JOHN HARVEY
Spanish Music.com
MUSICAL INFLUENCES
SPANISH/MEXICAN MUSIC
John's first musical influence was his Grandfather who taught him the basics of guitar and accordion. He watched and learned from the many musicians in the little town of Encinal. There was music every where in those days.
He was influenced by the old Spanish/Mexican songs that he learned from that time. He loved, Miguel Aceves Mejia, Isidro Lopez and Vicki Carr. He loved the control and expression of Vicente Fernandez. He loved the music and cowboy movies of his old friend Gerado Reyes.
He loved to play the early music of Bernal and listen to the voices of singers, Juan Sifuentes and Manuel Solis. He admired the professionalism of Sunny Ozuna and the Sunliners and the guitar and harmony of Trio Los Panchos. He said Mariachi Vargas de Tecatitlan was the best mariachi in the world.
Since John's main instrument was the Accordion, he loved listening to German Polkas and Waltzs. When he was young in Encinal, a Bohemian man would play his Piano Accordion as he walked to and from the post office. John would often follow behind him so he could hear the different way the Bohemian played the accordion.
ITALIAN
John considered Aldo Rizardi to be the best accordion player in the world. John was fasinated by Aldo's ability and technique. Many of John's polkas have the flair of Aldo.
COUNTRY
He loved the crooner, pedal steel guitar voice of George Jones and the true-to-life lyrics of Hank Williams. He admired Roy Clark's guitar style and Floyd Krammer's sultry piano music. He loved Willie Nelson for being Willie Nelson. He loved the voice and songs of Merle Haggard and Lefty Frizzell. He admired George Strait, who also grew up in South Texas and has a ranch close to Encinal.
POP
He absolutely loved the Beatles and bought every CD ever put out on them. He thought Roy Orbison was the best singer with the greatest range, he loved the voice of Elvis and Pavoratti, he loved the lyrics of singer/songwriters Bob Dylan and Kris Kristofferson, he especially loved how they sing.
Absorbing all of this music and more, John was influenced in his songwriting, in his style and in his technique of how he played the Accordion, Bajo, Bass, Guitar (acoustic and electric) and keyboards.
