A few weeks back, I learned to my dismay that Douglas Tate had passed away. Doug was a rare sort of man, a great talent yet humblest than the lowliest of beginners. He was an active member of harp-l, the main harmonica mailing list on the net. A few years ago, he took the direction of SPAH, the american Harmonica association, and was instrumental in opening what remained to some extent an old gentleman's club to the new trends of the harmonica world. His collaboration with Bobbie Giordano brought birth to what is deemed to be the ultimate in professional chromatic harmonicas, the Renaissance.
Doug is someone I always hoped I would meet someday. We had many e-mail exchanges and I always appreciated his great advice and open-mindedness which he managed to managed to keep at all times without sacrificing to the "musical correctness" that is too often heard in this milieu. In 98, I attended a meeting of UK National Harmonica League in Birmingham which he was supposed to attend. Unfortunately, motor troubles (if I recall) forced him to miss the occasion. I now realise more than ever my loss at this missed opportunity.
A few months ago, I had started toying with the idea of inviting him to perform for the St Aignan harmonica festival as one of the most prominent classical harmonica players out there. A tape he sent me in the late 90s had amply demonstrated his abilities and musicality to me, and I thought it would be great to get him and a pianist over. I should have made my move sooner.
I hear his wife is looking at releasing these recordings I was lucky enough to be able to listen to. I'll keep you posted when that happens. Meanwhile, I just wanted to say goodbye to Doug. He will be sorely missed...
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