Jim Hall, Pete Seeger, Paco de Lucia!

Since my last post, I have been hit hard by the passing of my mentors! JIM HALL passed away and left me heartbroken big time! I have been dragging my heart around low to the ground these past few months as he has been close to my heart since the 60's. We remained in contact up to his passing. He was a brilliant human being and one of the finest musicians in history. Just as I was starting to climb out of my deep,deep depression I lost another of my mentors - PETE SEEGER! I was on the  Greenwich Village scene in the 60's first as a solo singer guitarist of songs by our cream of the crop: Phil Ochs, Tom Paxton, Joan Baez, Judy Collins, Buffy Saint Marie, Peter Paul and Mary and the whole gang. Visited the Folk Center on West 4th and 6th avenue and the Guitar Luthiers ROW ( DAVID RUBIO,TOM HUMPHREY, TOM HOM,MICHAEL GURIAN and a few others on a couple of blocks off 6th avenue known as CARMINE STREET! I wish I could revisit those times in the 60's,70's. I was young and dumb and also attended that 1st Central Park Protest against the Viet Nam War. WHEW! On top of loosing Pete now comes the news of the passing of our creative Flamenco Genius PACO DE LUCIA!!!!! I must remember that next month I will be 64 so should expect many people I know to pass away. It is just a mean task to experience so many leaving me and us! One positive thing is that I have returned to the blog in an effort to share the many guitar experiences I have been gifted with over my life time.
 With fund raising happening on the Public Broadcasting Channels of 13 and 21, the fabulous and angelic voice of JUDY COLLINS brought back a treasured visit by her in which she heard me playing for my mother in a hospital and said " I could use a Musician like you in my Show". She was visiting a sick member of her show a few beds over from my mothers bed. I caught a slight glance of her and said to myself " That lady looks like JUDY COLLINS!!' I then followed that up by " NAW. What would she be doing here." After about a 15 minute period, she came over and tapped me on my shoulder. I turned around and immediately shouted "JUDY COLLINS"!!!! WOW'. Unfortunately I did not follow her up on her offer but was thankful that she thought so much of my talent. Of course we just lost PACO and that man brought the Beautiful world of FLAMENCO to the front of the line. As this is my real return to my blog, I am going to cut it short for now as so many thoughts and undelivered posts are queued . I have not been on the scene as I have for these several decades owing in great amount to that 2012 December incident at the GFA Regional. All I can say is that my playing has jumped onward to the heavens as I continue to play around New York in my 18th year as a member of the MUSIC UNDER NEW YORK program sponsored by the New York City Transit authority. I continue to grow immensely as an artist and will bring the art of the solo Classical and Jazz Guitar to every day folks underground and above ground.There have been some great concerts over the last few months that I will report on and am anxious to do so. I have also been involved in some special events recently which I will share with you.I have been a part of a huge exhibit at the NEW MUSEUM 232 Bowery and that will be detailed in my next post.

                          MAURICE SUMMERFIELD - MY MAN

I am hugging MAURICE SUMMERFIELD of CLASSICAL GUITAR MAGAZINE for all he has done in our field. He continues to garner every sort of accolade for his fantastic work in our field. I am honored to be able to count him as one of my dear friends although a "Little Pond" separates us from hanging out! Every month I cherish the pages of his magazine and just scratch my head in an effort to find out how he gets so much accomplished. I could use some of his blood!! I live on that great magazine and depend on all that luscious information that keeps me "In the know" about the many things happening in our great Guitar World. I wanted to surprise my friend at the GFA last year but as I was about to book, I read somewhere that the special award he was to receive was being deleted from the program!!! Since the GFA was about a week away from the MANNES GUITAR SEMINAR, I decided to not attend. I was also going to surprise a few friends who were performing at the GFA. This was one of those times when I could "Kick myself in my Butt"  because that information was wrong . ANYWAY, MAURICE- I love you and all you have done for us. YOU ARE DYNAMITE And you deserve each and every accolade you have received! I don't know how you do it but I love that twinkle you have in your eyes which reveal the great love you have for your craft. I can never stop enjoying our special bond and let me know when you visit the big apple so I can take you out for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Your work has left an incredible mark on our world. THANK YOU MY DEAR BUDDY!!! By your being here on earth, you have given us a bounty of great things and enduring love for all you have produced.