is titled - going through life on the sideways. I feel blessed to have been guided this way with my life. 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.
" life is a daring adventure or nothing at all" - helen keller
2,000 of my songs
continuous streaming - 200 most current songs
my videos
Last Edited by on Jun 25, 2010 10:14 AM
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Hobostubs Ashlock
836 posts
Jun 25, 2010
10:24 AM
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they have a benfit for Autism comming up this month here around my home town,,some friends of mine have a big jam i didnt make it last year,But i need to check it out this year.
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bigd
171 posts
Jun 25, 2010
10:31 PM
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Congratulations Walter on having your verve honored! My best. d
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Myspace: dennis moriarty
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waltertore
707 posts
Jun 26, 2010
7:48 PM
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thanks Dennis and the same to you with your recent playing situations! 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.
" life is a daring adventure or nothing at all" - helen keller
2,000 of my songs
continuous streaming - 200 most current songs
my videos
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apskarp
218 posts
Jun 27, 2010
11:38 AM
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Congrats Walter!
It seems to me that you have found ways and surroundings to be yourself instead of just adjusting to the environment.. :)
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