Obit: John Pearse RIP (October 2008)

Subject: Obit: John Pearse RIP (October 2008)
From: Mary Katherine
Date: 31 Oct 08 - 02:07 PM

With profound sadness I must report the death on October 30 of my good friend John Pearse; musician, raconteur, gourmet, longtime fixture at music industry conventions, and maker of the line of guitar strings that bear his name. He had been in hospital for a long time, seriously ill, and yesterday his long ordeal was ended.

Subject: RE: Obit: John Pearse RIP (October 2008)
From: The Sandman
Date: 31 Oct 08 - 02:11 PM

oh dear,his bbc programmes and books were good.

Subject: RE: Obit: John Pearse RIP (October 2008)
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 31 Oct 08 - 02:12 PM

Oh no!
I met John many years ago in Chiswick where he and his wife were doing guitar evening classes. I visited them once at their place in Crouch Hill. Not en a lot of him since mind, but a name to conjure with when it comes to strings, and books, and other Folk accoutrements

Thanks John.


JM

Subject: RE: Obit: John Pearse RIP (October 2008)
From: Leadbelly
Date: 31 Oct 08 - 02:24 PM

Rest in peace, dear John. Thank you for your for music,
Manfred

Subject: RE: Obit: John Pearse RIP (October 2008)
From: Waddon Pete
Date: 31 Oct 08 - 02:27 PM

This is sad news. He will be well remembered for his contribution to our lives.

Peter

Subject: RE: Obit: John Pearse RIP (October 2008)
From: Art Thieme
Date: 31 Oct 08 - 02:30 PM

I'm so sorry to hear this. I always enjoyed hanging out with John at the Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, Kansas----a long while ago.

There are two photos of John Pearse at Winfield up at my photo web location. One is of John playing his mouthbow during a Strange Instruments Workshop we did there. The other is John and Mary Faith Rhoades

http://rudegnu.com/art_thieme.html

RIP

Art

Subject: RE: Obit: John Pearse RIP (October 2008)
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 31 Oct 08 - 03:24 PM

My hands were too small to hold down a chord, so I didn't get much beyond the Grand Old Duke of York... but lots of other people did. Sorry to hear of his passing.

Kitty

Subject: RE: Obit: John Pearse RIP (October 2008)
From: breezy
Date: 31 Oct 08 - 03:25 PM

Thank you for the Dum -ching

Subject: RE: Obit: John Pearse RIP (October 2008)
From: Sir Roger de Beverley
Date: 31 Oct 08 - 03:38 PM

I never met John but his "Hold Down A Chord" series started me off on a lifetime of playing. His "Guitar Train" on the Contemporary Guitar Sampler was pretty good too.

Very sad to hear of his passing

R

Subject: RE: Obit: John Pearse RIP (October 2008)
From: Acorn4
Date: 31 Oct 08 - 03:41 PM

His was the first "How to Play" book I ever used. God Rest!

Subject: RE: Obit: John Pearse RIP (October 2008)
From: Bernard
Date: 31 Oct 08 - 04:19 PM

His 'McGhee's Rag' is still part of my repertoire... so he will live on!!

I'll include it (dedicated to his memory) in my set on Friday November 7th at Maghull Town Hall - I'm support for Chris WHile and Julie Matthews.

Sleep well, lad.

Subject: RE: Obit: John Pearse RIP (October 2008)
From: BB
Date: 31 Oct 08 - 04:24 PM

Sad to hear - I poured over his 'Hold Down a Chord' for many hours in my bedroom as a teenager. Thank you, John.

Does anyone know his age?

Barbara

Subject: RE: Obit: John Pearse RIP (October 2008)
From: GUEST,Simon PC Frost
Date: 31 Oct 08 - 04:26 PM

Oh John, you will be missed, but we know you are now safe. Char and I send all our love to you and of course our beautiful Linda.

Thank you, John, Linda, Mary Faith - you all make such a difference!

-sf

Subject: RE: Obit: John Pearse RIP (October 2008)
From: GUEST,Joe Sallay
Date: 31 Oct 08 - 04:43 PM

A very big,bright star gone - missed by all.The impact remains.Thank you,John.

Subject: RE: Obit: John Pearse RIP (October 2008)
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 31 Oct 08 - 04:48 PM

I'm pretty sure that I learned to play "pattern playing" guitar style from John ( we used to call it clawhammer back then). Also, I've bought lots of John's products over the years. Thanks, mate.

Subject: RE: Obit: John Pearse RIP (October 2008)
From: Dan Schatz
Date: 31 Oct 08 - 05:05 PM

This is a real loss. He was a brilliant musician, string maker, and guitarist and storyteller - among other talents.

Dan

Subject: RE: Obit: John Pearse RIP (October 2008)
From: Bobert
Date: 31 Oct 08 - 05:15 PM

Danged!!!

I hope that someone will continue on with his work 'cause them JPs is some of the finest strings ever made... Real organic soundin' and playin'... Actually, I didn't know that there was a John Pearse until reading this obit... I thought the strings were named after some ficticious character... Like I said...

...danged!!!

Sniff, too...

B~

Subject: RE: Obit: John Pearse RIP (October 2008)
From: Will Fly
Date: 31 Oct 08 - 05:42 PM

I remember booking John for the BBC Folk Club (Clanfolk) in the late 60s - he was the first person I ever saw play the mountain dulcimer in this country. He was a kind and talented man and went down a storm. A sad loss.

Subject: RE: Obit: John Pearse RIP (October 2008)
From: Ross Campbell
Date: 31 Oct 08 - 05:58 PM

John Pearse's TV programmes and books helped me and many others to get well past the strumming stage when it was difficult to find anybody to teach guitar outside the classical or popular idioms. He also introduced the names and playing styles of people like Rev Gary Davis, Leadbelly, Mississippi John Hurt and Big Bill Broonzy to a wider audience, and set me off on a musical journey I have thoroughly enjoyed. Sorry to hear of his passing.

I"ll have to try and dig out "Guitar Train" for the Steamer next week.

Ross

Subject: RE: Obit: John Pearse RIP (October 2008)
From: catspaw49
Date: 31 Oct 08 - 07:06 PM

Not much left to be said that hasn't been................Very sad....."raconteur".................yeah.................

Rest Easy

Spaw

Subject: RE: Obit: John Pearse RIP (October 2008)
From: Bernard
Date: 31 Oct 08 - 07:16 PM

I wonder how many of his 'build it yourself' dulcimers are still around...?

Subject: RE: Obit: John Pearse RIP (October 2008)
From: Geordie-Peorgie
Date: 31 Oct 08 - 07:30 PM

Oh, what sad news!

His 'Hold Down A Chord' books were my bibles whan aah was a young sailor learning to play. His finger-style method were just what aah needed to get me out of 'thumb and forefinger only' picking

Aah still use the 'dum-ching' method to explain stuff to learners.

Aah've still got his 'Build your own dulcimer' book although aah lost the 'table-top' one aah bought when me and the previous Mrs W split

Very sad news indeed!

Subject: RE: Obit: John Pearse RIP (October 2008)
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 31 Oct 08 - 08:17 PM

When I first got into folk music somehow or other I heard about John running some group classes at Cecil Sharp House and I went along. This was years before he wrote any tutor books or did his TV. He was a great teacher and a lovely man.

He had a knack of convincing you that stuff that sounded difficult was stuff you could do. And then you found you could actually do it.

Haven't seen him in so many years, but I'm still grateful to him, and always will be.

Subject: RE: Obit: John Pearse RIP (October 2008)
From: Jim I
Date: 31 Oct 08 - 08:44 PM

I also have fond memories of 'Hold Down a Chord'. And, since I never got round to learning the second half of McGee's Rag, in John's honour I now intend to get back to work.

Subject: RE: Obit: John Pearse RIP (October 2008)
From: GUEST,Simon PC Frost
Date: 31 Oct 08 - 08:53 PM

To all of you who knew John, please visit the Breezy Ridge Instruments website, home of John Pearse Strings, where there is a memorial, and visitors book for you to view and sign.

http://www.jpstrings.com

Thanks

-sf

Subject: RE: Obit: John Pearse RIP (October 2008)
From: GUEST,Eric Cole
Date: 31 Oct 08 - 09:18 PM

I met John and Mary Faith at an FSGW Getaway in 77 or 78. I took an immediate liking to him and the feeling was mutual.

I remeber being very flattered when he and May Faith invited me back to their Hotel room for a private jam the first year I volunteered at the Philly Folk Festival (I was only 15 at the time). It was a fine jam and he loaned me a lovely 00-28K which played beautifuly to play that evening.

He and I crossed paths every so often over the years and I was always delighted when our paths did cross.

Another one of the people that I always enjoyed is gone. I hope that Mary Faith is coping well. She was and no doubt still is a sweetheart.

Regards -- Eric

Subject: RE: Obit: John Pearse RIP (October 2008)
From: Kevin Sheils
Date: 01 Nov 08 - 05:35 AM

Like my McGrath namesake I first encountered John in the 60s at the CSH guitar classes and The Cellar Folk Club where he was a regular guest of his friends Jack and Margaret King.

When I started booking folk acts for my Youth Club John was a regular who always gave us a great night.

I hadn't seen or thought of him for many years but the sadness of the news is balanced with the good memories that have returned.

Subject: RE: Obit: John Pearse RIP (October 2008)
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 01 Nov 08 - 05:54 AM

I seem to remember him being the first guitarist I ever saw, strengthening his nails with glue and cigarette papers.
Clanfolk! Wasn't that in the Marquis of Clanricard or some such name?
Cellar @ CSH, and Jack and Margaret, oh yes indeed.
Certainly John and all those places were part of my folk education.
All the more reason to regret his passing.

JM

Subject: RE: Obit: John Pearse RIP (October 2008)
From: Kevin Sheils
Date: 01 Nov 08 - 06:42 AM

Clanfolk! Wasn't that in the Marquis of Clanricard or some such name?

Yes just up the road from Paddington Station IIRC. May have changed it's name or closed as I can't find it in the usual beer websites

Subject: RE: Obit: John Pearse RIP (October 2008)
From: theleveller
Date: 01 Nov 08 - 09:59 AM

Like many people, I also learned guitar from his 'Teach Yourself Folk Guitar' LP and book. I still play 'Freight Train' as a practic piece. What a sad loss.

Subject: RE: Obit: John Pearse RIP (October 2008)
From: Bob Hitchcock
Date: 01 Nov 08 - 11:35 AM

Oh no, not another one.

I knew John somewhat back in the early 80's when he was just starting Breezy Ridge, I used his strings and picks in those days and even supplied a few friends who could not buy them in stores. He was a fine fellow and I always enjoyed running into him at festivals and sharing stories, tunes and good times.

This is a sad loss for me and the music world.

Subject: RE: Obit: John Pearse RIP (October 2008)
From: M.Ted
Date: 01 Nov 08 - 02:47 PM

Sadly, I have only heard about him. Since I bought my first set of his strings, though, I have seldom had reason to use any others. I'm finding it hard to say how important his contribution to our lives as guitarists he has been--we all use his strings, and there are very few that create something that everyone ends up using. Thanks! Sir John Melville Pearse, 1939-2008

Subject: RE: Obit: John Pearse RIP (October 2008)
From: Dave Sutherland
Date: 02 Nov 08 - 04:36 AM

Very sad to hear this - I wish that I had stuck in a bit more with his "Hold Down a Chord" he almost made me a musician.
RIP

Subject: RE: Obit: John Pearse RIP (October 2008)
From: van lingle
Date: 02 Nov 08 - 05:01 AM

I used his strings probably more than any others over the decades and a couple of his excellent armrests grace a couple of my guitars. Sorry to hear of his passing.

Subject: RE: Obit: John Pearse RIP (October 2008)
From: Will Fly
Date: 02 Nov 08 - 05:08 AM

Clanfolk! Wasn't that in the Marquis of Clanricard or some such name?

Yes just up the road from Paddington Station IIRC. May have changed it's name or closed as I can't find it in the usual beer websites

The Marquis is now a restaurant and was indeed the venue for Clanfolk - we got some good people there, including John.

Subject: RE: Obit: John Pearse RIP (October 2008)
From: Anne Lister
Date: 02 Nov 08 - 07:15 AM

So sorry to hear this ... John was one of the first people to suggest I should take my songwriting and performing seriously, way back when I was still at school. It had a huge effect on me, of course.

Anne

Subject: RE: Obit: John Pearse RIP (October 2008)
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Nov 08 - 01:54 PM

Sorry to hear this, I have memories of John with his big beard giving it 'hold down a chord' at odd times on bbc2 and 'guitar train' is a classic, I'dsay equally on par with Davy Graham, Jansch et al.

Subject: RE: Obit: John Pearse RIP (October 2008)
From: GMT
Date: 13 Nov 08 - 07:19 AM

My condolences to all. A sad loss to the folk world.

Subject: RE: Obit: John Pearse RIP (October 2008)
From: GUEST,The Halliard
Date: 13 Nov 08 - 12:14 PM

Fond memories of John from way back,
                                                                     Sincere condolences,
                      Nic, Dave & Nigel (The Halliard)

Subject: RE: Obit: John Pearse RIP (October 2008)
From: michaelr
Date: 13 Nov 08 - 09:05 PM

Sad news indeed. Will his strings continue to be available?

I've been using John Pearse Phosphor Bronze mediums on my Lowden O10 exclusively for over ten years. Love that tone.

Subject: RE: Obit: John Pearse RIP (October 2008)
From: GUEST,Derek Brimstone
Date: 22 Nov 08 - 10:28 AM

I've just heard. A great shock. I've been out of touch with Jon for some time and did not even know he was ill. He was a dear kind mate to me from way back and I remember a few nice evenings at his flat in Turnpike Lane.
       God Bless old son and sleep well.

Subject: RE: Obit: John Pearse RIP (October 2008)
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 26 Feb 09 - 12:49 PM

At last the Guardian has today got round to doing an excellent obituary, by Derek Schofield. Eminent folk guitarist who taught the protest generation how to play



Better late than never. That applies to John as well as to the obituary...

You always learn stuff you never knew when people die. I never knew his middle name was Melville. I think he kept that close to his chest.

Subject: RE: Obit: John Pearse RIP (October 2008)
From: GUEST,Derek Schofield
Date: 27 Feb 09 - 04:32 AM

Thanks for the compliment. Let me assure you that the Guardian have had the obituary since November! It's up to the obituaries editor when these things get published.
Derek

Subject: RE: Obit: John Pearse RIP (October 2008)
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 27 Feb 09 - 09:58 AM

I second McGraths sentiments, a full and thorough job there Derek.
As one who first met John back in the early days and then lost touch, it was nice to be filled in on what he had been up to in the intervening years.
It would of course have been nicer if it had been himself who told me, but we all have to join that great musical ensemble in the sky one day.

JM