Living the Blues

Each and every day of my life I set aside time to play my harmonicas usually along with a Blues record. I tought myself to play by ear. I would start the record playing and blow each harmonica until I found the one that sounded right. Then I would play along with the record over and over until I could play the harmonica part without the record. Everyday I would come home from work and just play to records for hours. James Cotton was the first harmonca player that I learned from note for note. You can hear some James Cotton riffs in my style of playing even today. Then one day my mom took ill and it was discovered that she had ovarian cancer and given only 6 months to a year to live. There was no such thing as a hospice back then, so basically my dad, brother, sister and myself had to deal with it the best way we could. Well it was the longest 6 months in my life. I remember putting on a slow blues song and sitting on the side of my bed playing along with it. I didnt just play what I heard coming from my stereo but I started playing my own notes. The pain from my mother dying was so intense as the musical notes came from my harmonica the tears fell from my eyes. That was the first time in my life I had ever truly played with my heart and inner soul. As I played I could feel the music not just hear it. I was attached to my harmonica from that moment on. No matter where I went I had one in my shirt pocket right next to my heart. Well my mom died and went to heaven shortly after that. I know everytime I have played a gig she has been there because she loved music. I learned from that experience how to channel my feelings from my heart and inner soul through my music. Here is an example of me doing just that, It's Blues Time Y'all!!! Enjoy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMCFD8vZ6tk