|
03 Apr 05 - 11:12 AM (#1450823) Subject: Sam Hinton harmonica lessons From: Frankham Those who love Sam Hinton will be pleased with this news. NEWS RELEASE March 31, 2005 Contact: Adam Miller (650) 804-2049 autoharper@earthlink.net SAM HINTON - MASTER OF THE SOLO DIATONIC HARMONICA (CD RELEASE) On March 31, 2005, folksinger, author and harmonica virtuoso Sam Hinton celebrated his 88th birthday. On Saturday, June 4th, Hinton‚s latest recording, „Sam Hinton ˆ Master of the Solo Diatonic Harmonica, will be released at the Sam Hinton Folk Heritage Festival in El Cajon, California. Hinton is, perhaps, the greatest and most innovative non-blues (first position) solo diatonic harmonica players of all time. He is without peer in his use of simultaneous melody, counter melody and moving bass lines on the standard ten-hole diatonic harmonica. Of the more than 200 songs that Hinton recorded commercially between 1947 and 1992, only two tracks contain any harmonica playing. „Sam Hinton ˆ Master of the Solo Diatonic Harmonica,‰ is a double audio CD featuring over two and a half hours of tunes and stories, from one of the most respected folksingers in the United States. The astounding harmonica solos on this album include Celtic, American and European folk melodies, reels, jigs, double jigs, airs, fiddle tunes, Yiddish melodies, hymns, hoedowns, and hornpipes. At the time the studio tracks on this album were recorded (2001-2003) Hinton had been playing the harmonica for over three-quarters of a century. The album showcases vintage live performances recorded at the San Diego Folk Festival, as well as a rare 1937 transcription of the „Major Bowes Original Amateur Hour, featuring a 19-year old Hinton making his radio debut. Produced by George Winston and Adam Miller, this beautifully packaged recording contains extensive liner notes, illustrations, photographs and over 120 songs and stories. „Sam Hinton ˆ Master of the Solo Diatonic Harmonica‰ is available from: Eagle‚s Whistle Music, P.O. Box 620754, Woodside, CA 94062 (650) 804-2049 www.Samhinton.org . |
|
04 Apr 05 - 12:58 AM (#1451402) Subject: RE: Sam Hinton harmonica lessons From: GUEST This not only is wonderful and exciting news, but it is terribly important. Frank, thank you for posting it. People, as a folksinger, Sam Hinton is just the finest you will ever encounter. His instincts for the music and the tales therein are always unerring. (spelling?)He has collected and recorded so many great versions of superb songs for so very long. I'm just saying, or trying to get across here that this man is the pinnacle of the pyramid that might/could stand for what our folk scene in America has always been about. From afar, way out there in San Diego, California, Sam Hinton has been my mentor by his sterling example for over 50 years now. Darn, folks, do you get what I'm stiving to say?? I do hope so! Words are really not enough to communicate this. You've got to hear Sam doing it. So many of his recorded albums are my favorites of all the good stuff in my whole collection. The Decca LP "A Family Tree Of Folk Songs". The recently released CD from the long way back tapes Sam made for the Archive Of American Folk Song at the Library Of Congress in Washington D.C. The great Folkways Records albums made by Sam. Many personal recordings Sam issued like "Songs From An East Texas Childhood". And now this ultimate 2-CD compilation of exceptional harmonica (French harp) renderings from Sam Hinton. Don't listen to my rantings if you'd rather not. --- But you MUST, please, take the legendary (at least, in Chicago) Frank Hamilton's word!! You might know his wark wi' the Weavers or his being a founder of the venerable Old Town School Of Folk Music in that "windy second city". I am looking forward to hearing this more than just about anything I've anticipated hearing for several decades.------- But, this verbage from me is silly. No more mere words from me. Just get this one! And listen close. Sam Hinton ought not be background music because, know this, you'll be hearing a genius at work. Hearing him is just a folkloristically enlightening experience. Love Art Thieme |
|
04 Apr 05 - 08:49 AM (#1451592) Subject: RE: Sam Hinton harmonica lessons From: Deckman I certainly agree with Art. I can't rave enough about Sam Hinton's music. I first met him at a Seattle hoot in the fifties. I was very impressed with his enthuiasm for the music, his clear voice and diction, and above all, his songs. I next heard him live at a children's concert he gave on the Santa Cruz campus, shortly after I moved to California in 62. Not only did he LIKE children, he gave them the most incredible afternoon of music. I saw him place a tiny little harmonica, perhaps two inches long, completly in his mouth, and with both hands on his guitar, played the most awsome harmonica/guitar duet. The man is a genius. Thanks for posting this thread Frank. CHEERS, Bob(deckman)Nelson |
|
04 Apr 05 - 02:00 PM (#1451874) Subject: RE: Sam Hinton harmonica lessons From: Bev and Jerry We have known Sam for about thirty years and have had the distinct privilige of sharing the stage with him several times. If anything, Art and Deckman have understated his talent. He knows more about folk music than anyone in this part of the galaxy and is the consummate performer. Much of our repertoire was learned from Sam and watching him didn't do us any harm either. He's always been more than willing to share his music with anyone. What Deckman had to say about his children's programs is definitely true. We did programs in schools for 25 years and hardly ever got a gig within 50 miles of his house. We simply could not compete with him. His harmonica playing is not to be believed. He can do things with that instrument that were previously thought to be impossible. Don't miss this CD. Bev and Jerry |
|
04 Apr 05 - 04:14 PM (#1451972) Subject: RE: Sam Hinton harmonica lessons From: Ernest Sounds interesting. But why is this thread called "Harmonica LESSONS"? And is there a track list? Regards Ernest |
|
04 Apr 05 - 04:32 PM (#1451980) Subject: RE: Sam Hinton harmonica lessons From: Stilly River Sage I was one of the children who was so lucky to be present at a Sam Hinton concert or two during my childhood. He and Dad (John Dwyer) corresponded regularly over the years, and from reading about others' experiences, it looks like he is uniformly generous with his time and knowledge with other singers. I'm glad to see that something new will be out soon. Here's a blue clicky to the link mentioned above: The Sam Hinton website |
|
04 Apr 05 - 05:11 PM (#1452011) Subject: RE: Sam Hinton harmonica lessons From: Severn An old copy of "Singing Across The Land" in the form of Decca extended play 45's that I grew up hearing as a kid and inherited from my oldest sister when she passed away is a prized possession. I'm looking forward to hearing him play harmonica pieces with a skill, that unless you've seen him live, are only hinted at by the Newport and National Folk festival live recordings of his live showpiece, the "Arkansas Traveller" skit. Thanx for the shout-out and the blue clicky! Severn |
|
04 Apr 05 - 08:53 PM (#1452205) Subject: RE: Sam Hinton harmonica lessons From: Bob Bolton G'day Art (up there without a cookie), I'm eagerly awaiting a copy of this CD, as it meanders it way towards the Antipodes. My own mouthorgan style was inspired by (if not sufficiently informed by) an older Australian mouthorgan player P(ercy) C Spouse, who won Australian Mouthorgan Championships back in the 1920s & '30s ... and the description of Sam Hinton's playing indicates that he is master of all the same techniques. Percy performed and competed in a quite different style, in his era, mostly playing to charity and benefit concerts with piano accompaniment. Deckman's memory of Sam Hinton, above: "... I saw him place a tiny little harmonica, perhaps two inches long, completly in his mouth, and with both hands on his guitar, played the most awsome harmonica/guitar duet ..." reminds me of an account of the aftermath of the last time Percy competed in mouthorgan championships. After Percy had been awarded the title, there was some dissention in the Green Room. Some competitors claimed that, since Percy now represented one of the sponsors (Sydney-based J. Albert & Co.'s Boomerang brand mouthorgans), he would have been given preferential treatment. Percy just took out a small mouthorgan and placed it between his lips ... then proceeded to play his entire competion bracket - "No Hands!". After this (circa 1934), Percy decided to let others win the gongs. Regards, Bob |