If you're a fan of western music, you know you're going to the Gary Allegretto house concert Saturday. In addition to being a top western singer and harmonica virtuoso, Gary has shared with us some details of his recent visit to Haiti.
Allegretto has a nonprofit organization, Harmonikids, which helps bring the power of music to children who need it in their lives. In the second week of May, Allegretto took Harmonikids on a music therapy mission to aid children in Port Au Prince, Haiti who survived the earthquake, as well as children trapped in restavek servitude. “Restavek” is a Creole word used for those who are victims of child slavery.
In Allegretto’s words: “Harmonikids effectively provided these children shiny new harmonicas and gentle, entertaining music lessons in the most devastating time of their life. In spite of their inconceivable hardships, these children were irresistibly drawn to the harmonica with it’s child-friendly simplicity, pocket-sized portability, and warm voice-like tone.
"Making music provided a positive means of creative self-expression, an emotional outlet, and stress relieving benefits crucial to their development. The sessions visibly elevated their self-esteem and confidence. And perhaps most importantly, Harmonikids gave these Haitian children an opportunity to recover some of the childhood hope and joy that had been so cruelly stolen from their young lives.”
Now that he's back in the States, Allegretto is touring and promoting his music and his Harmonikids foundation. And he'll bring it to Altadena next Sat., July 17, in a house concert from Bob Mann and Big Hat Promotions. Suggested donation is $20 (which includes a barbecue). Doors and picnic open at 5:30, concert at 7 PM. Email big.hat@sbcglobal.net for reservations and location.
