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Andrew Reed's avatar

Quite a story, Tony! Thanks for sharing this.

I liked it so much, I made a playlist. (OK, I made the playlist a while back, but grooving to it today thanks to reading your piece). Enjoy! https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6QSJLOa87YKcikmYS22ziS?si=38Aa29e7T2WPaKaGS2WOhw

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Tony Fletcher's avatar

Glad it turned you on and thanks for sharing your playlist. (I have collected a few over the years.) It looks like you have the Moog in there as well, am I right?

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Andrew Reed's avatar

Yeah, I’m certainly no expert on the instrument used in each track. But these are some of my favorites that feature any organ.

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John Greene's avatar

Fantastic article about a truly under appreciated instrument! My hometown Philly is where the “jazz organ trio” originated. Jimmy Smith, Jimmy McGriff, Shirley Scott, Trudy Pitts, Joey DeFrancesco, I’ve seen them all live in small smoke filled clubs. It was a privilege!

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Tony Fletcher's avatar

Cheers John. And indeed, the Philly connection is utterly enormous, really kicked in w ith the B-3 and Jimmy Smith, another area I have already researched. And... lucky you, man - a privilege indeed!!!

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Mick Berry's avatar

I'm there. Great job Tony. If you got it in you, I'll be the first in line for a book. But as I've written three myself (actually "co" written, which is only half the trouble) I know it's not undertaken lightly. As Vladimir Nabokov said, the only reason to write a book is (paraphrasing) "to finish the damn thing".

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Tony Fletcher's avatar

Thanks Mick, I really appreciate that. We have some interest that's for sure. And no, books are not undertaken lightly. But at least I know what I am up against... Hope you are well.

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Adam Snyder's avatar

Great article, there's a book there for sure. Not sure if you've touched on home models, perhaps a revolutionary connection with the general public? I grew up playing my grandfather's Hammond S6 chord organ which came out in 1958 (needed to look that up!) Much of what I know about chords came from playing that!

One other little thing from my experience pairing a Hammond with a Leslie cabinet, the Leslie is a physical device which, unlike computer effects, takes a little second to get up to speed, the cats who were really good at this could anticipate the time lag and work with it.

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Tony Fletcher's avatar

Thanks Adam... Yes, the Hammond was absolutely modeled as an organ for the home and so that would form a significant chunk of any book. I have done quite a lot of research about the Hammond Societies and the Hammond Times and how many households they claimed to have sold their organs into at the peak of the instrument's domestic dominance.

And yes with the Leslie as well, the likes of Booker T. and many others could play that switch like an instrument.

Cheers,

tony

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Ric Dragon's avatar

Yes, yes, yes, triple hue yes. This needs to be a book, and I think you're a great candidate to write it.

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Tony Fletcher's avatar

Cheers Ric, and you know something about this subject.

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Jim Eigo's avatar

You ever see this:

Don Wildman Mysteries at the Museum Dawn of the Synth Thaddeus Cahill ‘Telharmonium’ + The Hammond Organ

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5811882/

Watch For Free On Tubi

Begins at 15:58

https://tubitv.com/tv-shows/718483/s11-e01-miracle-on-the-hudson-and-more

Don Wildman investigates the chain of events that led to the Miracle on the Hudson River, uncovers the origins of a legendary statue and examines a musical invention that struck a major chord.

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Tony Fletcher's avatar

Thank you for sharing these. I was away over the weekened but look forward to digging in...

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Lori Quakenbush's avatar

Very interesting!

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Tony Fletcher's avatar

Thanks Lori: is that a provisional yes for a book?

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David Perlmutter's avatar

Hammond organs have fascinated me ever since I discovered what they were and the wide range of sounds they have been capable of creating in numerous genres. It's very fascinating to learn about how it came to be.

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Tony Fletcher's avatar

Thanks David. They are truly fascinating, and the possible intro I published here is really but a tip of the iceberg.

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Tamara Casey's avatar

Awesome 👍

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Tony Fletcher's avatar

Thank your!

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