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Dear Pooh,
It's a big job to pick three
albums out of fifty years of listening to music,
but here are ones that had a big effect on my
life.
"Brownie McGhee Blues"
(Folkways) was one of the first blues albums I
bought, when I was a student at New York University
in 1958. As a result of hearing this LP I called
Brownie up one day and asked him if he would give
me guitar lessons. To my surprise, he said to come
over to his apartment in east Harlem, and that
started a friendship that resulted in many hours of
playing together and writing a book, "Brownie
McGhee Blues Guitar" (Oak Publications). We
remained friends until his death a few years
ago.
It's hard to pick one Bob Dylan
album out of so many great ones, but I would
say "The Times They Are
A-Changin'" changed the
way we thought about music and its power to move
people. It stunned us when it came out, and
continues to do so to this day. The times may have
changed, but those love songs and political anthems
are timeless.
I don't think there's a more
joyful, exciting or musically profound pop record
than Paul Simon's
"Graceland."
I still listen to it after all
these years, and it still gives me great pleasure.
I now have it on my iPod, and take it on walks near
my home here in Woodstock. It positively propels me
up the hills and makes the time fly by.
I have to mention my other
heroes and their records that I've enjoyed over the
years: Pete Seeger, Woody Guthrie, Lead Belly,
Merle Travis, Mississippi John, Skip James, Robert
Johnson, the Beatles, James Taylor... I could go on
and on.
Congratulations, Pooh, for your
30 years in the music business! You have helped
many American musicians by introducing their music
to the people of Japan, and I, for one, appreciate
your support and friendship. May you have many more
years of success with all of your
endeavors.
All the best,
Happy Traum
Woodstock, NY
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