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Date: Tue, 11 Apr 1995 14:24:44 -0700 (PDT)
From: Mike Curtis
Subject: Re: harp != toy

While I understand Tim perfectly and agree with where he's coming from, nonetheless the harmonica can be used as a toy. Of course, so can the piano, saxophone, trumpet, Stradivarius violin, etc. It's simply that we're not accustomed to hearing these latter instruments used as toys, and/or we're very familiar with masters of these.

While there are masters of harmonica, much of the general public is unfamiliar with these. Many have never heard a chromatic. For many more, "Sesame Street" is the only chro they've heard - and many don't know that's a harmonica! Players like Larry Adler, Pete Pederson, Howard Levy, and the great many blues greats are still quite obscure to the general public.

Some were complaining about harp in commercials, but this is the best thing that could ever happen for promoting harmonica. People are hearing harmonica being used as something more than just a toy. They're hearing real blues, by some good players. And you know what - they're LIKING it! If you play Mannish Boy for a non hardcore blues audience, you'll get a lot more reaction than a couple years ago, thanks to a certain beer
commercial. As Otis Spann said regarding Muddy Waters band format, "The Harmonica is the Mother of the band".

-- mike