I used to watch Mister Rogers everyday to listen to John Costa's ad lib piano and, if lucky, catch Handyman Negri slip a guitar on and drop a lick or two.Way more fun than the occasional Mr Roger's zipper malfunctions...
This man is the reason I play guitar! I first heard him play decades ago when I was maybe 5...and his playing, his tone...and most of all, his sweet personality always stuck with me. He's the real deal and a truly class act! Living in Pgh, I get out to see him as often as I can. Thanks for posting this!
Addendum: The Wheeling (WV) Symphony is one of the greatest concert orchestras in the Midwest, and has been for 45 years that I know of, for two reasons: A succession of astonishingly talented conductors, and a 60 mile proximity to Pittsburgh, which allows it, through cleverly non-conflicting concert scheduling, to admit many talented members of the Pittsburgh Symphony into its ranks. If you have a chance to see the Wheeling, do so: It's superb.
The first time I ever saw him, he was a comedy foil for Hank Stohl on a very hip, live morning show on ch 4 in Pittsburgh, early '60's. Later, he was the same on an afternoon kids show called "Popeye and Knish," in direct competition with Johnny Costa on a show called "Funsville" on ch 2. Jump ahead 15 years: He was my private teacher, summer of '77, he wrote a letter of intro for me to Bill Leavitt at Berklee, with whom I studied, and I've been teaching there 25 years.
I bet it's wonderful being one of his students. If I didn't live so far away I'd try to be one of them. Yes, he is great for any age. His jazzy phrasing etc is really really good.
As one of his current students, it is remarkable to sit in a room and let him patiently remind you about every technical mistake. He truly is still a master and at 8_ years old he still has his chops in so many ways.
He did some (sparingly). He also played the owner of the music shop where Mr Rogers would take the viewers/kids to learn something interesting about music. He sometimes played during those segments.
The first time I saw him play was on another children's show out of Pittsburgh called Adventure Time -- back in the 70s. I knew from the little he showed there the he really could play.
Mr Rogers and Joe originally met in college. Both were studying music. If i recall correctly :-)
rlynch99 5 days ago
I used to watch Mister Rogers everyday to listen to John Costa's ad lib piano and, if lucky, catch Handyman Negri slip a guitar on and drop a lick or two.Way more fun than the occasional Mr Roger's zipper malfunctions...
SuperSnakefinger 5 days ago
This man is the reason I play guitar! I first heard him play decades ago when I was maybe 5...and his playing, his tone...and most of all, his sweet personality always stuck with me. He's the real deal and a truly class act! Living in Pgh, I get out to see him as often as I can. Thanks for posting this!
hastyfishbone 8 months ago
Addendum: The Wheeling (WV) Symphony is one of the greatest concert orchestras in the Midwest, and has been for 45 years that I know of, for two reasons: A succession of astonishingly talented conductors, and a 60 mile proximity to Pittsburgh, which allows it, through cleverly non-conflicting concert scheduling, to admit many talented members of the Pittsburgh Symphony into its ranks. If you have a chance to see the Wheeling, do so: It's superb.
tuxguys 11 months ago
The first time I ever saw him, he was a comedy foil for Hank Stohl on a very hip, live morning show on ch 4 in Pittsburgh, early '60's. Later, he was the same on an afternoon kids show called "Popeye and Knish," in direct competition with Johnny Costa on a show called "Funsville" on ch 2. Jump ahead 15 years: He was my private teacher, summer of '77, he wrote a letter of intro for me to Bill Leavitt at Berklee, with whom I studied, and I've been teaching there 25 years.
Thank you, Mr. Negri.
tuxguys 11 months ago
I bet it's wonderful being one of his students. If I didn't live so far away I'd try to be one of them. Yes, he is great for any age. His jazzy phrasing etc is really really good.
rlynch99 1 year ago
As one of his current students, it is remarkable to sit in a room and let him patiently remind you about every technical mistake. He truly is still a master and at 8_ years old he still has his chops in so many ways.
diamondboy214 1 year ago
as a former student of joe's how do i pass a message to him? does he have an email you could message me?
y00n1x 1 year ago
I never knew about Handyman Negri. What a brilliant find. He is a Johnny Costa contemporary. Too bad they aren't together to play. RIP Johnny.
webkinzunited 1 year ago
Truly amazing. Joe was one of the first to inspire my love for music as a kid. Thanks for posting this.
AceOfHarps 2 years ago
Also, He is very well known in the Pittsburgh area as being an accomplished musician. He's on the music faculty at Pitt, CMU, and Duquesne.
rlynch99 2 years ago
He did some (sparingly). He also played the owner of the music shop where Mr Rogers would take the viewers/kids to learn something interesting about music. He sometimes played during those segments.
The first time I saw him play was on another children's show out of Pittsburgh called Adventure Time -- back in the 70s. I knew from the little he showed there the he really could play.
rlynch99 2 years ago
I wonder why handyman Mr. Negri never played on Mr. Rogers neighborhood.
striprman 2 years ago