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Happy Hour Harmonica Podcast

Todd Parrott interview

February 22, 2023 Neil Warren Season 1 Episode 80

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Todd is based in Charlotte, North Carolina, and music scene there

Todd is a Gospel harmonica player, with country and other genres thrown in

Heard harmonica from father playing country music on the radio with harmonica in it, and grandfather played harmonica a little

First heard harmonica when a visiting player performed in church. That got Todd hooked

Bought a harmonica off this visiting player: a Huang Silverstone Deluxe diatonic (produced by Chamber Huang)

Bought a Hohner harmonica shortly afterwards

Still has first harmonica and occasionally plays it

Playing church music

Was 13 when got first harmonica and discovered harmonica on the radio and father’s tape recordings

Listened to Mickey Raphael playing with Willie Nelson

Terry McMillan was a big influence on Todd, with Terry playing on lots of recordings

Buddy Greene and Charlie McCoy were other influences on Todd

Didn’t listen to the blues players, with the lack of their influence meaning Todd developed his sound differently than a lot of harmonica players

Also plays keyboard / organ, using it as first to learn some chords to relate to harmonica

Todd was mostly playing in church bands, mostly melodies as hadn’t learnt anything about improvising

First session was playing on a radio commercial age 15, playing blues licks

Picked the harmonica up quickly in the supportive environment of the church

Similarities between Gospel and Country harmonica and how to play them

YouTube opened up the world of harmonica for Todd and people found him for some session work

Todd has released an album called Songs From The Harp, released in 2014

Gospel songs on the album

Took three years to record the album and detail on how some of the songs were put together

Todd recorded many of the other instruments on the album, learning some of them especially for the project

Had already learnt some bass to fill-in for church band

The other musicians playing on the album

I Need Thee Every Hour song is a solo piece borrowed from Buddy Greene

Plans to release another solo album, but recorded in a studio with Todd only playing harmonica

Recorded on a country album by Bill Tripp

Played with Mark Miller in Atlanta and why to never turn down a gig

More session work recording on other musicians albums

Album with Gabriel Bello of Stevie Wonder songs

Live recordings playing with Buddy Greene at SPAH

Todd teaches harmonica, and organised the Carolina HarpFest harmonica camp

Appearing at SPAH this year, the 60th anniversary of the event

Involvement in other harmonica workshops

Heartily recommends going to SPAH

10 minute question, including playing in 6th position on a country tuned harmonica

Playing along with whatever is on the radio is a good way to prepare for sitting in with bands, finding the notes that work

Todd often uses a harmonica tuned with the 7 draw down, which has sort of become known as the Todd Parrott tuning (although he wasn’t the first to use it)

Plays some Joe Spiers custom harmonicas

Would do some basic set-up of own harps before using Joe Spiers ones

7 draw being tuned down was inspired by Pete Elder

Maybe Todd should have Seydel manufacture the 7 draw down tuning

Todd is a Hohner endorsee and mainly plays Golden Melodies, with a new Golden Melody being released by Hohner in early 2023

Likes using Brendan Powers slip-slider harmonica

Makes his own custom combs

Todd uses overblows to play licks from low end of harp on the top end

Embouchre: pucker player mainly

Doesn’t play much chromatic

Has a Lone Wolf Harp Train 10 amp and a Lone Wolf Harp Attack pedal

Has one of the original Hohner Blues Blaster mics

Uses any vocal mic going, has a Bulletini and Ultimate 58

Info

Happy Hour Harmonica Podcast

Todd Parrott interview

Feb 22, 2023 Season 1 Episode 80

Neil Warren

Todd Parrot joins me on episode 80.

Todd is a gospel harmonica player who was inspired to play harmonica after first hearing it in church. He went on to join the church band and has gone on to develop a heavenly tone on the instrument. Todd listened to a lot of country harmonica and was influenced from several players from that genre, including Terry McMillan.

Todd released a self-produced solo album, Songs From The Harp, where he learned to play several instruments to accompany his harmonica playing, as well as using other musicians. He is also a sought after session musician, appearing on albums from numerous recording artists.

Todd has run the Carolina HarpFest harmonica camp and is a regular at the annual SPAH event. He makes use of alternative tunings, makes his own combs and is an overblow player.

Links:

Todd’s website:
http://www.toddparrott.com/

Carolina Harp Fest:
http://www.toddparrott.com/carolina-harp-fest.html

Joe Spiers Custom harmonicas:
https://spiersharmonicas.com/

Hohner Golden Melody live launch stream (23/02/23):
https://www.hohner.de/en/community/news/news-details/product-launch-event-livestream

Videos:

Playing with Buddy Green at SPAH:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvN9XsOEdWA

Playing Amazing Grace at SPAH:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJ2kom7jv6g

Todd reviews Joe Spiers custom harps:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzrEg97RzLI

Todd playing a Golden Melody:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZj5hCsx8vo

Reviewing Brendan Power’s Slip Slider harmonica:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7vZCgf8Zc4

Demonstrates harmonica with 7 draw tuned down:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hUCd03PDAM

Podcast website:
https://www.harmonicahappyhour.com

Donations:
If you want to make a voluntary donation to help support the running costs of the podcast then please use this link (or visit the podcast website link above):
https://paypal.me/harmonicahappyhour?locale.x=en_GB

Spotify Playlist:
Also check out the Spotify Playlist, which contains most of the songs discussed in the podcast:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5QC6RF2VTfs4iPuasJBqwT?si=M-j3IkiISeefhR7ybm9qIQ

Podcast sponsors:
This podcast is sponsored by SEYDEL harmonicas - visit the oldest harmonica factory in the world at www.seydel1847.com or on Facebook or Instagram at SEYDEL HARMONICAS

Support the show

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Todd Parrot joins me on episode 80.

Todd is a gospel harmonica player who was inspired to play harmonica after first hearing it in church. He went on to join the church band and has gone on to develop a heavenly tone on the instrument. Todd listened to a lot of country harmonica and was influenced from several players from that genre, including Terry McMillan.

Todd released a self-produced solo album, Songs From The Harp, where he learned to play several instruments to accompany his harmonica playing, as well as using other musicians. He is also a sought after session musician, appearing on albums from numerous recording artists.

Todd has run the Carolina HarpFest harmonica camp and is a regular at the annual SPAH event. He makes use of alternative tunings, makes his own combs and is an overblow player.

Links:

Todd’s website:
http://www.toddparrott.com/

Carolina Harp Fest:
http://www.toddparrott.com/carolina-harp-fest.html

Joe Spiers Custom harmonicas:
https://spiersharmonicas.com/

Hohner Golden Melody live launch stream (23/02/23):
https://www.hohner.de/en/community/news/news-details/product-launch-event-livestream

Videos:

Playing with Buddy Green at SPAH:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvN9XsOEdWA

Playing Amazing Grace at SPAH:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJ2kom7jv6g

Todd reviews Joe Spiers custom harps:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzrEg97RzLI

Todd playing a Golden Melody:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZj5hCsx8vo

Reviewing Brendan Power’s Slip Slider harmonica:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7vZCgf8Zc4

Demonstrates harmonica with 7 draw tuned down:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hUCd03PDAM

Podcast website:
https://www.harmonicahappyhour.com

Donations:
If you want to make a voluntary donation to help support the running costs of the podcast then please use this link (or visit the podcast website link above):
https://paypal.me/harmonicahappyhour?locale.x=en_GB

Spotify Playlist:
Also check out the Spotify Playlist, which contains most of the songs discussed in the podcast:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5QC6RF2VTfs4iPuasJBqwT?si=M-j3IkiISeefhR7ybm9qIQ

Podcast sponsors:
This podcast is sponsored by SEYDEL harmonicas - visit the oldest harmonica factory in the world at www.seydel1847.com or on Facebook or Instagram at SEYDEL HARMONICAS

Support the show

Todd is based in Charlotte, North Carolina, and music scene there

Todd is a Gospel harmonica player, with country and other genres thrown in

Heard harmonica from father playing country music on the radio with harmonica in it, and grandfather played harmonica a little

First heard harmonica when a visiting player performed in church. That got Todd hooked

Bought a harmonica off this visiting player: a Huang Silverstone Deluxe diatonic (produced by Chamber Huang)

Bought a Hohner harmonica shortly afterwards

Still has first harmonica and occasionally plays it

Playing church music

Was 13 when got first harmonica and discovered harmonica on the radio and father’s tape recordings

Listened to Mickey Raphael playing with Willie Nelson

Terry McMillan was a big influence on Todd, with Terry playing on lots of recordings

Buddy Greene and Charlie McCoy were other influences on Todd

Didn’t listen to the blues players, with the lack of their influence meaning Todd developed his sound differently than a lot of harmonica players

Also plays keyboard / organ, using it as first to learn some chords to relate to harmonica

Todd was mostly playing in church bands, mostly melodies as hadn’t learnt anything about improvising

First session was playing on a radio commercial age 15, playing blues licks

Picked the harmonica up quickly in the supportive environment of the church

Similarities between Gospel and Country harmonica and how to play them

YouTube opened up the world of harmonica for Todd and people found him for some session work

Todd has released an album called Songs From The Harp, released in 2014

Gospel songs on the album

Took three years to record the album and detail on how some of the songs were put together

Todd recorded many of the other instruments on the album, learning some of them especially for the project

Had already learnt some bass to fill-in for church band

The other musicians playing on the album

I Need Thee Every Hour song is a solo piece borrowed from Buddy Greene

Plans to release another solo album, but recorded in a studio with Todd only playing harmonica

Recorded on a country album by Bill Tripp

Played with Mark Miller in Atlanta and why to never turn down a gig

More session work recording on other musicians albums

Album with Gabriel Bello of Stevie Wonder songs

Live recordings playing with Buddy Greene at SPAH

Todd teaches harmonica, and organised the Carolina HarpFest harmonica camp

Appearing at SPAH this year, the 60th anniversary of the event

Involvement in other harmonica workshops

Heartily recommends going to SPAH

10 minute question, including playing in 6th position on a country tuned harmonica

Playing along with whatever is on the radio is a good way to prepare for sitting in with bands, finding the notes that work

Todd often uses a harmonica tuned with the 7 draw down, which has sort of become known as the Todd Parrott tuning (although he wasn’t the first to use it)

Plays some Joe Spiers custom harmonicas

Would do some basic set-up of own harps before using Joe Spiers ones

7 draw being tuned down was inspired by Pete Elder

Maybe Todd should have Seydel manufacture the 7 draw down tuning

Todd is a Hohner endorsee and mainly plays Golden Melodies, with a new Golden Melody being released by Hohner in early 2023

Likes using Brendan Powers slip-slider harmonica

Makes his own custom combs

Todd uses overblows to play licks from low end of harp on the top end

Embouchre: pucker player mainly

Doesn’t play much chromatic

Has a Lone Wolf Harp Train 10 amp and a Lone Wolf Harp Attack pedal

Has one of the original Hohner Blues Blaster mics

Uses any vocal mic going, has a Bulletini and Ultimate 58