Keeping the Blues Alive Winner, Blues Harpist, Gary Allegretto on Giving – And Giving Thanks

Gary Allegretto is the winner of the KBA in Education Award.  He and his blues harmonica have played their way into the depths of devastation and despair and have lifted the spirits of children around the world.  This year he took 1,000 harmonicas, donated by Hohner, to Haiti following the earthquake in January.  During our conversation, Gary Allegretto spoke about what it means to him to give to the children and his thankfulness for being able to do so.

You’ve had quite a busy year…

There’s been a lot of amazing things that I’ve done with kids and a lot of amazing gigs.  I’ve just been having fun this year through the festivals, the different things I’ve done and the awards I received. I’m just living the life I’ve wanted. I kind of pinched myself this year.  I realized – wow -I set out to do what I’ve always dreamed of doing and I did it!  I told somebody this and they were kind of surprised by it. You know, I’ve achieved my dream of making music and making a living at it and being on the road. It’s very joyful for me to be on the road- that’s where I prefer to be -and I’ve actually accomplished that.  That doesn’t say that I’ve achieved my goals and now my goals are over – it means that I have to keep setting higher goals.  I’m at a good place with that I’ve got lots to do -but I’ve managed to find a way to have a purpose in my life and accomplish that purpose. I hope to keep that rolling.

That’s a wonderful space to be in – grateful every day.

Yea, I wake up feeling grateful; but I also wake up feeling challenged because you ask yourself what’s next?  You don’t stop and be content with “I’ve done it” because then it life wouldn’t be as interesting.

Contentment can be a very dangerous thing.

I remember several instances this summer when I was on the road and thinking to myself wow I have really set this up to live the life I have always wanted.

And you’ve done it.

Again, it’s not over.

Last we talked, you mentioned playing on a movie score.

Yes.  I recorded on Johnny Depp’s movie Rum Diaries – it’s a going be out in 2011.  Bruce Robinson was the director.  I got the call out of the blue.  They had heard about me and wanted some blues harmonica on some of the tracks so they brought me in.  Christopher Young is a famous composer and it was a thrill to work with him.  We recorded in the same studios Sinatra and Elvis recorded in – the same room – it was pretty cool.

Is doing something like that different than doing a regular studio recording?   Is there a different process because it’s a film?

Oh yea.  They have a very specific thing that they want and they tell you and you have to pull it together.    Christopher Young is very specific about what he wants but he will also listen to what you can bring to the table, so that makes it fun.  I really like working with him because he’s very good, number one, and he’s very intense about it.  I like people who are intense about their art. He was almost apologetic about it at the end but but I said  “no Chris I really liked working with you, I like people who have a vision.” He had a very clear vision of what he wanted.

Sounds like it was a great experience.

Very much so.  I got called back a couple of times to work with him which was nice. You never know what’s going to end up in the movie though.

So tell me about the World Record breaking event you were involved with.

It was the guys from Pocket Full of Soul who wanted to break the record.  We did it at the Houston Minute Maid stadium where the Astros play.  We attempted to break the world record of 6000 people playing a song at once.  They came to me to help them do that so I transcribed a blues song for the event.  I transcribed “I’m a Man” by Willie Dixon which he wrote for Bo Diddley.  We very well would have broken the record if it were not for the baseball game going into extra innings. The stadium management waited until the end of the game before we could make our attempt.  They had handed out 10,000 harmonicas; over 20,000 people attended the game, but because it was late at night many people had gone home.  But we did teach over 5000. We very nearly came to the record and there is no question in my mind that if the game had not gone into extra innings we would have done it.

What an incredible experience that had to be!

The best part was playing to the crowd – we played “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” to 25,000 people -that was pretty cool! The energy of that audience was amazing and to get 5000 people to play the same song was pretty incredible.

I can’t imagine, logistically, how you pulled that off!

Even if it’s not a World Record, it has to be a Western Hemisphere record. But I felt bad for the guys from Pocket Full of Soul because they really put a lot into it and I really wanted to help them break the record. It was fun to be a part of and I’m proud that they picked me to help create the event, but I’m not defined by world records.  I think it’s fun but I don’t take it all that seriously.

Your interest in the blues goes way back…

I grew up listening to rock and roll bands and the reason I liked them was because they were bluesy – Foghat, for example, they were interesting to me because they came from the blues.  In fact the Allman Brothers Band was my favorite band as I grew up.  I would see who wrote the songs.  I remember riding my bike to Wonderland Records store when I was a kid and asking the guy behind the counter who’s McKinley Morganfield but the guy behind the counter didn’t know. He’d look it up in the catalogue –everything was in paper in those days – so he opened the catalogue and said “oh McKinley Morganfield – that’s Muddy Waters!”  And I said “oh, you got any?” and he said “yea, back in that discount bin – 2 bucks apiece.”

That’s really how I was introduced to the blues – not the only way but one of the ways. I was also fortunate enough to see blues musicians in my area as I grew up – John Jackson and a lot of the piedmont players were in my area.

So what are your plans?

I’ve never planned anything in my life I make it up as I go, but I am writing songs and hoping to be approached by a record company.  I am really looking for someone to work with me on my next recording.

Now that you are receiving the “Keeping the Blues Alive Award” – has that changed anything in terms of offers and recognition?

  You don’t know what happens until it happens.  I’ll let you know if it changes things.  To stick to that theme – people always ask what are you planning in the blues world, but it’s not predictable – you never know what s going to happen -it’s a rough road.

Let’s talk about Harmonikids – how long has your organization been around?

Harmonikids has been around since 1985 when I first started teaching kids with special needs.

It must be a joy to bring music to children.

It’s been the joy of my life. This past week I was in Albuquerque, New Mexico doing gigs and while I was there I went to the children’s psychiatric center where they treat children who are very acutely depressed and have severe psychiatric problems. These children had so much fun that the staff told me they had never seen a lot of those kids smile before.  They were giggling in my class. They enjoyed it so much – my sessions usually last an hour but these sessions were going on two hours – so it was pretty amazing

That’s quite a gift to give.

I feel blessed that it is the joy of my life.  I also get a lot of joy from performing and writing music so again, I’m living my dream.   Not only am I able to support myself playing music, but I am also able to help others and there is no question that it changes lives.

I can see how this is a true work, like you said, it can be life changing for kids.

I am blessed that I have a purpose.   I won 3 awards this year.  The college I attended made me an Alumni of Distinction at Northern Arizona.  Then I received the Artists for a Better World award and now the Keeping the Blues Alive award but, ironically, I am losing my sponsors because of the economy.  I’m losing donors and sponsors yet the work needs to continue so I am asking for donations.  The moral support is great but financial support is crucial.  It’s a double edge sword.  I can’t do the work without donations and I can’t do the work without being able to perform as a musician.  I don’t get paid for the work I do with Harmonikids so I need to work in order to continue what I am doing.

How can readers help?

People can donate on my website through PayPal at www.garyallegretto.com.  I am available for festivals – I also offer workshops for children at festivals and while I’m in town I reach out to organizations that work with special needs children.

To underscore the importance of Gary Allegretto’s work with special needs children as well as children who are the innocent victims of tragedy and disaster read on…

“For 25 years Harmonikids has effectively aided thousands of children worldwide including those traumatized by natural disasters such as the tsunami in Indonesia and Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana.   Naturally, when the earthquake devastated Haiti in January, I wanted to bring the same kind of unique relief to the children there.  The statistics are beyond staggering; millions of children were left homeless and hundreds of thousands orphaned – even prior to the quake.  Well aware of the degree, complexity, and scale of Haiti’s needs, I knew that Harmonikids could not “save” Haiti. Instead, I focused on what I could do, and what I do best to reach those most in need. The purpose of Harmonikids mission in Haiti was simply to provide a musical sanctuary, a means of self-expression and joy to to children traumatized by the recent earthquake – some remarkably distressed Haitian children. The sessions we provided there effectively provided this and more ~ they offered kids a means to access some of the childhood hopes and dreams that had been cruelly stolen from them.” -Gary Allegreto