Meet Kirsten Agresta Copely

Please enjoy this interview with New York City harpist, 

Kirsten Agresta Copley.

Meet Kirsten!

 

 This is not a "Harp story", but something I wanted to share anyway.

It is from an American Federation of Musicians, Local 802 monthly newsletter.

"Nat King Cole was an enormously popular crooner, earning $4,500 a week in Las Vegas in 1956. He headlined at the whites-only Thunderbird Hotel, where he wasn’t allowed to venture beyond the showroom and the cook’s resting area behind the kitchen. Cole’s road manager was given a room in the hotel because he was white, but the high-paid feature attraction had to find other accommodations. He regularly stayed in a rooming house on the West Side.

Frank Sinatra was a great fan of Cole’s. While performing at the Sands, Sinatra noticed that Cole almost always ate his dinner alone in his dressing room. Sinatra asked his valet, a black man named George, to find out why. George explained the facts to Frank. “Coloreds aren’t allowed in the dining room at the Sands.”

Sinatra was enraged. He told the maitre d’ and the waitresses that if it ever happened again, he’d see that everyone was fired.

The next night, Sinatra invited Cole to dinner, making his guest the first black man to sit down and eat in the the Garden Room at the Sands."

 I had a most lovely time visiting with my friend, Michael Vanderpool in this video podcast. We talked about harps, education, internships..just about anything you can think of!

Please enjoy, here is the link:

https://youtu.be/p2IE3Q9pFQ8?si=W3U_4P7XXjoORTss

 

Alice Coltrane

Have you ever heard about a jazz harpist whose name was Alice Coltrane (1937-2007)? Yes, she was married to the famous saxophone player, John Coltrane.

A story was recently shared by the American Federation of Musicans, Local 802 (New  York City) about her and about an album which is being released.

I thought you might like to read the story, A Tribute to Alice Coltrane:

 https://www.local802afm.org/allegro/articles/alice-coltrane/ 

Here is a link to a sample tune of her playing the harp. Enjoy!

https://alicecoltrane.lnk.to/LiveAtCarnegieHallID

 The #1 Reason to Pick Up an Instrument After 50

So, are you thinking about starting harp lessons (or some sort of music lessons), and you are over 50?

Here is a great article from AARP about the benefits of exploring a musical instrument after age 50. 

I think the reasons are good anytime, but wanted to share this article with you!

Just click here:

The #1 Reason to Pick Up an Instrument After 50

TAPESTRY duo is honored to have our music as part of a recent play list for Valerie Green’s radio show, Harpestry (Thank you, Valerie!). Valerie offers a tribute to our friend, the late Al Petteway, on her October 9, 2023 show, making it even more special.

Here is the link, give it a listen:   Harpestry Radio Show!

Cass Tech Harp Program

My talented friend, Lydia Cleaver, leads the nearly 100 year old harp program at Cass Tech in Detroit.

This lovely article was published by the Detroit Free Press on April 14, 2023.  Enjoy!

(Photo by Eric Seals, Detroit Free Press)

Click here to read the story:

Detroit Free Press: Cass Tech Harp Program