Now for Hirth’s Heart Full of Soul 1945-2015 (PART TWO). Hirth’s Heart Full of Soul 1945-2015 is about a very special interview with songwriter/guitarist Hirth Martinez. My brother Edward Huerta did the interview with Hirth a few months back. At the time none of us here were even aware that Hirth was ill. I have since learned that Hirth didn’t even know he was ill at the time of the interview.
This was most likely the last interview that he did. The interview was over an hour and sixteen minutes and so that’s why we have it running as two parts. As the interview was done by recording over the phone, and probably Hirth’s last interview, some nuances and exchanges were left in and not edited out.
Hirth passed away a short while ago before we could even get this story together and PART ONE of the interview transcribed and put up.
Thank you for the interview Hirth. You and your wonderful songs will always be remembered and may you rest in peace.
HIRTH MARTINEZ Painting by ED HUERTA
We’ll bring you up to speed with the tail end of Part One:
NORMAN’S RARE GUITARS, & ROBBIE ROBERTSON
HM: I don’t know if you are aware of a guitar store out here called Norman’s Rare Guitars. I met Norman before he had the store and I was selling a Gibson dot neck 335 that I had and I put an ad in the paper. Norman saw it and called me, came over and looked at it, and said, “Oh yeah, I want to buy it.”
My table was covered with songs and lyrics and he asked me about it. It turns out Norman doesn’t play guitar, he plays keyboards, but he likes collecting. He had a warehouse in Florida full of guitars that he had bought from people that he was looking to sell and they all happened to be antique electrics, vintage electric guitars.
So he bought my dot neck 335 which even at that time it was already old. I think I got that guitar the first year that the dot neck 335’s came out. That was about 10 years. My Dad found it. A friend had a music store and was selling it so he bought it for me for a hundred bucks. With a case.
So anyway Norman found out that I wrote songs. He said I have a band and he listened to a couple of my songs and he said, “Wow, why don’t you come over on Saturday and bring a tape of your stuff.” At that time I was writing 10 hours a day, every day.
Hirth’s Heart Full of Soul 1945-2015 is about a very special interview with songwriter/guitarist Hirth Martinez. My brother Edward Huerta did the interview with Hirth a few months back. At the time none of us here were even aware that Hirth was ill. This was most likely the last interview that he did.
Hirth passed away a few weeks ago before we could even get this story together and the interview transcribed and put up.
Thank you for the interview Hirth. You and your wonderful songs will always be remembered and may you rest in peace.
HIRTH MARTINEZ Painting by ED HUERTA
1970’s AND DINNER WITH THE FAMILY
I can remember many years ago as a teenager sitting at the dinner table and listening to the stories my Dad would tell us about his friend Sammy Martinez’ son, Hirth. You see, Hirth wasn’t just an ordinary guy.
Hirth was a guitar player. He was a song writer. He made records. My Dad even told us that Hirth was going to give Bob Dylan guitar lessons. Bob Dylan. Hirth knew thee Bob Dylan!
Dad even mentioned that Hirth was a friend of Robbie Robertson. Robbie Robertson of THE BAND! You see, Hirth wasn’t just an ordinary guy.
Due to the length of the interview, Jackaboutguitars.com is putting it up as a two part story. Here’s Part One beginning with Ed’s Interview with Hirth. – Jack
HIRTH’S HEART FULL OF SOUL 1945-2015
I had the pleasure to interview Hirth a few months back. Hirth was a soft spoken, intelligent, friendly and very spiritual person. We seemed to hit it off instantly. I had recently embraced developing my spirit and beliefs in another plane or in another power somewhere else. We both felt there’s another plane of existence that our energies go to when we are done with our work here on earth.
HIRTH MARTINEZPhotoBy VIGNETTE-NOELLE LAMMOTT
At the time of the interview, Hirth must have known he was ill but never let on. After we hung up the phone, I felt a certain peacefulness or calmness in where Hirth was at this point in time. I remarked to my brother that Hirth was a very spiritual man and it was a great thing that our paths happened to cross at this point in my life, that perhaps, there are no accidents in this life.
Some folks may consider these beliefs strange or weird but until you have seen firsthand the work of an outside force, then you will never understand. I was lucky to have been able to converse with Hirth Martinez. He was put in my path for a reason.
Imagine my sadness when I was informed that he had passed away just a couple of weeks ago. This may have been Hirth’s last interview. I know it will never be forgotten for me. I grieve for our loss here on earth….but for Hirth, his journey is just beginning…will catch up with you brother in a few…thank you for all of the music you gave us..RIP Hirth Martinez..
Here’s a piece that we are able to reprint with permission from our friend Iman Labadedi whose way cool site rocknycliveandrecorded.com is the place to go to for what’s happening in music.
The article is written by Ed “The Big Huerta”, aka “The Prince of Primative”, who has done many interviews and articles here at Jackaboutguitars.com. Many thanks to Iman and Ed for this story. – Jack
My Meeting with Brian Wilson(or how I grew up to be a man and love “The Bomb”)
My Meeting with Brian Wilson(or how I grew up to be a man and love “The Bomb”)
Folks, I was born in Los Angeles, a stone’s throw from Hawthorne, California (this is our Liverpool), and grew up in California, (and still live there and will probably die here), listening to my brother’s copy of “The Beach Boy’s Live In Concert” from 1964.
As I grew older and became increasingly uncomfortable in high school, I explored “Pet Sounds” and read as much as possible about The Beach Boys and Brian Wilson. Brian was painstakingly shy and introverted and escaped through music and seemed to wish his life away, just like myself.
We all know of Brian’s troubles so I will not bore you even further, but Pet Sounds led me to harder stuff, like Friends, 20/20, Smiley Smile, Sunflower, Wild Honey, Surf’s Up, Holland…folks, are you starting to see a pattern here?
The year 1976 brought us15 Big Ones and heralded the return of Brian to the creative fold. I bought it and wasn’t super fond of it, but it had Brian, sure he was bigger and raspier but it was still BRIAN!
Fast forward many years, life goes by, one gets married, has mortgage, bills, fall breaks back to winter etc..Brian is now older, happier, solo and doing shows again. I went to as many of his gigs as possible, often dragging my wife with me, and also in the company of my pal and ex co-worker Allen Barker and his wife.
Allen saw The Beatles play in Seattle so he was A-ok in my book from the get go. He is also a great guy that supported me throughout my wife’s illness and passing. He is a truly great dude.
Finally to our story…Allen emails me and says “I have a ticket for you to a Tribute to Brian Wilson at the Henry Fonda Theatre in March, YOU are going! Okay, sez I, well lo and behold, he breaks it to me gently that we are going to meet Brian and he is going to sign a few things for us at Capitol Records before the show.
In a bit of providence, we had dinner before meeting Brian and who walks in, but 4 members of his band, and they sat right next to us. Gracious guys they all were. We even got a picture of them and chatted a tad. So anyways, this is how I got into the famed Capitol Records building and it is so cool in there.
We were ushered into Studio A and there behind the glass was Brian and a few photographers. I felt like I was at the zoo and looking at some rare, nearly extinct wild animal. It was a strange feeling just being in that building knowing that Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, The Beatles, Bobby Darin, Gene Vincent, The Beach Boys, Zooey Deschanel and a ton others have wandered around these hallowed halls and recorded musical history in these echo chambers.
There were about 30 or so people that got to meet Brian that evening. They all made a nice charitable contribution to Sweet Relief Musicians Fund so it was for a very worthy cause.
When I was ushered in, I showed Brian a pic on my phone of a painting I did of him that he signed in Long Beach. He said he dug it and that he remembered seeing it. Well, that was pretty bitchen’ to say the least. Again, here was my musical hero and I hardly had much to say to him. What do you say to a modern day Mozart or Beethoven? What do you say to a musical genius?
We all want to be around greatness and peeps, it doesn’t get any greater than that in my world. This man shaped my musical life and took me through some many painful years and events. What else can you say but “Thank you for all of the joy that you have given the world” and I did. The world and my life is greatly enriched with this treasure to mankind and to the naysayers that don’t get it, well, listen a little closer to what’s going on in his songs.
The instrumentation that was used in “Pet Sounds” alone was innovative, layered and complex, not to mention the symphonic, spiritual harmonies and throwing it all down on 4 tracks!
Folks, Brian was only 23 years old when he composed the greatest rock album of all-time and I am not even going to go on about the hits or tons of gems out there that are waiting for the non-believers to discover one day.
In conclusion, I just want to say “Thank you” to Allen Barker for giving me a very joyous day in a time in my life when joy was nowhere to be seen. Meeting Brian Wilson on his home turf will be a day that I will never forget and will treasure for the rest of my life.
DENNY’S GRAND SLAM OR THE WRECKING CREW INTERVIEW PART II? BY ED HUERTA
So much has transpired since we brought you our first interview with Denny Tedesco concerning The Wrecking Crew Film. The Kickstarter was just underway and there was that huge hope that the $250,000 benchmark would be reached.
Many thanks to our readers and so many others who believed in this project and supported it. The Kickstarter had 4,245 backers for a total sum of $313,157 pledged, way beyond the $250,000 goal.
This allowed Denny Tedesco to cut some more special footage back into the movie allowing some great additions since the time when many saw the screening for the first time.
As you probably have heard, the distributor, Magnolia Pictures opened the movie in Canada on February 20th and will be opening it in the U.S. this coming Friday, March 13th.
THE WRECKING CREW FILM: ONE OF THE COOLEST MUSIC FILMS TO COME ALONG…EVER
IT’S ALMOST TIME FOR THE GREAT THEATRICAL RELEASE OF THE WRECKING CREW FILM
As we’re patiently waiting for this great film’s theatrical release to the masses, Jackaboutguitars.com has decided to move the article and interview that we did with Filmmaker Denny Tedesco, just prior to The Wrecking Crew Film Kickstarter, to the top, front & center of the site for any of those out there who may have missed this cool story and interview the first time around.
Many thanks to EVERYONE who helped make Denny Tedesco’s Dream a REALITY!And most of all,THANK YOU DENNY!
In the very near future we will be running a brand new interview with Denny Tedesco – just completed by “The Prince of Primitive”, Jackaboutguitars.com’s Ed Huerta, as the countdown to the major theatrical release of the movie is quickly approaching.
The film is opening in my neck of the woods on March 13th at The Hollywood Theater, here in Portland, Oregon, and I couldn’t be more thrilled about that.
SOME MORE DATES AND PLACES FOR THE RELEASE OF THE FILM IN THEATERS
The movie will be opening on these dates in these cities so far…
2/20/2015
Halifax, NS: Carbon Arc Cinema Co-op
Toronto, ON: Bloor Hot Docs Cinema
Vancouver, BC: VanCity
3/11/2015
Hamilton, ON: Art Gallery Of Hamilton
Saint John, NB: TIFF Film Circuit
3/13/2015
Cambridge, MA: Kendall Square Cinema 9
Dallas, TX: Magnolia Theatre
Denver, CO: Mayan Theatre
New York, NY: IFC Center 5
Portland, OR: Hollywood Theatre
Santa Ana, CA: South Coast Village 3
Tucson, AZ: The Loft Cinema
West Los Angeles, CA: Nuart Theatre
3/20/2015
Columbus, OH: Gateway Film Center 8
Jefferson City, MO: Capitol City Cinema
San Diego, CA: Ken Cinema
Santa Fe, NM: Jean Cocteau Cinema
3/27/2015
Berkeley, CA: Shattuck Cinemas 10
Gainesville, FL: Hippodrome – Gainesville
Phoenix, AZ: FilmBar
San Francisco, CA: Opera Plaza Cinemas 4
San Luis Obispo, CA: Palm Cinema
Seattle, WA: SIFF Cinema at the Uptown
Waterville, ME: Railroad Square Cinema 3
4/10/2015
Fort Worth, TX: Modern Art Museum of Forth Worth
4/13/2015
Bethlehem, PA: ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks
4/14/2015
Springfield, MO: Moxie Cinema 2
4/20/2015
Lafayette, LA: Acadiana Center for the Arts
4/23/2015
Memphis, TN: Memphis Brooks Museum of Art
4/24/2015
Albuquerque, NM: Guild
…AND I’M SURE there will be more dates and places to follow as this picks up momentum!
OUR PREVIOUS INTERVIEW WITH DENNY TEDESCO
In the meantime, here’s the first interview that Ed Huerta did with Filmmaker Denny Tedesco and the accompanying article.
Enjoy it and keep yourselves tuned in to Jackaboutguitars.com for the new interview with Denny Tedesco which will be here real soon.
MY DINNER WITH DENNY TEDESCO (WELL, NOT REALLY…JUST PICKING THE MIND OF THE MAN BEHIND ONE OF THE COOLEST MUSIC FILMS TO COME ALONG EVER…THE FILM “THE WRECKING CREW”) by ED HUERTA
WELL, THE TIME IS AT HAND, AND THE WAY COOL MUCH ANTICIPATED WRECKING CREW FILM IS ALMOST HERE…
KICKSTARTER IS IN PLACE AND NOW IT’S TIME FOR EVERYONE OUT THERE TO DO WHAT EACH OF US CAN
That’s right. It’s finally almost here. Getting closer to the release of THE WRECKING CREW FILM. Many of you have heard thebuzz. Filmmaker Denny Tedesco, son of the late, great guitarist, Tommy Tedesco, is getting very close to releasing his “labor of love“, The Wrecking Crew Film. Talk about excitement building…
This isthe story that has needed to be told and it’s time for the final pushfor funds to get this amazingfilm up on the BIG SCREEN for all to see and enjoy, to be WOWED and AMAZED. And what a story it is…
Let’s all helpDennyTedesco to get this story out to the masses. Kent Hartman, thank you so much for writing “The Wrecking Crew” Book (“The Inside Story of Rock and Roll’s Best Kept Secret)! I just wish that I would have discovered it before writing this article as I would have certainly asked your permission to draw from it. What a GREAT read!
To date, many dollars have been raised as the film contains over a hundred songs of which the music rights and licensing had to be worked out and paid for. The process is almost complete which will allow the film to be released.
Read on and find out how youcan become a part of all this through the Kickstarter Program. You can actually help in a very modest (or generous) way to get this fantastic film launched onto the big screen!!! There are so many ways to help out from attending screenings, giving a small or large donation, and even getting an actual dedication that will appear on the DVD. THE WRECKING CREW FILM: ONE OF THE COOLEST MUSIC FILMS TO COME ALONG…EVER!
For those guitarists, musicians, and readers out there who aren’t too familiar with or don’t know much about all of this Wrecking Crew business in the air, relax. It’s okay. Really.
BARNSTORMING WITH STEVE SOEST…AND MORE …OR SHOULD THAT BE STORMING THE BARN
Steve Soest, Guitar Guy Extrarordinaire, Fielder of Dream Guitar Questions for the “Keepin’ It Real” Column here on the site, really has some interesting guests who pop by and spend time at his way ultra cool shop out in Orange, California… a place where the weather is always perfect!
We’ve got a few photos here taken just outside the barn by his wife Paula that show some of the folks that frequent Steve’s Shop and trust one of the BEST guys in the business out there to work on their valued instruments.
After you check out the photos, do take a look at the list of clients that Steve has served well over the years which I have borrowed from his web site and listed just beyond the photos. I’ve even included a link here to a story and interview that we did with Steve a few years back… just in case you missed it the first time around…pretty darn interesting stuff. Click right here –>: Steve Soest
Don’t forget to send in your guitar questions here to the site as Steve will answer them for you as he has had plenty of years of experience repairing instruments the right way for a lot of the right people and he won’t steer you wrong.
STRING ALONG WITH MITCH – CLASS IS NOW IN SESSION BY ED HUERTA
The “Prince of Primitive”, Jackaboutguitars.com’s Ed Huerta, has done a remarkably cool interview with Mitch Holder,Session Man Extraordinaire, that’s full of all kinds of information about how studios once operated, a look into session work concerning movies, T.V., and records, and a glimpse into the unfolding of the future at the very beginning stages of digital…way before any of us had a clue about what any series of zeroes and ones and their arrangement meant and the huge impact it would have not just in the music business, but concerning every facet of our daily lives.
Many thanks to Mitch Holder. EnjoySTRING ALONG WITH MITCH – CLASS IS NOW IN SESSION BY ED HUERTA. – Jack
THIS ARTICLE IS DEDICATED TO MISTY MARIE HUERTA 1974-2014 REST IN PEACE
Misty Marie Huerta with Boris and Edie
STRING ALONG WITH MITCH (CLASS IS NOW IN SESSION) BY ED HUERTA
What can you say about Mitch Holder that hasn’t already been said? Sure, the man can rest on his hardy laurels. Sure, he can just be sitting back on some farm tinkering around in his garden just whilin’ away the time. Dig, you think you know Mitch Holder?? Think again!
This man has played on sessions with Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, Stevie Nicks, Seals and Crofts, Woody Herman, Brian Wilson, Dean Martin, Cher, just to name a few…
His soundtracks include Space Cowboys, City Slickers 2, On Golden Pond, E.T., Grease, Tootsie, Pretty in Pink, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom…
Tons of TV shows including The Simpsons, King of the Hill, Family Guy, Moonlighting, Sledge Hammer, Chips, Quincy, General Hospital, Cheers…
Is this enough? But wait, there’s more…Commercials include Pepsi Cola, Coke, Toyota, McDonald’s, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, Coors, Honda, Disneyland, Disney World, Pabst, Sea World…Can your heart stand any more???
Dig, this is THE guy, people! If it’s out there, Mitch has probably played on it. Okay, a couple notes before we get started. I just want to add that Mitch Holder is truly a genuinely great person. We did this interview in the beginning of October.
Unfortunately, my wife Misty took ill towards the end of that month and battled illness past the middle of November. I usually do a portrait of the person that I interview and Mitch’s portrait was about halfway sketched out when life took an unexpected turn for me. Needless to say, I took care of the home front before continuing on with the interview and portrait (thanks to my brother Jack for transcribing this for me and the readers).
I wanted to apologize to Mitch for the delay and I kept receiving word from my brother Jack that Mitch was sending thoughts and prayers to me and Misty all during this time. Mitch Holder, a guitar legend, whom I have never met in person, constantly sent well wishes to my family.
Written by Iman Lababedi Sunday, 19 October 2014 00:07
Here’s a cool review from our good friend Iman Lababedi of rocknycliveandrecorded.com on the latest smash from Rockford. Those Rockford Boys are puttin’ out the hottest files since Big Jim Rockford stepped on up to his new position 3 months ago today, managing some “huge files” in the “upper end” of town. Many thanks Iman! YOU ROCK NYC(Live and Recorded)! – Jack
ROCKFORD’S “I TRIED” REVIEWED…WRITTEN BY IMAN LABABEDI
All the way from Long Beach, California, my buddy and rock nyc writer Edward Huerta plays drums for this classic rock band with a lotta lotta punch and a way with a sound that straddles somewhere between a classicists coolness and a guitarists ambitions, and never more so than on the sterling guitar break on their latest song guitarist and lead singer Jeff Beal’s “I Tried”.
I asked Edward to write something about the band for me and this is what he sent: “Jeff Beals guitar/vox/..Jon Melkerson lead guitar/vox..John Kelly bass..Scott Dibble keyboards/vox..Ed Huerta drums/vox…we all write songs..ex members of Eggplant/OO Soul/The Lazy Cowgirls…been together about 2 years..record in the back of a pawn shop with engineering by Martin Beal..all of us went to the same high school, Westminster(Editor’s note: My Old School), in CA..all of us surf still except me..we have
SOFT INFESTED SUMMER: BORN TO RUN REMEMBERED BY ED HUERTA
A little history is in order before you decide to take this dive into this article. A post on Facebook on 4th of July by legendary writer and musical connoisseur, Iman Lababedi about the song “Born in the USA” sparked my mind to recall the feelings for Bruce Springsteen and what he means/meant to music then and now.
Some of you may have had similar journeys. Some of you may hate the man and his music, so be it. You have that choice. I thought he was the musical messiah at one point in my life. In this column, possibly the first of a few on this man, I am only going to touch on the Born to Run era Bruce and how it affected a young teenager living in an angst filled high school world.
I could easily go on and maybe with a little prodding will continue to write about the historic run of Bruce’s career and how it affected the chapters in my life and growing up and how rock and roll has taken a backseat to everyday woes and responsibilities. I hope the haters and doubters stay with me, if not, take two aspirins and go listen to early Genesis and we’ll meet ‘neath that giant Exxon sign cuz this guy don’t dance…
HIRTH MARTINEZ Painting by ED HUERTA
