BONUS: On The Spot with John Hammond

by Mary Jasch

Legendary bluesman John Hammond performed an acoustic set recently at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Sincere and patient, even after a roaring performance followed by an autograph-seeking crowd, he was kind to give DIG IT! a few minutes.

MJ: I know what kind of Dobro you play
JH: It's actually a National Steel Duolian, 1935. The guitar is a handmade guitar that I got in England about 12 years ago. It's made of koa wood on the back and sides and has a cedar top. It's one of the nicest guitars I've ever played, and it's mine!

MJ: Was that the first song that you wrote?
JH: I wrote four songs when I began playing and I thought they were all awful, and they were. I recorded one of them in 1962 and stopped writing songs because I knew so many great songs. And then on this new album, my wife said 'You know, it's time you wrote a song.' So I said ok and I just sat down and wrote this song.

MJ: What was your inspiration.
JH: My old car. My Crown Vic. Ford

MJ: Will you write any more songs?
JH: Oh, definitely. It was fun.

MJ: Your energy is amazing. Where do you get it?
JH: I don't know. I don't know! I've never really questioned it. I just do what I feel like I have to do and I love to do it, so it's easy.

MJ: What do you do if you're tired before a performance?
JH: Tired is tired and everybody can get tired. But it's that adrenaline that kicks in when you get up on a stage and there's an audience. I've been able to dig down into the well and find that energy.

MJ: How do you like playing outside?
JH: I do. I love it. Indoors, outdoors, if the sound is good then it's fine. This place is beautiful. You get a feeling that's just magnificent. I feel very very happy.

MJ: After all these years, how do you keep it fun?
JH: To me it always is fun. I mean for me to get up there and be able to do what I love to do and have audiences come and pay money to see me, I still have to pinch myself. I'm a very fortunate guy.

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published July 01, 2003