#70 Joe Filisko, harmonica player, teacher, and technician extraordinaire

Joe Filisko is one of the best harmonica players, teachers, and technicians in the world, but he didn't play harmonica when he was young. He started playing guitar in his teens and it "made time simultaneously stand dead still and fly ahead rapidly." After playing a while in a guitar ensemble, he became intrigued by some of the master blues and roots harmonica players, joined a harmonica club, started to participate in the Society for the Preservation and Advancement of the Harmonica (SPAH), and ultimately began to work on harmonicas. His initial goal was to understand, explain, and teach about the role of the harmonica in American folk, blues, and roots music so that people could appreciate the rich nature of that music. He has now been playing roots music with Eric Noden for over 15 years (rootsduo.com). Joe says music is magical, and people want to participate; they feel a sense of being, purpose, peace, and relaxation through music. He says when musicians can get the audience clapping and singing it always raises the energy level in the room. The harmonica can be a magical musical fix, and he believes everyone should own and play simple songs on the harmonica. He also says all public schools should teach singing and rhythm. "I wish people were getting together and making more music."