“Keith, how did you start with the harmonica?” I am asked this a lot. To answer properly, I need to start at the very beginning to mention the different events and influences that led me to the harmonica. The list includes Boston City Hospital, Northampton Street, the Rivoli Theater, Orchard Park Projects, baseball, T-Bone Walker,…
It was a warm night and I thought that I would go for a walk. Imagine my surprise when I saw people walking towards me dressed in white robes and with white pointed hoods on their heads. They were dressed like the klan. they must be the klan. Some of you can imagine what my…
That’s right, you are not too late. There is still time. Do you see what the squirrels are doing? As Ann Peebles would say, “…they’ve been there before…” Squirrels know. Grab a friend, get out there and gather some nuts. It’s easy, it’s fun, it’s healthy and satisfying. Do it today. With a bit of…
Let’s give thanks to David “Honeyboy” Edwards, one of the first generation of Delta bluesmen, who born June 28, 1915, in Shaw, Mississippi. Without the struggles of Honeyboy and his peers, nothing would be possible for those of us who came afterwards. So, thank you Mr. Edwards! Because I spent time with Honeyboy in different…
Yes folks, it’s that time again, it’s harvest time! Nature has worked hard preparing great ingredients for you. All you need to do is go and pick them up. Here’s what I mean. There’s always a farmer who has too many pumpkins. Also, apples and pears are on the ground just waiting for you. Sometimes,…
Stage fright or performance anxiety is one of those things that occurs but is not often talked about. You may have it and feel alone or even ashamed to discuss it with anyone. First, you are not alone. Many well-known singers such as Rihanna, Adele, Barbara Streisand and Beyonce all suffer from it, yet have…
There are many roads that lead to harmonica heaven. I took a step closer to the action at a young age when we moved down the Orange Line, the elevated train line in Roxbury, from Northampton Street to Dudley Street Station. And with my asthma getting better, I could finally go outside, play on the…
Often when people die, we get sentimental and call them a role model, a hero or a legend, even though that may not always be strictly true. In the case of Bill Russell however, it is all true and to that list you can add political activist. I will talk about Bill Russell and how…
I have seen the passion that people have for the harmonica and guitar as they relate to music in general and for blues music specifically. As I share their passion for one but do not really know much about the other, I thought that I would find out more. This is what I discovered about…
The relationship between music and visual art is not a new one. Throughout history, they have been connected in diverse ways by the greats from both disciplines who knew how to hear the beauty of art and see the soul of music. They left us a legacy that continues to inspire. artists and musicians use…