September 10, 2014
...in the French Quarter of New Orleans. He's a living icon dressed in his trademark denim overalls, red shirt, bushy salt and pepper Santa Claus beard and floppy hat (or a new straw hat tonite). His stage - a milk crate, his suitcase, cane, and tip jar nearby.
Born in the Lafitte Housing Project, the man everyone calls "Grandpa Elliot" has been making music here for years. Men, women, and teenagers know him by sight and shout out hello as they pass by. And if you've never heard of him, you'll remember him for the rest of your life if you happen to walk by this corner and hear him croon and play his harmonica.
The man is an embodiment of New Orleans spirit: warm, full of stories, outgoing, engaging, accepting, and unfailingly lifts the spirit of any who come in contact with him. Totally blind since 2005, he doesn't seem to miss much of what's going on around him.
You may have seen him perform in the video in which he's one of a world class group of musicians singing "Stand By Me." (if you've never watched this, you're in for a treat that will leave you humming and feelin' the truth of ths song long after)
Below, videos of a conversation I had with the man himself...about his involvement with Playing For Change ("connecting the world through music...") and an unfortunate visit he had with a barber who trimmed his beard way too short for Grandpa's comfort.
VIDEO2 Grandpa Elliot describes how he became popular in the French Quarter and how he became involved in the Playing For Change videos.
VIDEO 3 Grandpa Elliot asked me to record this story about the unfortunate extensive trimming of his beloved beard, "had me looking like a beatnik and 20 years younger..." "I am the real Grandpa," he says with a chuckle and spontaneously belts out a chorus of "Stand By Me" then says, "I hope you put this on the computer."
Well, Grandpa, here you go!
Photos and videos by Paul A. Tamburello, Jr.
You look very comfortable there "PT"....Nice place to be out calooping.
Posted by: Gerard M. McMahon | September 13, 2014 at 05:25 AM
Thank you for bringing the richness of New Orleans to me through you detailed chronicles and oral histories. Grandpa is the real deal but so are you. Keep recording, writing, and sharing all of this.
Posted by: K. Burton Jones | October 05, 2014 at 04:42 PM
One of the surprising things about New Orleans is how accessible the musicians are. Grandpa Elliot is, as you see and hear, a fine example. Thanks for the encouragement!
Posted by: Paul A. Tamburello, Jr. aka pt at large | October 05, 2014 at 06:32 PM
K
I can't tell you how many times i shake my head and think, "Only in New Orleans..." This was one of those nights.
On Oct 5, 2014, at 4:42 PM, Typepad wrote:
Posted by: ptatlarge | October 05, 2014 at 07:01 PM