Itzhak Pealman And John Denver Playing Bluegrass

[T.D.Nydn]

Is Pearlman fiddling on a strad?....

[DataNick]

Is Pearlman fiddling on a strad?....

That's a great question!

When I get to work I'll ask him on Facebook...

[Timbofood]

Is Pearlman fiddling on a strad?....

He has in the past.
This vid isn't necessarily my cup of gin but, good sports all around I think.

[farmerjones]

Couldn't find it quickly, but did see a vid of Itzhak Perlman & Pinchas Zukerman jamming fiddle tunes backstage.
I think at their level, chops is chops.

NFN I remember somebody taught John Denver how to play fiddle for Thank God Ima Country Boy. He could do a bit of Sally Good'n at the end. It was rough, but he managed.

[allenhopkins]

Is Pearlman fiddling on a strad?....

Does it have the Stradivarius logo?

Is it a tinny-sounding 1970's Asian Strad copy?

By the way, it's "Perlman" -- no "a."

[JEStanek]

I thought it was a mix of BG and ITM to my ears. It did look to be played with joy. I like the custom finger rest as well.

Jamie

[Tom Sanderson]

I'm not saying that it is a Nugget mandolin in any of those pictures, But Mike Kemnitzer did build a (Nugget)mandolin for John Denver early on.

[DataNick]

I'm not saying that it is a Nugget mandolin in any of those pictures, But Mike Kemnitzer did build a (Nugget)mandolin for John Denver early on.

That's interesting Tom...would Mike K. have used that fingerboard inlay pattern? That would lead me to believe this one's not a Nugget...

[Tom Sanderson]

Anything is possible. Mike would do just about any inlay that his customer wanted, but I don't think that is a Nugget in the pictures. Next time I talk to Mike I'll ask him about it.

[OldGus]

I have nothing but respect for Denver as a song writer and as a pilot. He owned a Lear Jet, was highly trained, qualified to fly it and flew it well.

He was a great guitar player/singer/songwriter but the rest is questionable. He got his license revoked for drinking and driving twice then he flew anyway and died in a crash.

[Ivan Kelsall]

I have to say that to me,the inlay on the fingerboard does look like one of those Gibson ''Asian look-alike' mandolins that they did make at one time,similar to the Aria mandolins,
Ivan

[Timbofood]

Exactly Trevor, Aria, Ibanez, Alvarez all had models with that inlay. I have my doubts about it being from Mr. Kemnitzer's hands.

[Tom Sanderson]

Exactly Trevor, Aria, Ibanez, Alvarez all had models with that inlay. I have my doubts about it being from Mr. Kemnitzer's hands.

I agree that it is likely not a Nugget in the pictures, but he must have been pretty serious about playing mandolin because he did own a Nugget which he had built to his specs.

[DataNick]

The beauty of the Internet!

So what have we learned from one inocuos photo that Mr. Perlman shared on Facebook:

That John Denver played the mandolin, and that he had a mild case of MAS having owned:
1. A 70s Gibson F5 (see post #20 and others)
2. A Nugget that he commissioned from Mike K.
3. A Gibson vintage F4 (teens?)...can someone ID that model in the second video.

And he had the F4 customized with a pick-up.

Who would have thought that John Denver was a kindred spirit, and member of the mandolin fraternity!

Very cool from where I sit, and a feel good revelation, thanks to Mr. Perlman!

[FLATROCK HILL]

He owned a Lear Jet, was highly trained, qualified to fly it and flew it well.

He got his license revoked for drinking and driving twice then he flew anyway and died in a crash.

Yes Gus, it does seem strange ("questionable" as you say), but both of those statements are true.
The second quoted statement might seem to disprove the first. I can assure you, it does not.

[Timbofood]

The aircraft which was his demise was a "Long Easy", one of many "home build able" ultralight kits. I don't know whether or not he built it but, at the time it was a pretty new design. No one can say what may have happened to cause the crash. He was indeed a very well practiced and trained pilot.
His demons may have played into his death but, again, known but unto God.
As for the apparent mandolin addiction, the '70's F-5 clears some of the fog from the earlier posted video. Clearly he suffered from MAS!

[DataNick]

...As for the apparent mandolin addiction, the '70's F-5 clears some of the fog from the earlier posted video. Clearly he suffered from MAS!

And perhaps this is most comforting from all that we have learned..that in our struggle for acceptance and recovery from MAS, we are not alone...LOL!

[OldGus]

Yes Gus, it does seem strange ("questionable" as you say), but both of those statements are true.
The second quoted statement might seem to disprove the first. I can assure you, it does not.

Not saying he wasn't a skilled pilot but I wouldn't say I've got nothing but respect for it. We do know he had his license revoked, flew anyway then died crashing the aircraft.

[T.D.Nydn]

R.I.P.....Henry Deutschendorf....

[DataNick]

Hey T.D. !

Mr. Perlman apparently for the most part just "posts" to Facebook; I'll post the question re: the Strad but don't have high hopes of getting an answer...

[DanSavage]

The aircraft which was his demise was a "Long Easy", one of many "home build able" ultralight kits. I don't know whether or not he built it but, at the time it was a pretty new design. No one can say what may have happened to cause the crash. He was indeed a very well practiced and trained pilot.

I grew up listening to John Denver's music. He, and Cat Stevens were the musicians who ignited my love of playing music. I didn't realize he played the mandolin, though. Pretty cool.

WRT to the crash that took his life, Denver bought the Long-EZ used. Actually, the NTSB determined the cause to be poor placement of fuel-selector handle diverting his attention during flight.

The reason for his attention being diverted during flight, specifically, take-off, was his inattention during pre-flight. Namely, he didn't check to make sure the fuel tanks actually had fuel in them. (they didn't) So, when the engine quit, he attempted to reach over his shoulder to switch the fuel tanks and in the process stepped on the rudder pedal, sending the airplane spiraling down into the ocean.

The full report is available online. (See: NTSB Determines John Denver's Crash Caused by Poor Placement of Fuel Selector Handle Diverting His Attention During Flight)

Interestingly, his brother said in a TV show that Denver wanted to buzz his buddy Clint Eastwood's house in Carmel to show off his new toy, (Long-EZ)

[Paul Hird]

Hear, Hear DataNick!

[DataNick]

Cafe Community,

Here's a thought: in light of the whole Kemnitzer, Colorado, bluegrass, mandolin connection now established with John Denver, I wonder if at some point he may have had any interaction or had a "running buddy" relationship with one Tim O'Brien?

Food for thought...I bet they did have some interaction...anybody know out there?

[Timbofood]

Thanks Dan, the only reason I knew it was a "Long-EZ" (thanks for the proper spelling) was my brother had gotten a bit of a bee in his bonnet about them.
I was fairly sure there would be someone who would have better knowledge than I.

[DanSavage]

Thanks Dan, the only reason I knew it was a "Long-EZ" (thanks for the proper spelling) was my brother had gotten a bit of a bee in his bonnet about them.
I was fairly sure there would be someone who would have better knowledge than I.

YVW. I, too, at one time, had a bee in my bonnet for home building a kit plane. (Lancair) Thankfully, I came to my senses and realized that playing a musical instrument isn't nearly so life-threatening.