{"id":111306,"date":"2015-06-25T18:49:52","date_gmt":"2015-06-26T00:49:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/harmonicowboy\/"},"modified":"2015-06-25T18:49:52","modified_gmt":"2015-06-26T00:49:52","slug":"harmonicowboy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/harmonicowboy\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Harmonicowboy\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\"Blues
Blues vitruoso Gary Allegretto kicks off Cowboy Music Week at the Sunflower Theatre with a show and harmonica workshop on July 5.<\/span>Courtesy<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Of all the musical instruments that evoke a classic, western sound, the harmonica\u2019s rhythmic howl is hard to beat.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s also an instrument that many buy but never learn to play \u2013 something the self-described \u201cHarmonicowboy\u201d Gary Allegretto hopes to change one workshop at a time.<\/p>\n

\u201cA lot of people who get a harmonica have no idea what to do. They blow in and out of it a few times and end up putting it back in a box or a drawer as a possession. It\u2019s not something they play,\u201d said Allegretto. \u201cMy goal is to make people harmonica players.\u201d<\/p>\n

As part of the Sunflower Theatre\u2019s inaugural Cowboy Music Week \u2013 a musical salute to Cortez\u2019s Old West history \u2013 Allegretto is bringing his critically-acclaimed blues and western tunes for an intimate show at the Sunflower, followed by his harmonica workshop.<\/p>\n

The workshops, which have been held all over the world, teach attendees how to play four Western tunes by session\u2019s close.<\/p>\n

Included in the $20 ticket price, is a Hohner Harmonica with a music booklet, award-winning entertainment and expert instruction from Allegretto himself.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople are often astounded by how fast they learn. I promise to them teach a song in 30 seconds, and they usually laugh, and then they find out I wasn\u2019t kidding,\u201d Allegretto said. \u201cI\u2019ve never met anybody I couldn\u2019t teach.\u201d<\/p>\n

A portion of proceeds will be donated to Allegretto\u2019s nonprofit Harmonikids, which provides music therapy to children with special needs worldwide.<\/p>\n

In terms of his show, Allegretto says attendees can expect some of his older familiar songs as well as some new material he\u2019s been working on.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey can expect all material that they\u2019ve heard and love, as well as some new stuff. I do try to mix it up. The thing that makes me unique is that I mix up some unique stuff they\u2019ll never hear anywhere else. There\u2019s even a song where I play the washboard with one hand and three harmonicas in the other,\u201d said Allegretto.<\/p>\n

While he\u2019s based in Los Angeles these days, Allegretto lived for a time in northern New Mexico. He\u2019s traveled the world but says the dusty, cowboy landscape of the Four Corners stays close to his heart.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s always a joy to come back to Cortez. I\u2019m excited about it,\u201d he said. I have a lot of friends out there, and it\u2019s always great to get back to those mountains.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

If you go<\/h4>\n

\u201cHarmonicowboy\u201d Gary Allegretto kicks off the inaugural Cowboy Music Week beginning Sunday at the Sunflower Theatre in Cortez.
\n Schedule
\n Sunday, July 5: Gary Allegretto Performing at 4:30 p.m.; Harmonica workshop at 6 p.m.
\n Wednesday, July 8: Local western artists perform cowboy music and poetry at 7 p.m.
\n Saturday, July 11: \u201cZen Cowboy\u201d Chuck Pyle at 7:30 p.m.
\n Tickets
\n Tickets may be purchased online, or in person at KSJD offices at the corner of Main and Market Streets in downtown Cortez, Wednesday \u2013 Friday, 3-5: p.m.
\n All remaining tickets can be purchased at the door 45 minutes before show time.
\n For more information, visit sunflowertheatre.org<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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