So I get a voicemail last week from my buddy Doug Stoffer, who runs a cool little custom jewelry shop here in Nashville called Grasshopper Flats, my go-to emporium whenever I’m looking for something nice for wifey. Doug said cryptically, “Hey Jeff, when you get a minute, drop by the store… I have something for you.”
Now, Doug plays guitar, so I’m thinking maybe has an old Martin D-45 laying around gathering dust he wanted me to have (this fantasy lasted about one second). I truly had no idea what in the world Doug might want to give me.
Today I had some time in between errands, so I stopped by the Flats to see Doug. He smiles and says, “I’ve had this ever since I was a kid…” I interrupted and said, “It isn’t communicable, is it?” He laughed and allowed that no, I could kiss him and not worry about it. Then he puts a somewhat battered sheet of paper, laminated in plastic, on the counter in front of me.
It’s an Indiana University-Bloomington concert program dated March 7, 1965 from a concert by the Godfather of Classical Guitar, Andres Segovia… autographed by the Maestro himself! After the concert, Doug’s mom had taken him to the meet & greet, where a young Stoffer got to shake the Maestro’s hand (Doug still remembers Segovia’s famously massive fingers), and his mother made a point of securing Segovia’s autograph on the program for her son.
Doug later glued the artifact to the inside of his guitar case, and for years carried the document with him everywhere he traveled. He later thought better of it, and carefully detached the program, cleaned it up as best he could, and laminated it. He has treasured it all these years.
I was, needless to say, amazed by his generous gesture. I said, “Doug, I’m floored, man! Why in the world…” He interrupted me this time, saying , “Well, I just thought of all the people I knew, you would best appreciate it. I’m getting up there [although he can’t be much older than me], and I wanted to see it in good hands.”
Sometimes, I’m speechless. Doesn’t happen often, but today, looking at a unique piece of musical memorabilia suddenly now in my possession, this artifact from a music event that took place in Bloomington, Indiana almost a half-century ago, bearing the signature of the man who single-handedly brought the classical guitar to the concert stage and legitimized it as a serious instrument… words failed me. All I could say was, “Doug… seriously, man, this is one of the best gifts anyone has ever given me!” I gave him a hug and a see-ya-later, and walked out with the Segovia program, shaking my head in disbelief.
But even as flabbergasted as I am to be in possession of this document, I’m even more humbled by Doug’s generosity, wondering what in the world I ever did to earn such kindness and consideration. But, then again, that’s just the kind of guy he is… and I observe that’s often the kind of people who live and work in Brown County, Indiana, generally speaking. When there’s a good reason to be generous, or a worthy cause to which they can contribute, they will always step up to the plate. And, as in this case, sometimes people are unbelievably generous just because that’s how they roll. There are some mighty big hearts in these hills.
So what’s my plan for my new treasure? Well, as it happens, I had a not dissimilar experience once, though I was considerably older at the time than was Doug… I had an opportunity to take my mother to a concert in Indy by the man who introduced the western world to Flamenco guitar music, Carlos Montoya. And my mom and I went to a similar meet & greet, where I was able to get Montoya’s autograph on a poster I had pulled off the wall in the lobby on my way backstage. The Montoya poster is framed and hanging in my studio in downtown Nashville, and that’s precisely where the Segovia program is going, properly framed and enshrined right next to the Montoya. I think they will look right nice together there.
Addendum – Feb 17, 2014
In those days, there was no dispute whatsoever as to who should wear the mantle of “World’s Greatest Classical Guitarist”. While Segovia was the heir of Tarrega, anointed by Sor, and so on back through time, it was Segovia who destroyed the condescension accorded the guitar, and took our instrument worldwide. He was able to accomplish this because his dedication and talents allowed it, and the times were right.
When Segovia passed over in the early 80s, his heir apparent was unquestionably Julian Bream, though you could wiggle over that matter a little bit, as John Williams was also in the game, Chris Parkening, Liona Boyd (who definitely earned the title of “First Lady of the Classical Guitar”), et al.
Since then, it’s become a matter of taste to some degree — what’s the criteria, traditionalist or modern, interpreter or composer, etc? IMO, there can ever be but one claimant to the Grand Master title: Segovia, who earned it by virtue of his body of work and his place in the timeline of history.
