Charlie (foreground) plays harmonica while Kevin handles the guitar (Photo: Reed)
On Day 195 I thought about heading over to the Adams Morgan neighborhood to find someone interesting to give my $10 to.
I walked north along 18th Street, dodging the bar-goers coming in and out of the various bars and clubs that hug the road until I reached Columbia Road. As I stood on the corner, I noticed two musicians starting to play on the corner across the street. I decided to head over and listen to them for a while.
As it turns out I decide to give them my $10. Kevin plays guitar and Charlie plays harmonica, percussion and sings. I approached them and told them what I was doing. They agreed to participate. Charlie didn’t say much to me but gave me a business card that says, “The Legendary Charlie Sayles” and has his contact information. “You can read all about me on the website,” Charlie says.
Photo: Reed
Kevin tells me that they often play there at the corner of 18th and Columbia Road in front of the Sun Trust Bank and also at Dupont Circle Metro near the Krispy Kreme. “Charlie’s in the Who’s Who in Harmonica Players and has something like three blues albums.”
As for the $10, Kevin says they will use the money to get some food.
As they got ready to start up playing again, Kevin shared that he was looking for a job. I didn’t get any more details on what exactly he was looking for, but once I do I will post it on the Lend a Hand section…maybe someone out there can help him out!
Charlie starts to make his harmonica sing and they continue playing. They play mostly blues numbers. The melody seems to naturally dance back and forth between Charlie’s harmonica, Kevin’s guitar licks and Charlies vocals. Here is a short taste of their performance.
When I got home, I did take a look at Charlie’s website. The 62-year-old has an extensive musical career that followed an upbringing in various foster homes and a three-year tour of duty in Vietnam. You can find out more about Charlie here or take a listen to his music on his MySpace page.
Jay, me and Lumumba
While I was photographing these two talented musicians, a man named Jay from Atlanta came over to me and inquired about what kind of camera I was shooting with. We began talking and I found out that they were here putting on a large trade show and conference. When he and his colleague, Lumumba, heard about what I was doing, they got excited. “We’re going to give you $10 each man!” said Jay. They insisted. Thank you guys so much!
Pretty cool that they felt so inspired to do that. I used $5 to buy a sandwich for Carl, a homeless guy that I met the next day in Dupont Circle. I donated $5 of it to the family of Javier Lopez-Cruz, a 26-year-old from Oaxaca, Mexico who was killed in an auto accident. They are trying to raise enough money to send his remains back to Mexico. The last $10 I donated toward those who are out of work in the Gulf region. If you would like to help me in these efforts, you can send $10 of your own by clicking here!
Year of Giving 