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Topic: Rufus Harley, jazz bagpiper, TV tonight, SE PA and S Jersey |
David Doggett
From:
Bawl'mer, MD (formerly of MS, Nawluns, Gnashville, Knocksville, Lost Angeles, Bahsten. and Philly)
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Posted 21 Mar 2008 12:27 pm |
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Pipes of Peace: Rufus Harley
Friday, March 21, 10:00pm
CHANNEL 39 (WLVT)
Philadelphia jazzman Rufus Harley (1936-2006) is profiled. Included: remarks by family members, friends and musicians; archival comments from Harley.
Pipes of Peace
A George Manney film.
B.L.A.S.T. - Brotherly Love All-Star Tour production
http://www.PipesOfPeaceMovie.com |
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Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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Posted 21 Mar 2008 2:28 pm
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| Hah! Rufus played at my wedding. But I'm surprised to see your note that he passed away in '06; I did not know that... A Philly icon for sure. |
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David Doggett
From:
Bawl'mer, MD (formerly of MS, Nawluns, Gnashville, Knocksville, Lost Angeles, Bahsten. and Philly)
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Posted 21 Mar 2008 5:39 pm
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Must have been a far out wedding. When was that? Any pictures?
There's not a whole lot of his playing in this video. He actually came up on stage with us a time or two and played his pipes. But he mostly played Amazing Grace and other conventional stuff. From the video (which I saw a pre-release version of), I learned that he was originally a well respected free jazz sax player. And the first recordings he did on bagpipes were in the same free jazz vein.
He kept his health problems to himself, and kept playing right up until the end. Most of us didn't even realize he had a serious health problem. But in the video you can see from earlier clips how much weight he had lost toward the end. I actually thought he passed away during 2007. The note above was copied from something George Manny sent around. |
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John Steele (deceased)
From:
Renfrew, Ontario, Canada
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Posted 23 Mar 2008 6:13 pm
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Somewhere in the stack of old vinyl in my parents' basement is a Rufus Harley record. My father was a (traditional) bagpiper with the Lanark & Renfrew Scottish Regiment. I always thought it was wierd that he owned this record, as his approach to bagpiping was of the strict military style. I can't remember the name of the record, but I know it was full of non-traditional pieces. I'd almost forgotten about that record. I'll have a look for it sometime.
-John |
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Bob Stone
From:
Gainesville, FL, USA
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Posted 25 Mar 2008 8:00 am
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| I vaguely remember seeing Harley playing jazz on the bagpipes on some TV variety show about 100 years ago, maybe 150. Sorry to hear of his passing. And Jim he played at your wedding--small world! |
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David Doggett
From:
Bawl'mer, MD (formerly of MS, Nawluns, Gnashville, Knocksville, Lost Angeles, Bahsten. and Philly)
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Posted 25 Mar 2008 9:57 am
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| It's on again this Friday, 3/28/08, 11:00 PM, PBS WHYY, Channel 12. |
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Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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Posted 25 Mar 2008 2:57 pm
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OK, I dug up a few photos from my wedding, showing Rufus coming down the aisle before the lucky couple, as I recall, playing Havah Nagila but he didn't have a minor third on the pipes (Oy Vey!), then serenading folks on the lawn after the ceremony, and while I was at it, I found a photo of my younger self, sitting in with the band on my own wedding day! What a gig! 20 years ago this coming June 25.
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