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 GARY WINS ETOWN'S E-CHIEVEMENT AWARD! On Sunday March 25th, Gary will be featured and interviewed on "eTown", the internationally-syndicated radio show heard by more than a million listeners each week on 300 commercial and NPR stations worldwide. They will be presenting Gary their prestigious "E-chievement Award". During this popular listener-nominated segment, the E-Chievement Award highlights stories of "hometown heroes" from around the country working to make a positive difference in their communities and beyond. Also featured will be the North Mississippi Allstars. Listen to the show by clicking here: eTown GARY ALLEGRETTO'S BLUES EDUCATION PROGRAM ON ABC NEWS KEYT ABC News in Santa barbara covered Gary's Blues education program for the Santa Barbara Blues Society on Friday, January 27th. Read the full story and watch the video clip by clicking the image below:
ARTISTS PAYING IT FORWARD: GARY ALLEGRETTO AND HARMONIKIDS
GARY ALLEGRETTO and HARMONIKIDS By Therese A. Barron Gary Allegretto was five-years old when his grandfather handed him his harmonica. A stroke had left him unable to play it himself and he knew it was time to pass it down to someone who could truly enjoy it. As a young boy Gary was still sorting out how he would address the world. He was quiet and reserved and his grandfather's harmonica gave him a much needed voice. He privately practiced until he felt his music was...
Hohner is the world's top harmonica manufacturer. As a performing and recording artist Gary has been an official Hohner endorsee for decades. This year Hohner announced its alliance with Gary's nonprofit organization Harmonikids as well, providing a generous sponsorship program to assist Gary in performing humanitarian work worldwide. Subsequently, they have also provided Gary an exclusive and unique grant to sponsor Gary's "Blues In the Schools" programs. Hohner's official press release states:
 GARY'S HARMONICA FEATURED IN JOHNNY DEPP'S MOVIE "THE RUM DIARY" Gary's harmonica tracks can be heard prominently in Johnny Depp's movie "The Rum Diary" - now in theaters. The film is based on the Hunter S. Thompson novel. Gary worked with award-winning film composer Christopher Young in Eastwest Studio - in the same room that Elvis, Sinatra, and the Stones recorded. See http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0376136/ for more.
TREMBLANT INTERNATIONAL BLUES FESTIVAL PERFORMANCES AND WORKSHOPS
~ 2011 KEEPING THE BLUES ALIVE AWARD ~  "Gary recieved this year's KBA award for education and was as deserving as any recipient in history. His efforts in music education are second to none..." ~American Blues News (See link for article): 30th Annual Keeping the Blues Alive Awards. Feb 5th, 2011 Memphis, Tennessee — American Blues News  GARY ALLEGRETTO IS HONORED WITH THE BLUES FOUNDATION'S PRESTIGIOUS 2011 KBA AWARD The Blues Foundation has announced that Gary Allegretto is among the honoree's that will be receiving a 2011 Keeping the Blues Alive (KBA) Award during a recognition brunch on Saturday, February 5, 2011, in Memphis, Tennessee. Each year, The Blues Foundation presents the KBA Awards to individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to the blues music world. The KBAs are awarded strictly on the basis of merit by a select panel of blues professionals to those working to actively promote and document the music. Nominations are accepted from affiliated blues societies, past KBA recipients and current members of The Blues Foundation’s Board of Directors. “The recipients of this year’s awards – as with every year – are people and organizations who are an integral part of not only promoting blues music, but of preserving it as well. Their work applies to the business of recorded music, but also to live events, print media, radio and visual broadcasts, and increasingly, the internet,” notes Art Tipaldi, KBA chairman. Of special note, Allegretto was unanimously chosen by the KBA board. PRESS RELEASE: 2011 Keeping the Blues Alive Award Recipient, Education – Gary Allegretto, Los Angeles, CA Gary Allegretto is a world-class harmonica player whose music has merited Grammy considerations, among many other accolades. Further, he shares his passion through his highly acclaimed work as a BITS educator and Blues harmonica workshop teacher at camps, special events, and festivals in which he performs while on tour. But, perhaps most remarkable is the impact of Gary's humanitarian work that quite literally changes lives around the world. Through his nonprofit organization Harmonikids, he provides music therapy and harmonicas to children with a wide range of physical, emotional, and/or economical disadvantages. Since 1985, Gary’s programs have reached over 20,000 children globally. His most challenging work has been with child tsunami victims in Indonesia, Katrina victims in New Orleans, and recent earthquake victims in Haiti. When not abroad, Allegretto is most often found working in schools, hospitals, and with at-risk youth. “I give these kids a shiny new instrument and gentle music lessons, often in the most devastating time of their lives. In spite of their hardships, it provides self-esteem, confidence, and a positive means of self-expression crucial to their recovery.” The joy and hope Gary has brought to children around the world is immeasurable. “You hear a lot of wonderful stories in the Blues community but one person who continually delivers is Gary Allegretto.” ~ Blues Foundation, Member Spotlight GARY RECORDS WITH DON FELDER FOR UPCOMING CD On May 31 Gary recorded harmonica tracks for Don Felder's upcoming CD. Don is a great musician, singer and songwriter probably best known as member and lead guitarist for the Eagles (see http://www.donfelder.com/). More details to follow.  GARY REMEMBERS THE LEGENDARY PINETOP PERKINS Pinetop was a true legend.. and a true character. I first saw him play with Muddy Waters band at the Tower Theater when I was 18 ~ still the best Blues show I ever saw. I literally pinched myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming when I had the opportunity to share the stage and studio with him many years down the road. I'll never forget when I first met Pinetop at the studio during our 2005 recording session for Rich DelGrosso's CD "Get your Nose Outta My Bizness". He had stepped outside for a smoke. After politely letting me gush about his work and flatter him he finally just took a long drag on his cigarette and said "yeah okay. I love you too." At the CD release party Pinetop (who had just received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Grammys) played brilliantly late into the night. As he left the stage he pointed directly to me and said "you keep the business going". My heart stopped and I just said "yes sir", realizing that this was not just another reason to take the work of "Keeping the Blues Alive" seriously ~ but direct orders from the last of the great Mississippi Bluesmen. In the video of us performing "Got my Mojo Working" when Pine was a young man of 92, I think you can see how much fun we (Rich, David Kida, Ernie Scarbrough, Jeff Turmes, and I) had playing with him and how incredibly ageless he was on stage: I included a song I played on from Rich's album at the bottom of this page. The song started out with Pine just warming up and fooling around on the piano and wisely, engineer Lenise quickly switched on the controls to capture it. Thus, Rich called it "Smokin' and Jokin' with Pinetop" (see the very last thing at the bottom of this page). Rich's website is at http://www.mandolinblues.com/.
GARY FEATURED AND INTERVIEWED BY AMERICAN BLUES NEWS: Keeping the Blues Alive Award recipient Gary Allegretto on giving and giving thanks: GARY FEATURED AND INTERVIEWED BY ALTERNATE ROOTS MAGAZINE: http://thealternateroot.com/alternate-root-weekly-features/pulling-up-the-roots/541-gary-allegretto#comments GARY HONORED WITH 2010 AWARDS AND RECOGNITION On October 10, 2010, Gary Allegretto was honored with an Artists for a Better World Award, "for dedicated service inspiring our youth toward the creation of a better world through aesthetics". Gary was also chosen as a mentor and Alumni of Distinction by Northern Arizona University among "individuals who serve as guides for a variety of populations, helping others find their calling in the classroom, on the field, and beyond the university. Through their work they are leading and shaping future generations of difference-makers". Please see http://www.harmonikids.org/awards/index.htm for more info and links. GARY'S SONG "FOUR DAYS LATE" WINS ALTERNATE ROOTS SONGS FOR SOCIAL CHANGE CONTEST AND RECEIVES OTHER ACCOLADES Gary's "Four Days Late" was chosen out of over 500 submissions and won first place in Alternate Root Magazine's Songs For Social Change Contest by a wide margin of nearly 20% with over 1400 votes. The song features vocals by Ivan Neville and Janiva Magness. In Gary’s words “I wrote the song for the victims of the Hurricane Katrina in the midst of the disaster in New Orleans. I was honored to have been invited to New Orleans by Ivan Neville to record him directly at the Neville Brothers studio. The next day through my nonprofit (www.harmonikids.org) I gave harmonicas and lessons to kids at the Martin Luther King School in the Ninth Ward... the first school to reopen there. Among others, I taught them a celebrated song for social change; Woody Guthrie's "This Land is Your Land". I feel "Four Days Late" addresses a part of American history that should not be forgotten ~ as important now as it was then.”
Gary recently received two Grammy Award Nomination Considerations for both Best Contemporary Blues Album (for his recording "Many Shades of Blue") and Best Traditional Folk Album (for his acoustic recording project "Harmonicowboy").
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"Gary Allegretto is one of the finest harp players you'll hear" and "one of the classiest acts in the music business today, working only with the best backup musicians and taking the time to craft music noted not only for its quality but for its authenticity… real Blues.” ~Robert Fontenot, Blues Revue Magazine "This is honest music crafted from inspiration, talent, and skills, delivered at a high level of accomplishment.” ~Bob Margolin, Renowned Bluesman from Muddy Waters Band “... Allegretto sings with a natural storytelling appeal that’s easy to understand. His harmonica gives the program a zest that ensures magnetic forces. One listen and you’re under his spell. One listen and his audience is sold on pure blues with a message that comes from the heart." ~Jim Santella, Southland Blues Magazine "That boy can really blow that harp!" ~The Legendary Pinetop Perkins (CLICK ON REVIEWS TO SEE MORE COMMENTARY ON GARY'S MUSIC AND ON TESTIMONIALS TO SEE COMMENTARY ON GARY'S WORKSHOPS)
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