Happy Traum dies

[drlj]

Happy Traum, of Homespun Tapes, has passed away.
He was 86.
Happy helped teach many people to play guitar through the recorded lessons by just about everybody that were sold through his company.
He started with cassette lessons, moved on to CD, DVD, and finally digital downloads.
He recorded many solo albums, albums with his brother Artie, and did duets with Dylan as Blind Boy Grunt.
I would guess many of us have a Homespun lesson or two on our shelves.

[epaul]

I have an autographed photo of Happy (with personal note). Somewhere.

That, and a autographed by Lou Nanne Chi-Chi's napkin (from when I ran into him at the Winnipeg Chi-Chi's), are my only notarized encounters with fame.

[coachdoc]

I have Happy to blame for my incessant finger picking. He clarified many a John Hurt and Van Ronk tune for me.

[Rob Hanesworth]

Happy is one of many people who have failed to teach me to play guitar, not through any deficiency of theirs, just my lack of discipline.

[Tamarack]

May he rest in peace. I recall spending many hours with a Happy Traum book and a cheap Stella in my dorm room.

[PaulKay]

Happy Traum was a definite force for learning guitar. I spent a lot of money on tapes from him. There are still songs in my set list that I learned from those tapes.
Two of his fingerpicking books are dogeared and worn from years of use.
There are probably thousands of musicians who can credit Happy and Homespun video for their playing skills.

[Dub]

Oh, no. What a great loss. He was still posting YouTube videos until quite recently. Seemingly without any ego involved, he seemed to understand the importance of his contributions to music and never seemed to lose his excitement.

A sad day for sure.

[Village Idiot]

Jul 18, 2024 7:47:21 GMT -5 epaul said:

That, and a autographed by Lou Nanne Chi-Chi's napkin

Who is Lou Nanne?

I'll miss Happy Traum. I never got good any any particular piece in there, but learned a lot pouring through this book in the 70s.

[howard lee]

One thing I have learned in this life: everybody dies. Some are greater losses than others, but it's still sad. Happy Traum I'd consider a great loss.

[drlj]

What the puck? You don’t know who Lou Nanne is? Even I know who Lou Nanne is!

Gee, Howard. Everybody dies?? Fine time to drop that news on us. Here I have been making plans for a stroll through the millenniums, and now you drop this news on us? My plans are ruined. 😡
I am reminded everyone will die each time I go to PT.

[dradtke]

I believe I have VCR tape or two somewhere.

[epaul]

Jul 18, 2024 9:59:27 GMT -5 Village Idiot said:

Jul 18, 2024 7:47:21 GMT -5 epaul said:

That, and a autographed by Lou Nanne Chi-Chi's napkin

Who is Lou Nanne?

Lou Nanne is Minnesota Hockey Immortality!

He came out of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, (home of the famous Saskatchewan Chicken dish) to play hockey for the University of Minnesota. He then went on to play for Minnesota North Stars. And then later, become their long-standing coach and general manager. He has since has become the voice of all things hockey in Minnesota, a colorful, interesting, and very popular radio/tv personality.

My Lou Nanne encounter.

The Newfolden JC's chartered a bus to head up to Winnipeg and watch the Minnesota North Stars play the Winnipeg Jets (this was sometime in early 80's). There was a fair bit of cards and drinking on the bus. And when we arrived at the Winnipeg Chi's-Chi's for a pre-game meal, we were a tooted bunch. On our way to our tables, I spotted Lou Nanne at another table off in the corner giving a pre-game radio interview to a sports guy from some Winnipeg station.

"HEY! LOUIE BABY!", someone shouted quite loudly as they zeroed in on Lou Nanne's table interrupting the interview. (ok, it was me. I was young. And I was tooted.) "Hey, how you doing! I'm a big fan. We're from Minnesota, up to see the game! Go North Stars!" I said as the chagrined radio guy quickly hit pause on his tabletop recorder.

To this day, I'm surprised Lou didn't punch me or tell me to get the hell away. But, he didn't. He smiled and thanked me for the good wishes. He was pleasant. He even seemed to find it all a little humorous. (even when I was drunk and stupid, I was always a friendly, non-belligerent sort). He asked where we were from. Starting to come a little bit to my senses, I said, "Middle River". I then started to ask if I could have his autograph, "Umm, could I, uh..."

"Would you like an autograph? Here" and he signed "Lou Nanne" for me on a Chi-Chi's napkin. I thanked him, genuinely, and I went back to our table with Lou Nanne's autograph in hand, a hero. I got offers of up to $50 for it on the spot. But, no way. I kept and cherished that autograph until I put it somewhere I can no longer find it.

But, I have the memory. And I'm still impressed with how patient and nice a man who accumulated over 980 penalty minutes for fighting in the NHL was with me when I interrupted his meal and interview session at the Winnipeg Chi-Chi's.

[millring]

I bought the tapes to learn this one. Later I bought Tony Rice and a coupla others.

[Russell Letson]

My copy's even older than Todd's--



Then there's this one:



Have had these for fifty-plus years and still haven't gotten all the way through them.

[coachdoc]

Jul 18, 2024 14:01:47 GMT -5 epaul said:

Jul 18, 2024 9:59:27 GMT -5 Village Idiot said:

Who is Lou Nanne?

Lou Nanne is Minnesota Hockey Immortality!

He came out of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, (home of the famous Saskatchewan Chicken dish) to play hockey for the University of Minnesota. He then went on to play for Minnesota North Stars. And then later, become their long-standing coach and general manager. He has since has become the voice of all things hockey in Minnesota, a colorful, interesting, and very popular radio/tv personality.

My Lou Nanne encounter.

The Newfolden JC's chartered a bus to head up to Winnipeg and watch the Minnesota North Stars play the Winnipeg Jets (this was sometime in early 80's). There was a fair bit of cards and drinking on the bus. And when we arrived at the Winnipeg Chi's-Chi's for a pre-game meal, we were a tooted bunch. On our way to our tables, I spotted Lou Nanne at another table off in the corner giving a pre-game radio interview to a sports guy from some Winnipeg station.

"HEY! LOUIE BABY!", someone shouted quite loudly as they zeroed in on Lou Nanne's table interrupting the interview. (ok, it was me. I was young. And I was tooted.) "Hey, how you doing! I'm a big fan. We're from Minnesota, up to see the game! Go North Stars!" I said as the chagrined radio guy quickly hit pause on his tabletop recorder.

To this day, I'm surprised Lou didn't punch me or tell me to get the hell away. But, he didn't. He smiled and thanked me for the good wishes. He was pleasant. He even seemed to find it all a little humorous. (even when I was drunk and stupid, I was always a friendly, non-belligerent sort). He asked where we were from. Starting to come a little bit to my senses, I said, "Middle River". I then started to ask if I could have his autograph, "Umm, could I, uh..."

"Would you like an autograph? Here" and he signed "Lou Nanne" for me on a Chi-Chi's napkin. I thanked him, genuinely, and I went back to our table with Lou Nanne's autograph in hand, a hero. I got offers of up to $50 for it on the spot. But, no way. I kept and cherished that autograph until I put it somewhere I can no longer find it.

But, I have the memory. And I'm still impressed with how patient and nice a man who accumulated over 980 penalty minutes for fighting in the NHL was with me when I interrupted his meal and interview session at the Winnipeg Chi-Chi's.

My NHL meet up was with Bernie Parent, the Flyers goalie of whom it was said, ‘only Jesus saves more than Bernie Parent bumped into him while buying tickets to a Sixers game at the Spectrum. Had the presence of mind to say it was for my younger brother. Just a little fib.