EASY REEDING

EASY REEDING
SUMMER 2015
HOHNER’S MAGAZINE FOR THE HARMONICA ENTHUSIAST
HOHNER MOVES TO
MUSIC CITY USA
ARTIST SPOTLIGHT
ADAM GUSSOW
IN THE STUDIO WITH
TIM GONZALEZ
TECH NOTES
IS THE SPECIAL 20
DIFFERENT THAN
IT USED TO BE?
HOHNER UPS THE ANTE
WITH A NEW HARP
GUARANTEE
Contents
HOHNER News
NEWS
Lifetime Achievement Award Winner Buddy Wakefield
For decades Buddy
has merged his
love for playing
music and helping people. His
enormous heart
has benefited a
long list of notable
charities and set
forth an educational
program
of his own, “Tuning for Better Breathing.”
To commemorate the occasion Buddy was
joined by his friends and family on Saturday,
June 13 in Newport News, VA, where he was
presented the award in a surprise ceremony
organized by Harmonica Plus Treasurer Terry
Martin.
This award exemplifies the visionary leaps
and risks that few musicians make in their
career in order to fully express their art,
ideas, passion and aspirations. Buddy’s passionate dedication to the instrument of harmonica has helped revitalize the sick, mend
the wounded and reinvigorate the soul.
Buddy has a playing and teaching style that
is unmatched. His praises can still be heard
from the thousands he has helped around
the world. No matter how subtle the technique, there’s an indefinable quality to Buddy’s approach to the instrument and to way
he teaches it.
HOHNER News
2
Artist Spotlight
3
Tech Notes
4
Our CD Pick
4
In The Studio
4
HOHNER Ups The Ante
5
Greetings from Nashville
7
HOHNER Gives Back
8
Adam Gussow
Is The Special 20 Different?
Memphis Grease By John Nemeth
With Tim Gonzalez
With An Unprecedented New Warranty
HOHNER Moves To Music City
Stories From Around The World
15
A Tribute to Brooke Hester
A One Of A Kind Girl
HOHNER Introduces the Tagged Series
Hohner announces the launch of the new Red
Dragon and White Cobra Tagged Harmonicas.
Hohner’s newest harmonicas look strikingly
different featuring brightly colored combs and
patterns that were inspired by street art and
skateboard decks.
White Cobra Tagged Harmonicas are available in the Key of C, G and A.
Visit
“Get ready for some harmonicas with attitude,” stated Product Manager Drew Lewis.
These new Tagged harps will inspire the musical development of a new generation of
harmonica players. The Red Dragon and the
You and your harmonica in the most unusual location!
enjoy music. everywhere.
you have to do is follow these steps:
1.Take a picture or video on Instagram, with you
playing your harmonica in the most unusual
location you can think of, somewhere people
wouldn’t really expect it.
2.Then just add this hashtag...
You and your harmonica, Be it on a backpack trip
through Asia, on your vacation in the Caribbean, or
in the middle of a desert. In fact, the more unusual
the location, the better! We’re giving away 1000
Euros for the best photo and the best video. All
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ed!
S tay Connect
#EnjoyMusicEverywhere
and tag HOHNER Music (playhohner).
For a video, just put @playhohner
in the description.
3.Post it!
A five-person jury will evaluate submissions and
pick two winners. The contest runs from June 1st
to November 30th, 2015.
facebook.com/HohnerMusic
instagram.com/PlayHohner
youtube.com/HohnerUSA
twitter.com/PlayHohner
gplus.to/PlayHohner
A
dam Gussow, a man of many talents,
renowned blues harmonica player, and
Associate Professor in English and Southern
Studies at the University of Mississippi. You
may recognize him as he is the founder of
one of the world’s largest harmonica forums;
it may however be surprising to learn that
his entrance to the world stage started while
busking on a street corner in Harlem with
Mississippi-born guitarist and one-man-band,
Sterling “Mr. Satan” Magee. The duo blended
blues and soul with a unique raw intensity and
inevitably began touring the world as “Satan
and Adam.” This unique collaboration is the
focus of a documentary by the same name
from Director/Producer V. Scott Balcerek and
Co-Producer JR Mitchell that was filmed over
the course of an amazing and incredible 20
years. We caught up with Adam and the production team to ask about the project.
What prompted you to start filming this
documentary 20 years ago?
V.S. I was a musician who was also very interested in film and during the editing of a
before my eyes. There was all this stuff going
on behind their amazing groove, the difference
in age and race, let alone their names! At the
time, I just saw it as a modern day allegorical
film that told the story of American Blues music. Nothing more.
Soon after, I was accepted into the American
Film Institute in Los Angeles. Super broke and
crashing on couches, I started applying for
grants for Satan and Adam, and based on the
success of the street singer film, I was able to
secure enough of a budget to start shooting.
That was 1995.
short documentary about a street singer in
Pittsburgh PA, I was invited to see Satan and
Adam perform at a club. In short, I was blown
away that two seemingly disparate souls could
make such a convincing and unified sound.
They felt like a grand statement to me, like:
here-is-what-American-music-is, defined, right
The film looks to be more than a simple
chronological account of Satan and Adams
music. How would you characterize the story?
V.S. I never wanted to make a topical Blues
documentary that posited how Satan and
Adam are part of the long history of the Blues.
continued on page 6
3
Tech Notes
In The Studio
Is The Special 20
Different Than It
Used To Be?
with Tim Gonzalez
Yes and no.
I
t is true changes were recently made to the
Special 20. But do these changes make a
difference?
After about 40 years of being a member of
the Marine Band family, Special 20 is now recategorized as a Progressive series harmonica.
The move makes sense. Marine Band harmonicas are characterized by traditional design;
wood bodies sandwiched between two reed
plates and vented cover plates. Progressive
harmonicas, like the Special 20, have plastic
bodies and contemporary designs. Other
Progressive models include the Golden Melody
and Rocket.
Updated Special 20 cover plates indicate this
change. We removed the Marine Band stamping and added a new Progressive logo. The
shape of the covers remains the same.
continued on page 10
H
Our CD Pick
“Memphis Grease” – John Nemeth
“
Memphis Grease, the fifth studio solo album
released by Harmonica genius, John Nemeth,
made an impressive introduction on the Billboard
Blues Charts debuting at #4. Not terrible for an
album recorded in a mere 3 days with the best
state-of-the-art gear the
1970’s had to offer. Recorded in Memphis at
Electraphonic Recording
all live to an 8-track 1″
Scully tape machine it’s
easy to feel the analog
authenticity in the recording and fluid emotions of the songwriting.
With a set of Hohner
Marine Bands and Special 20s right out the box
along with a splash of
Super 64 Chromonica to work with, John displays
a depth and maturity in his technique that eludes
all but the masters of the instrument. Capturing
his tone was an Astatic bullet microphone into
a 1970 Earth Sound Research Pa with a Kustom
4x12 cabinet.
The magic ingredient in this soul dish is Memphis veteran entertainers, The Bo-Keys, having a
well-deserved reputation for being historic studio
musicians are the beating heart of Memphis soul
and R&B music scene. With drummer Howard
Grimes, guitarist Joe Restivo, Al Gamble on keyboards, producer Scott Bomar on bass, venerable
soul vocalist Percy Wiggins singing background,
and a monster horn
section featuring Marc
Franklin, Kirk Smothers, and Art Edmaisten
along with bonus background vocals of Susan
Marshall, Reba Russell,
and Christopher, Calvin,
and Courtney Barnes,
it’s a collaboration that
sounds absolutely effortless.
Want further proof that John Nemeth plays the
truth? John was nominated for six 2015 Blues
Music Awards and solidified a win by taking home
the award for Best Soul Blues Album for Memphis
Grease. An absolute must have in your collection
available on vinyl, cd and digital download. Congratulations John! www.johnnemeth.com
ere we are just outside of Nashville,
Tennessee, at the new home of Hohner,
KHS America. We’re recording in the large
recital hall on one end of a long conference
table lounged in a pair of plush leather executive chairs, surrounded by a feast of sparkly
new saxophones, trombones, a colossal sousaphone, drum sets, accordions and an industrial sized majestic marimba. My guest sitting
adjacent to me is one of the pioneers of Latin
harmonica music, Tim Gonzalez. He shares
“
I dedicated and
redirected my style
to play Latin music
which was a thrill for
me to try and learn
how to do this.
his path to blowing harp and what inspired
him to decipher the rhythmic code of Latin accordion music and create his signature sultry
sound on the harmonica.
ER: Thanks so much for coming down to the
offices here at KHS America and being our
first Nashville harmonica player interview.
Let’s get right to it. Fill in this blank for me.
Without music I would be _______?
continued on page 11
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HOHNER
Ups the Ante
Hohner’s updated harmonica warranty is a sure
bet to make our players happy.
W
was impossible to prevent a customer from inadvertently purchasing a
used harmonica” stated Drew Lewis, Harmonica Product Manager at
KHS Music. “This was one of the main reasons we developed our new
packaging. We can now guaranty that you are receiving a harmonica
that is factory fresh. Be sure the harmonica you purchase is in a factory
sealed box.”
The full updated warranty is as follows:
Hohner Diatonic 14 Day Replacement and 90 Day Harmonica Warranty
Hohner harmonicas and melodicas are warranted to be free from
manufacturing defects and properly tuned at the time of purchase. Any
instrument found to contain manufacturing defects or other noticeable imperfections will be, at Hohner’s option, replaced at no charge
provided the harmonica is returned to the place of purchase within 14
days of the original purchase date.
e have all felt the sting of disappointment; that one
thing that kept us from enjoying our latest and greatest
acquisition to its fullest. Perhaps it was the time that the
barista gave you decaf, or after getting a brand new $300 smartphone
you find it won’t make a phone call, or the first time out in your brand
new car it decided to shut off two blocks from the dealership. Internally
Concurrently the instrument will be, at Hohner’s option repaired or
you realize that this is probably a fluke.
replaced provided the harmonica
Your personal experience is not what
is shipped to the Hohner Service
Any instrument found to contain
you expected from this brand that you
Center within 90 days of the original
manufacturing defects or other
emotionally and financially invested
purchase. Proof of purchase and
in; so…back to the retailer you go
service form downloaded from www.
noticeable imperfections will be, at
to plead your case and request some
Hohner’s option, replaced at no charge us.playhohner/warranty is required.
recompense. You simply want to have
This warranty excludes all consethe item purchased to be, as promised,
provided the harmonica is returned to quential damages. It does not cover
fully functioning.
the place of purchase within 14 days of damages resulting from accident,
In today’s age we expect to be
misuse, normal wear and tear or tamthe original purchase date.
met with a hearty apology and an
pering. Some states do not allow the
immediate resolution to our issues.
exclusion or limitation of incidental or
We purchased the product, we tried the product and it did not meet
consequential damages, so the above limitation or exclusion may not
expectations. We returned the product expecting to receive another and
apply to you. This warranty gives you specific legal rights. You may also
go on our merry way. More often than not this is the way of things. We
have other rights which vary from state to state.
receive absolution and put this unpleasantness behind us. After all, we
Hohner Chromatic, Tremolo, Octave and Orchestral 6
all make mistakes at one time or another. We are imperfect beings in an
Month Harmonica Warranty
imperfect world. However, while everyone makes mistakes, it’s what you
do after your mistake that counts.
Hohner Chromatic, Tremolo, Octave and Orchestral Harmonicas are
“
Believe us when we say, “We read you loud and clear!”
We have touted often over the years that less than half of 1% of all
harmonicas sold are truly defective. However, this means very little if
you are that unfortunate artist who received one of those “1%” and
need it to perform that evening. For many years if you had a harmonica
that had a manufacturing defect out of the box you had to send it to
the Hohner Service Center to be repaired, a process that would take a
week at-minimum with transit times.
Our service technicians would diagnose the issues of the proclaimed
defective instruments. It should be noted that a very large percentage
of these “defective instruments” were often not operating due to user
inexperience, including incorrect embouchure (#2 hole draw on lower
key harmonicas being the most common. For a full list of common
issues please visit http://us.playhohner.com/service/hohner-service/).
However interesting this fact is, it does not exclude, it does not exclude
the fact that some harmonicas can have manufacturing defects and
waiting a week for a replacement is unacceptable.
To correct this, starting in September of 2015 we are putting our
proverbial “money where our mouth is!” Hohner is updating its US
and Canadian Warranty to meet the needs of today’s player! You may
ask the question “why now?” The answer is surprisingly simple. “It
warranted to be free from manufacturing defects and properly tuned at
the time of purchase. Any instrument found to contain manufacturing
defects or other noticeable imperfections will be, at Hohner’s option,
repaired or replaced at no charge, providing the harmonica is shipped
to the Hohner Service Center within 6 months of purchase. Proof of
purchase and service form downloaded from
www.us.playhohner/warranty is required.
Authorized dealers and consumers should contact Hohner for instructions before returning instruments for warranty service. Hohner will be
the sole judge as to cause of damage or defects and be responsible for
repair. The repair of an instrument shall constitute a settlement in full of
all claims for damages and shall operate as a release of such claims for
damages arising out of the warranty by both the buyer and Hohner.
This warranty excludes all consequential damages. It does not cover
damages resulting from accident, misuse, normal wear and tear or
tampering. Some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages, so the above limitation or exclusion
may not apply to you. This warranty gives you specific legal rights. You
may also have other rights which vary from state to state.
5
Q
Coming to a city near you in 2016!R
Visit HohnerUSA.com for more information
on the power of music to remind us of who we
are and what we can become.
How long had you been playing when
you first jumped in with Mr. Satan?
Continued from page 3
I was more interested in who they became
as people as they pursued the Blues life. By
shooting over a 20 year period, which was a
bit of a risk, I was lucky to be able to capture
a story arc that hopefully allows the audience
to relate to them with a level of intimacy that
you don’t necessarily get with more traditional
approaches to music documentaries.
With the amount of time that has gone by,
some have told me that maybe I’m making
the “Boyhood” of the genre. Not sure what
to say about that, but with all the talk about
that film, the fleetingness of the times we live
in, race issues again rising to the fore, and the
increased sense of general inequality in the
world, my hope is that this seemingly small
story will shine a big, bright and timely light
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AG: I started playing in the fall of 1974. I first
jammed with Mr. Satan in October of 1986. So
I guess that’s 12 years. I had just met my own
harmonica teacher, the late Nat Riddles, in the
summer of 1985--the summer before. I’d followed him around all summer, then became a
solo player on the streets of NYC in September.
I quickly hooked up with a guitarist named Bill
Taft and we busked NYC all fall. In February,
after he’d left town, I hooked up with another
guitarist, Bill Collins, and we played in NYC all
spring. I then flew to Paris that summer, where
I spent two months busking in Europe. By the
time I met Satan, I was ready for him!
I saw in the teaser that you quit your
job to “be you”. What job did you quit
to start playing full time?
AG: When I first jammed with Satan, I had
a part-time job tutoring writing at Hostos
Community College in the South Bronx. After
playing with him for a few weeks, I realized
I could make better money playing with him
on the street than tutoring writing. So I quit
the tutoring job. But I was never a fulltime
busker with Satan. I came down to play with
Continued on page 13
It’s called “Music City”…and it doesn’t take long to realize why.
A
s you arrive into Nashville International
Airport, just past the security check,
you’ll find a young guitar player with a rack
around his neck belting out a tune and performing for the coming and going travelers. For
visitors, it’s the first sign of the unique character
of the city to which they’ve come. For those
who live there, it’s the sound of homecoming.
Although the Hohner brand has had its share
of homes for its U.S operation, this latest move
to Nashville due to the Hohner Inc. acquisition
by KHS America, Inc. just feels right. What better home city could there be for such an iconic
musical instrument brand?
THE STORY OF MUSIC CITY
From its very beginnings, Nashville grew from
a foundation built on music. Music has been
the common thread connecting the life and
soul of the city and its people. And visitors have
ventured here to experience the music that
weaves such a fundamental pattern in its cultural, business and social fabric. Once you have
finished reading about Nashville’s rich history
(generously written and provided by The Nashville Convention and Visitors Corp.), you’ll be
enticed to come and experience it for yourself.
We suggest visiting www.visitmusiccity.com for
a complete guide to Music City’s historical attractions and museums.
THE BEGINNING
Nashville’s earliest settlers celebrated in the late
1700s with fiddle tunes and buck dancing after
act was by the Fisk Jubilee Singers from Nashville’s Fisk University. Their efforts helped fund
the school’s mission of educating freed slaves
after the Civil War – and also put Nashville on
safely disembarking on the shores of the Cumberland River, a spot now commemorated on
First Avenue North with a replica of the original
Fort Nashborough. Nashville’s first “celebrity,”
the noted frontiersman and Congressman Davy
Crockett was known far and wide for his colorful stories and fiddle playing.
THE NAME “MUSIC CITY
As the 1800s unfolded, Nashville grew to become a national center for music publishing.
The first around-the-world tour by a musical
the map as a global music center. In fact, upon
playing for the Queen of England, the queen
stated the Fisk Jubilee Singers must come from
a “Musical City.” In 1925, the establishment of
radio station WSM and its launch of the broadcast that would be called the Grand Ole Opry
further secured Nashville’s reputation as a musical center and sparked its durable nickname
of “Music City U.S.A.” during a live broadcast
in 1950 by WSM-AM announcer David Cobb.
Continued on page 9
7
T
HOHNER Gives Back
he story of HOHNER is written by the people who play our instruments. Throughout it’s history, the HOHNER company has strived to
make music accessible to everyone, especially those in need. Each and every one of us at HOHNER is proud to take part in this legacy
of giving back and saying thank you. This year we are happy to continue that tradition by sharing the joy of making music with many more
people around the world. Here are a few of their stories...
Harmonikids Goes to Houston, TX
On May 21, 2015 Hohner sponsored Harmonikids sessions came to two facilities in Houston,
Texas. The first was coordinated by the Hous-
port. In the world’s most desperate and dangerous place Harmonikids successfully brought the
healing joy of music and hope. It was an inspiring experience I’ll never forget.
songs. It was a successful and joyous event that
the children will never forget.
HOHNER Supports help2kids Project
On March 15, 2015 a Hohner sponsored Harmonikids session went to Big Brothers Big Sisters in Kamloops, BC. In the session 20 participants were entertained then gifted harmonicas
and taught to play four songs. It was a rousing
success and the kids were very enthusiastic and
proud of their newly discovered musical ability.
Help2kids is a young, dynamic non profit organisation that supports children in Tanzania and
Malawi and gives them a sustainable future. To
the delight of the children HOHNER has sent a care
package with different instruments to help2kids.
Harmonikids For Big Brothers Big Sisters
Harmonikids At Phoenix Children’s
Hospital
ton Blues Society and provided educational
outreach to 50 schoolchildren in an economically challenged area of the city. Many of these
participants are recent refugees from Africa. The
second session was to a dozen patients and
family members at the Texas Childrens Hospital.
In each case the participants were entertained
then gifted harmonicas and taught to play four
songs. Both sessions were rousing successes
leaving the kids very enthusiastic and proud of
their newly discovered musical ability.
Harmonikids In West Texas
A Hohner-sponsored Harmonikids session
brought joy to dozens of Burmese refugee children in Houston Texas. Many of the children
did not speak English - and none of them had
ever seen or heard a harmonica. Nevertheless,
all of the children giggled with excitement as
In 2015 a Hohner sponsored Harmonikids session came to the Phoenix Children’s Hospital’s
“Zone” facility bringing healing joy to over a
dozen child patients, members of their families,
and hospital staff. It was a fun and cheerful
session starting with a concert in which Gary
Allegretto played and the children sang along.
Harmonicas for Haiti - 5 Years Ago
Exactly five years ago this week the Harmonikids relief mission came to Port Au Prince, Haiti
to reach 1,000 child survivors of the earthquake
disaster - many who were also child slaves.
Hohner generously donated the harmonicas
and the Restavek Freedom Foundation generously provided the logistical and ground sup-
HOHNER endorsee Gary Allegretto put on a harmonica concert for them followed by a lesson
on their Hohner-donated harmonicas.
Thrilled and eager to learn, they intently followed along and swiftly learned to play the
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Afterwards all attendees were amazed at the
speed and accuracy in which they learned to
play four songs on their new Hohner-donated
instruments. Although photography of all the
kids smiling faces that day was not permitted
in the facility for legal reasons, please see the
happy “harmonica-hearts” that children displayed to show their love for their new-found
talent at the end of the uplifting session on
the day before Valentine’s Day. Yep, that pretty
much says it all!
Greetings From
Black Eyed Peas, Bon Jovi,
and Michael Buble, among
many others, have come to
Music City to write and record. Names like Kings of
Leon, The Black Keys, Michael McDonald, Keb’ Mo’,
Sheryl Crow, Paramore, Hot
Chelle Rae, and Jack White
have chosen to call Nashville home.
NASHVILLE
Continued from page 7
MADE FOR MUSIC
Constructed in the 1890s as a Gospel tabernacle, the Ryman Auditorium has been at the
center of the Nashville music scene from day
1 and is commonly referred to as “The Mother
Church of Country Music”, “The Birthplace of
Bluegrass”, and “Carnegie Hall of the South”
thanks to its unrivaled acoustic qualities. In
addition to being the downtown home of the
Grand Ole Opry from 1943 to 1974, the Ryman
has been a world-favorite venue for many of
the most well-known musicians and performers
in history. It has received Pollstar magazine’s
prestigious “Theater of the Year” multiple times
as the best auditorium in the nation to experience live music.
Named in honor of the late Maestro Kenneth
Schermerhorn, who led the GRAMMY Awardwinning Nashville Symphony for 22 years,
Schermerhorn Symphony Center is home of
the Nashville Symphony. Located in downtown
Nashville’s SoBro neighborhood, across from
the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum,
the buidling hosts a wide range of musical
events, including classical, pops, jazz, and world
music. The building’s design was inspired by
some of the world’s great concert halls, many
of which were built in Europe in the late 19th
century. The building’s main venue, the 1,844seat Laura Turner Concert Hall, is one of the few
halls nationwide to feature natural interior light
Nashville is home to United
Record Pressing, North
through 30 special soundproof windows. The
America’s
largest
volume
producing vinyl redesign of Laura Turner Concert Hall provides
cord
plant.
Opened
in
1949,
United Record
vivid acoustical clarity, warmth and reverberaPressing
has
pressed
vinyl
records
for everyone
tion specifically catering to the sound of natural
from
Miles
Davis,
Bob
Dylan,
and
The Beatles
instruments. An automated system of movable
to
Beyonce,
Justin
Timberlake,
and
Ludacris.
banners and panels located around the hall can
The
Schermerhorn
Symphony
Center,
home
to
adjust the acoustics to accommodate a variety
the
renowned,
Grammy
award-winning
Nashof musical genres.
ville Symphony, anchors the downtown end of
HOW THE LEGACY CONTINUES
the recently designated Music Mile. The Music
Nashville has also long been known as the Mile is a symbolic stretch of roadway connect“Songwriting Capital of the World.” Songwrit- ing the $123 million Symphony Center with the
ers from all over the world come to Music City music district of Music Row, the vibrant new
to learn the art and share their passion of song- entertainment venues on Demonbreun Street,
writing. The famous Bluebird Cafe showcases the Frist Center for the Visual Arts, the Country
songwriters performing their original music in Music Hall of Fame and Museum, the Music City
an intimate “in the round” setting that was cre- Walk of Fame and the Bridgestone Arena. The
ated in Nashville
Music Mile perfectly
and allows them to
illustrates how the
We know that the harmonshare the stories of
music of Music City
inspiration behind
is indeed a common
ica is synonymous with
their songs. Nashthread throughout the
Blues and Jazz music and
ville Songwriters
business, cultural and
Association Interentertainment sectors
we’ll always pay homage
national,
NSAI,
of Nashville.
to that.”
which fosters the
Live music can be
art of songwriting
– Mike Robinson , VP of
seen and heard every
and works to proMarketing for KHS America
day and night of the
tect artists’ rights,
week in Nashville. The
is headquartered
world-famous honky
here. The annual Tin Pan South Songwriters Fes- tonks, located on Broadway, offer free live music
tival puts these songwriters somewhere they’re 365 days a year. And with more than 130 music
not use to being, in the spotlight. Over the venues around town ranging from large arenas
course of five days, more than 300 songwriters and concert halls to small clubs and featuring
perform at venues around town.
nearly every genre of music, it’s easy to see why
“
In recent years, cable television has broadcast
Music City’s stars and music to the world. CMT
and GAC have taken country music to a new
level of acclaim and recognition. The gospel music series hosted by Nashville’s Bobby Jones on
Black Entertainment Television is now cable’s
longest-running program.
Nashville has also become a hub for pop, rock,
bluegrass, Americana, jazz, classical, contemporary Christian, blues, and soul music. Rolling
Stone recently gave Nashville the title of “Best
Music Scene.” Artists like Robert Plant, Kid Rock,
this is the city that “music calls home.”What
city could better serve as the Hohner brand’s
new home?
SO WHO IS KHS AMERICA?
Although the average musician wouldn’t recognize their name, their brands are familiar to
many. Based in the Nashville area, KHS America
is the U.S. subsidiary of KHS Musical Instrument Co. Ltd., a family-run musical instrument
manufacturing company based in Taiwan that
Continued on page 10
9
Additionally, Special 20 reed plates have been slightly altered
Is The Special 20 Different Than It Used To Be?
to accommodate their use in the Rocket, HOHNER’s newest 10hole Progressive harmonica. The plates are identical except for
the additional cover plate screw holes on each side needed to
accommodate both models.
Continued from page 4
Original and Progressive Plates; Back View
Original Special 20 Plates
New Special 20/Rocket Plates
The Rocket design includes two cover plate screws on each side,
while the Special 20 employs only one center screw per side.
New Special 20 harmonica cover plates with Progressive logo
These new modified reed plates will fit both Marine Band
and Progressive versions of the Special 20 as well as the new
Rocket. The only catch is the new modified Special 20/Rocket
plates use a different size screw, available from the HOHNER
Parts & Service Center.
Neither of these minor alterations to the cover and reed plates
affect the sound of the Special 20 in any way. Nor has the feel
changed. The Special 20 is HOHNER’s most popular 10-hole
harmonica. Why mess with success?
Special 20 cover plates side by side comparison, Marine Band and Progressive
NASHVILLE “
Greetings From
Continued from page 9
has built a number of rising-start instrument
brands such as: Mapex Drums, Jupiter Band
Instruments, Hercules and Nomad Stands,
XO Professional Brass, Majestic Concert Percussion, Altus and Azumi Flutes, and NFUZD
Audio. To give you a little insight into the
people behind these brands, it’s probably
best to start with the meaning of the letters
“KHS”. They stand for KONG HSUE SHEH,
which when translated, means “Contribution
to School and Society”. The people inside the
organization, both in Taiwan and the U.S.A,
10
| EASY REEDING
Both the new reed plates (RP2013) and the screws (TM99200)
are available from the HOHNER Parts & Service Center by calling
800-446-6010 or visiting us online at hohnershop.com.
the team at KHS has
made it clear that they’ll
stand behind and support
the mission of SPAH
and they’ll be working to
elevate the stature of the
instrument in the modern musical landscape. ”
take that responsibility seriously. They believe
that music is an essential part of life for every
individual and that it provides a positive contribution to society as a whole. To the people
at KHS…harmonicas, accordions, band in-
struments, and drums are not just products
to manufacture and sell. They are the tools
of art, which communicate emotion, connect
people, and enrich the human experience.
They feel this because they are mostly musicians themselves.
As for the harmonica in particular, the team
at KHS has made it clear that they’ll stand
behind and support the mission of SPAH and
they’ll be working to elevate the stature of the
instrument in the modern musical landscape.
“We know that the harmonica is synonymous
with Blues and Jazz music and we’ll always
pay homage to that”, states Mike Robinson,
VP of Marketing for KHS America. “But we
also recognize that the art form of harmonica
playing is seeing light in the strong folk and
country influence found in much of today’s
popular music and we’re going to support
that activity as well. We want to show how
it’s being used to texture today’s music in truly
innovative ways.
KHS will be working closely with the team
at HOHNER Musikinstrumente GmbH & Co.
KG. (HMI) in Trossingen, Germany. For those
concerned that KHS America’s acquisition of
Hohner Inc. marks the migration of harmonica
production to Asia, you can rest easy. According to both KHS and HMI, harmonicas that
have been made in Germany will continue to
be made there.
“Hohner harmonicas have been produced in
Trossingen Germany since 1857” commented
Richard Weiss, International Product Manager
for Harmonicas. “Hohner will continue to produce our iconic models in Trossingen to the
exacting standards our customers demand.
The people in this facility will continue to innovate and improve our harmonicas’ performance to provide you with the finest instruments in the world.”
“The merger of Hohner Inc. with KHS America
is a very important step for further growth
and development of the HOHNER brand
in North America. Over the past decades,
Hohner Inc. has done a tremendous job and
“
Hohner will continue to
produce our iconic models
in Trossingen to the exacting standards our customers demand. ”
– Richard Weiss , International Product
Manager for Harmonicas
deserves much credit for the overall success
of HOHNER worldwide.”, states Stefan Altoff,
Managing Director of HOHNER Musikinstrumente GmbH & Co.. “With the resources
and the network of KHS America, we are
feel and some tropical feel, but they are new
songs that really speak about how I perform
and who I am with the harmonica.
with Tim Gonzalez
Continued from page 4
Tim: *Laughs* I would be lost, probably in jail
and doing something that I don’t love.
ER: How did you start playing and when did you
turn professional?
ER: You’re one of the co-founders of Harp Heaven; tell me what it’s all about. How it all came
together?
Tim: Ok, John Haring, he does this show. Him
and Andy Ellis, called The Guitar Show, here in
Nashville and I would go to The Commodore
where he had a jam going on. One night, I saw
there was like 50 guitar players there and I said
“You know, the harmonica needs to be up front
sometimes too, so I told him, you know what
about if we did a harmonica show and we called
it Harp Heaven!?” So what it is, is a collection
of different harmonica players regionally, and
locally that we bring together so we can play
all kinds of genres of harmonica music all night
long, so the listener won’t get tired of hearing
the same old music over and over again.
Tim: I started playing at 13. Just a quick story; a
friend of my brother, we were out on a bay fishing and I was kind of lazy as a kid, didn’t want to
help or do anything. He was a harmonica player
and a saxophone player. His name was Gilbert
Vela and when I got on the dock he reached
into his pocket and put this harmonica right in
my face and said “If you start playing this harmonica you’ll lose that
I took some time and
gut you got there. Don’t
be lazy; all you got to do
studied the Latin beats
is blow in and out.” So
and the African beats and
that was how I starting
playing, I took that harput my style of harmonica
monica at 13 and then
right in the middle of it
years later, about 18, I
started as a professional.
“
and it worked!
ER: How would you describe your sound and music for the public audience if they have never heard you before?
Tim: Well let’s go down to Louisiana and get
some gumbo! Actually, you know, I listened to
so much music growing up, it’s got inflections
of jazz, blues, R&B, and soul but mostly Latin is
where my style is. Yes, I like to intermix all those
styles into one.
ER: You say Louisiana, Talk to me about Harp
Gumbo.
Tim: Harp Gumbo! This is a collection of new
songs I wrote that are mainly Latin based but
there is some other genres in it. Some reggae
convinced, that this success will be continued
and that we can improve the customer experience even further. We are looking forward
to a close collaboration of the marketing &
sales teams of HOHNER and KHS America.”
Tabor Stamper, President of KHS, elaborates
further: “There has been a friendly collaboration between Hohner and KHS for many
years. The combining of KHS America and
Hohner Inc. under one umbrella is a positive move for both companies. The two will
complement each other in almost every way
ER: What influenced
you to play your Latin
harp style of music
versus the traditional
or contemporary blues
stylings that has been
the principal sound of
the harmonica for so
long?
Tim: Well you know, I
grew up with Latin music. I grew up in south
Texas where ‘that’s boarder!’ ‘That’s Tex Mex!’
‘That’s Freddy Fender!.’ Flaco Jimenez, Esteban
(Steve) Jordan, which Hohner has a rich history with him on accordions, but anyway, it was
challenging to me because I could never play
that style of harmonica, with the harmonica,
with Latin music. So I dedicated and redirected
my style to play Latin music. Which was a thrill
for me to try and learn how to do this and I
found out that special tuned harmonic minor
and minor Hohner harmonicas could help me
create the rhythmic style I love and I would fit
Continued on page 12
to create a whole that’s stronger than the individual parts. First among those strengths is
the people. The teams will combine and align
under the common purpose of creating a truly
positive customer experience.”
11
with Tim Gonzalez
Continued from page 11
right in with. So I took some time and studied
the Latin beats and the African beats and put
my style of harmonica right in the middle of it
and it worked! That’s where I get my Latin stuff,
because I am Latino! I’m Gonzalez!
ER: What models are you playing?
Tim: Ah man! I know there a lot of new harmonicas out there that Hohner has and I’m kind of
old school. I’ve been playing the marine band,
the 1896 for over forty years! But you know, the
new Rocket that you have out today is really,
really good and it can be tuned in any way you
want it which is key to what I do and it’s been a
Tim: Oh Gosh, my influences man! Growing
up I listened to Charlie Christian, George Benson, you know!? I listened to all kinds of different music you know? Jazz, blues, R&B, soul.
My influences I guess would have to be Little
Walter was one, because I started out with the
blues. Cotton…James Cotton! Charlie McCoy,
George “Harmonica” Smith, and Paul Butterfield you know!? “Blind Al”
from Canned Heat! I could go
on and on and on. But on the
Latin side, since there were no
harmonica players I did listen
to a lot of Latin music from
South America. So naturally
it was Carlos Santana, Los
Lobos, and Los Lonely Boys
now! Bringing in this mixture
of Latin and American music,
it’s all good brother, it’s just
good music!
and Hohner is going to be a great opportunity
for a great number of people here in Nashville,
Music City the hub of musicians. It’s also important to me that I’m going to be able to develop a relationship with the company directly,
not over the phone and through emails. Hopefully, be able to be a part of area sponsorships,
the Pilgrimage Festival isn’t too far away! I
ER: Listening to how you began your journey with the instrument, what advice would
you give for aspiring harmonicas players today?
Tim: The first thing I would
tell aspiring harmonica players
today is to first get yourself a
Hohner Harmonica! Preferably
in the key of C because its
mid-range. Learn the basics,
which are rhythmic patterns
and your scales. Listen to all
kinds of music! Don’t just listen to one genre; listen to all
kinds of players. Play songs
with melody and that will get
you started.
ER: In this age of information
where can we find you on the
internet?
Tim: I’m glad you asked me
that! *laughs* I’ve got my
new website out, its www.timgonzalez.net. It’s
got pictures, all my dates, everywhere you can
see me live. It’s also where you can purchase my
new upcoming Harp Gumbo EP as well as my
first CD titled “Straight from the Heart.” Also
I’m on Instagram now! This is lot of fun and you
can follow me @timsharpheaven.
real workhorse for me. It’s also exciting, I think,
that these harmonicas that I’ve been playing
have gotten so much better in quality than just
a few a years ago.
ER: Thank you for sitting in with me today Tim,
it’s been a great pleasure! I have one last question for you. Honestly, how do you feel about
Hohner moving to Nashville!?
ER: Who were your influences growing up?
Tim: *Thunderous applause* This is great brother! I think the new merger with KHS America
12
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hope to coordinate efforts with Hohner on that
event and help out doing whatever I can for the
company. Also, be able to help aspiring young
artists that are coming in and wanting to learn
how to play. I think, all in all, its hands down a
no brainer and a win-win situation. Thanks so
much for having me.
told me that he was in Florida. He gave me a
number. .
When I visited Satan in Florida, I found a man
broken. He was completely unable to play his
Continued from page 6
him maybe three long afternoons a week. I
was also teaching harmonica, privately and at
the Guitar Study Center, those days.
What were your thoughts when Satan
disappeared in the 90’s? Was the project
almost scrapped?
V.S Yes, it was almost scrapped. At that point I
thought maybe I could turn it into a short documentary, but something inside - call it fate,
bull-headedness, or just pure delusion - told
me to try and find him. So I utilized Google to
the fullest, for weeks, and ended up getting in
touch with Satan’s cousin in Mississippi who
“
When I visited Satan in
Florida, I found a man
broken... I was simply not
prepared for what I was
seeing. Was this the Blues?
Sure felt like it.”
– Director/Producer V. Scott Balcerek
Satan & Adam
guitar and just filled with a sense of loss that
was so profound that I really did not know
what to do. It shook me. It was my first time
directing a documentary and I was simply not
prepared for what I was seeing. Was this the
Blues? Sure felt like it.
I spent a few days with him, not so much interviewing, but just “being there”, conversing
here and there, following him around with
cameras. It was powerful stuff. Towards the
end there were glimmers of hope in his voice,
so much so that I decided to just start editing for a short documentary. That was the year
2000. During the editing phase, I would check
in to see what more might unfold. And every
year the story just got more interesting so I
kept going, paying for it out of pocket from
other film gigs I took as a director or editor.
I shot the last scene in 2013 and I’ve been
editing it as feature documentary ever since.
So Adam… Scott started filming 20
years ago, did you have doubts that this
film would come out?
Continued on page 14
13
Artist Spotlight Continued from page 13
AG: Oh, there have been MANY moments in
the past 20 years when I doubted that “Satan
and Adam” would ever be finished and see the
light of day. But the director, Scott
Balcerek and I, have litigated this
issue into the ground, in a manner
of speaking, and at a certain point
I just became philosophical about
it and said, “Let it be what it’s going to be.” That turns out to have
been a good attitude! Scott and
his co-producer, JR, have exactly
the right balance and energy now,
and I’m truly excited to see what
they come up with.
What is the release date? What
festivals are you going to show?
J.R. We’re submitting to all the
major film festivals and the reception there will determine release
dates, but I’m hoping for late
2016 or mid-2017.
With the completion of the film
underway, this by no means
marks the end of Adam Gussow’s
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creative ventures. When pressed about what
comes up next on his project list we received
two words “Busker’s Holiday.” Well Adam, we
can hardly wait to see what’s next!
To view the teaser trailer and make any donations to help fund the project please visit
www.satanandadamfilm.com
Little Miss
Was A One Of A Kind Girl
By Jessica Hester
S
he stole the microphone and stage from
Amy Grant (encouraging Ms. Grant to please
play the guitar while making up songs from her
heart to sing to the audience), she stopped Miranda Lambert from performing at her concert
mid-song by holding her hand, managed to steal
Constantine Maroulis’ attention long enough
to get serenaded to during his rocking performance, received personal harmonica pointers
from Gary Allegretto, took Taylor Swift’s breath
away when she revealed the needle in her chest
asking her to please be careful before a hug
and even taught herself Jordin Sparks’ version
of the Star Spangled Banner after meeting her
while Variety Magazine wrote about the Power
of Youth Event at Paramount Studios, “Despite
the presence of Hollywood’s hottest young stars, it was cancer
patient, Brooke Hester who made
the biggest impact...”
You see... music wasn’t just an
important part of Brooke’s life,
it was who she was and was always critical therapy for her. For
over four years of her eight short
years of life, Brooke battled stage
IV cancer that struck her out of
the blue as a three and a half year old toddler.
Fighting cancer became the life she knew, but
beyond the seven hair losses and years of both
“
Despite the presence
of Hollywood’s hottest young stars, it was
cancer patient, Brooke
Hester who made the
biggest impact...”
harsh and promising treatments, anyone who
met Brooke knew that she was not defined by
her illness, but rather by her spunk, tenacity and
zest for life. She loved to learn to make music
whether it was the drums, piano, harmonica,
guitar or any instrument she could try, and she
always had a song and dance to go with it. Everything about Brooke was contagious and she
never saw her cancer as a threat, but rather as
just part of life she had to face and fight full
force. Although she passed away in June, Brooke
did not lose her battle to cancer, but overcame
it with the life she lived while battling it. She
left behind an inspiring legacy of love through
her nonprofit foundation, Brooke’s Blossoming
Hope for Childhood Cancer which is fully led by
volunteers who have not only helped raise nearly
$200,000 for pediatric cancer research, but has
spread her love worldwide to over 20,000 other
children and teens in 40 countries who are fighting cancer. Brooke always carried
a song in her heart to share with
anyone she met and has forever left
music in our souls. She was a pintsized hero and her impact will go
on as long as there is love in the
world to be shared.
Make a difference for kids with
cancer no matter where you are.
Please visit Brooke’s website,
www.BrookesBlossoms.org
and make a donation today.
photo courtesy of: Kelly Sweet
15
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