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Showing posts from October, 2011

With A Song In His Heart: Vince Meades Collector Extraordinare

We sing together softly, on occasion, while searching through several boxes of  Popular piano and vocal sheet music for hours. Hushed laughter dances around jokes and anecdotes. It's difficult to contain my excitement. Today we are looking at pre- and turn of the Twentieth Century music. Mr. Meades gingerly removes the music from their containers and shows me the proper way to handle fragile pages more than a century old. What can I say about a man who shares his love of music so freely? Each moment he guides me through another box is like walking through a sonic looking glass. This treasure chest is the collection that he has graciously donated to the San Diego States Special Collections and University Archives Reading Room. http://infotutor.sdsu.edu/scua/readingroom.cfm HERE'S A SHOUT OUT 'CAUSE: the Special Collections staff is extremely knowledgeable and patiently assist when Mr. Meades is not on site. Librarian Gloria Rhodes keeps me anchored when I need to proces

Christopher Hanson

Bay walking . . . Summer Break San Diego Bay early morning walks always rejuvenate. Bayside near the Embarcadero embraces gentle flow early morning clouds, screeching sea gulls swirling, fish scented seaside breezes, sweaty joggers and wharf fishermen. On a few occasions, guitar chords and voices serenade. One morning during the summer, a saxophone echoed its plaintive wail into the harbor gray silk sky. I followed the sorrow song to its source. A slender man with sandy hair and weary eyes held his axe against the wind. When he finished, we began to talk. His name is Christopher. One is reminded of the Joni Mitchell song "Playin' Real Good For Free." Chris has played clubs the world over, taught music theory at a university,and sat in with quite a few famous bands. In today's music circles, many still remember him. Now his sonic gifts create an outdoor club gig, signifying to the sky, donations accepted. And many oblige, thanking him for his sounds. Sitting on the