Music Room with John Pearse

Subject: Music Room with John Pearse
From: StephenH
Date: 12 Jan 22 - 02:21 PM

Last night I came across (on Youtube)an episode of a program called "Music Room", hosted by John Pearse.

https://youtu.be/GWK_zzrS1xw

It was from 1970 and featured a very young Steeleye Span - line-up: Maddy Prior, Ashley Hutchings, Martin Carthy, Tim Hart, and Peter Knight.
It was an odd program in that Steeleye played a few songs, John Pearse
interviewed them, questioning Tim Hart about his electric dulcimer,
then JP and two others (co-hosts?) moved over to a table where they were building a dulcimer.
It had a sort of an adult Blue Peter-ish feel to it but it was lovely to hear an early Steeleye performance.
Anyway, I wonder if UK Mudcatters are familiar with this program.
There is at least part of another episode featuring Danny Thompson
which I have yet to watch. Are there others out there?

Subject: RE: Music Room with John Pearse
From: GUEST,Hootenanny
Date: 12 Jan 22 - 04:11 PM

I knew John Briefly back in the 60's when he still lived in England. He had a series of tv programmes on building a dulcimer and playing guitar.
He was also apparently responsible for a book of designs I believe along with Martin Shoben for men's tailoring. Martin's father was an East End tailor.
John of course went to the States and founded a company making guitar strings and picks. The strings are still very popular.

Subject: RE: Music Room with John Pearse
From: GUEST,Anne Lister sans cookie
Date: 12 Jan 22 - 06:31 PM

John Pearse was one of the first performers to encourage me with my songwriting. He was appearing at one of the Cardiff folk clubs and I did a floor spot. I was awe-struck when he complimented me on my songs and singing. This would have been around 1968/9.

Subject: RE: Music Room with John Pearse
From: rich-joy
Date: 13 Jan 22 - 05:14 PM

WoW! That was a hoot!!
At times a bit awkward, but no doubting the talent.

My favourite 70s band, but being in West Aussie, I didn't get to see them in Perth until around 1976.
I do recall having the set of dulcimer plans and book, but sadly, never followed through :(
I notice that many (younger) Commenters cannot get over the amount of HAIR, LoL!!!

Thanks for the memories!
Cheers, R-J

Subject: RE: Music Room with John Pearse
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 14 Jan 22 - 02:45 PM

I met John many years ago, and even visited him and his then wife, who may have been called Lisa, but not sure. They lived right at the top of a tall terraced house in (I think) Crouch Hill, There were guitars and all sorts of instruments, hanging on the wall, all the way up the last flight of stairs. From what I remember of the flat, it looks like that piece was filmed there. He did a TV series, called Hold Down a Chord, in the 60's

Subject: RE: Music Room with John Pearse
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 14 Jan 22 - 03:07 PM

I remember John Pearse - he ran a course/club I went to on playing guitar and singing at Cecil Pearce House in London back in the early 60s, when I was just starting and he was a great teacher. And a lovely man.

The programmes weegood to, with the same knack of being accessible and encouraging for beginners, but useful for anyone.

His guitar strings, after he moveed to tge States, were pretty good too.

Subject: RE: Music Room with John Pearse
From: The Sandman
Date: 14 Jan 22 - 04:27 PM

Cecil Pearce House?

Subject: RE: Music Room with John Pearse
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 14 Jan 22 - 05:53 PM

Ouch. Daft but in a way logical.

Subject: RE: Music Room with John Pearse
From: rich-joy
Date: 14 Jan 22 - 09:55 PM

FWIW, slight correction to my 13th Jan 5:14 post :

Apparently Steeleye's Perth, WestAust concert that I saw was 24th August 1974.
I do recall it was just after the release of "Now We Are Six" which introduced drummer, Nigel Pegrum, and he bounced on stage in a very fetching Rupert Bear outfit!!   There was a Mummers Play too.
I read somewhere that Bob Johnston ended up in a Perth hospital for a week or so, but, dunno why ......

Cheers, R-J