[Applause] [Music]
my language was music my mother was an
my language was music my mother was an opera singer my father sang musical
opera singer my father sang musical
opera singer my father sang musical theater and singing was the first sound
theater and singing was the first sound
theater and singing was the first sound that I ever heard in the womb music was
that I ever heard in the womb music was
that I ever heard in the womb music was my first experience of life and it was
my first experience of life and it was
my first experience of life and it was my dream to become like George Gershwin
my dream to become like George Gershwin
my dream to become like George Gershwin or Leonard Bernstein
or Leonard Bernstein
or Leonard Bernstein they were composer performers who wrote
they were composer performers who wrote
they were composer performers who wrote musicals they wrote concertos and they
musicals they wrote concertos and they
musicals they wrote concertos and they reinvented classic musical forms when I
reinvented classic musical forms when I
reinvented classic musical forms when I was seven I got to fabulous presents for
was seven I got to fabulous presents for
was seven I got to fabulous presents for my birthday I got a bicycle and I got a
my birthday I got a bicycle and I got a
my birthday I got a bicycle and I got a ukulele and these two things gave me
ukulele and these two things gave me
ukulele and these two things gave me freedom the bicycle gave me freedom to
freedom the bicycle gave me freedom to
freedom the bicycle gave me freedom to go anywhere I wanted to and the ukulele
go anywhere I wanted to and the ukulele
go anywhere I wanted to and the ukulele gave me the freedom to play whatever I
gave me the freedom to play whatever I
gave me the freedom to play whatever I wanted to play and after that movement
wanted to play and after that movement
wanted to play and after that movement and music were the foundations of my
and music were the foundations of my
and music were the foundations of my life
so everyone assumed I would want to have
so everyone assumed I would want to have music lessons so they tried piano
music lessons so they tried piano
music lessons so they tried piano lessons I didn’t like those they tried
lessons I didn’t like those they tried
lessons I didn’t like those they tried guitar lessons didn’t like those then
guitar lessons didn’t like those then
guitar lessons didn’t like those then they started to get exotic they tried
they started to get exotic they tried
they started to get exotic they tried harp lessons didn’t like those and at
harp lessons didn’t like those and at
harp lessons didn’t like those and at that point they realized I didn’t like
that point they realized I didn’t like
that point they realized I didn’t like lessons I just wanted to play so I never
lessons I just wanted to play so I never
lessons I just wanted to play so I never learned to read or write music but music
learned to read or write music but music
learned to read or write music but music was my life it it was my form of
was my life it it was my form of
was my life it it was my form of communication so if you don’t mind I’d
communication so if you don’t mind I’d
communication so if you don’t mind I’d like to speak in my first language
like to speak in my first language
like to speak in my first language because when I sing I can’t express
because when I sing I can’t express
because when I sing I can’t express myself more clearly
and if I forget what I’m saying I can
and if I forget what I’m saying I can play a little riff that’s one of the
play a little riff that’s one of the
play a little riff that’s one of the great things about having an instrument
great things about having an instrument
great things about having an instrument strapped to you
when I was 19 I started writing a
when I was 19 I started writing a musical but of course I couldn’t write
musical but of course I couldn’t write
musical but of course I couldn’t write like I told you so I went to college to
like I told you so I went to college to
like I told you so I went to college to learnin to learn to read and write music
learnin to learn to read and write music
learnin to learn to read and write music and in this College they had a harp but
and in this College they had a harp but
and in this College they had a harp but they had no harpist I had had six
they had no harpist I had had six
they had no harpist I had had six lessons I got the job I still couldn’t
lessons I got the job I still couldn’t
lessons I got the job I still couldn’t read and write music but I could fake
read and write music but I could fake
read and write music but I could fake music and as it turns out that’s an
music and as it turns out that’s an
music and as it turns out that’s an incredible skill to have as a musician
it’s just one step away from jazz so I
it’s just one step away from jazz so I bought a used concert harp I don’t know
bought a used concert harp I don’t know
bought a used concert harp I don’t know if you guys have ever seen a concert
if you guys have ever seen a concert
if you guys have ever seen a concert harp but it is humongous it is six feet
harp but it is humongous it is six feet
harp but it is humongous it is six feet tall it weighs 80 pounds it has seven
tall it weighs 80 pounds it has seven
tall it weighs 80 pounds it has seven foot pedals it has 47 strings it’s like
foot pedals it has 47 strings it’s like
foot pedals it has 47 strings it’s like a piece of furniture that you can’t sit
a piece of furniture that you can’t sit
a piece of furniture that you can’t sit on and then they told me to go to the
on and then they told me to go to the
on and then they told me to go to the place where the harpist goes at the back
place where the harpist goes at the back
place where the harpist goes at the back of the orchestra and I thought that is
of the orchestra and I thought that is
of the orchestra and I thought that is not what I had in mind so I asked my
not what I had in mind so I asked my
not what I had in mind so I asked my boyfriend who was a jazz aficionado I
boyfriend who was a jazz aficionado I
boyfriend who was a jazz aficionado I said do you think I could play jazz on
said do you think I could play jazz on
said do you think I could play jazz on the harp and he said no I don’t think so
the harp and he said no I don’t think so
the harp and he said no I don’t think so so I got another boyfriend he he was a
so I got another boyfriend he he was a
so I got another boyfriend he he was a jazz bass player and he taught me how to
jazz bass player and he taught me how to
jazz bass player and he taught me how to play jazz and I said I’m a jazz heart
play jazz and I said I’m a jazz heart
play jazz and I said I’m a jazz heart player I told everybody I’m a jazz harp
player I told everybody I’m a jazz harp
player I told everybody I’m a jazz harp player I sent out press releases saying
player I sent out press releases saying
player I sent out press releases saying avec ass harp player and one day CBS
avec ass harp player and one day CBS
avec ass harp player and one day CBS news called me up and they said hey we
news called me up and they said hey we
news called me up and they said hey we heard that you’re a jazz heart player
heard that you’re a jazz heart player
heard that you’re a jazz heart player because you sent us 500 press releases
because you sent us 500 press releases
because you sent us 500 press releases would you like to come on the news and
would you like to come on the news and
would you like to come on the news and play jazz and I said yeah I mean I’m
play jazz and I said yeah I mean I’m
play jazz and I said yeah I mean I’m thinking but who watches news to see
thinking but who watches news to see
thinking but who watches news to see music but sure and five days later I got
music but sure and five days later I got
music but sure and five days later I got a call from the president of a jazz or
a call from the president of a jazz or
a call from the president of a jazz or record of a record player Yeah right a
record of a record player Yeah right a
record of a record player Yeah right a jazz record company and he said hey si
jazz record company and he said hey si
jazz record company and he said hey si over news do you want to come to New
over news do you want to come to New
over news do you want to come to New York City and make records and
[Music]
[Music] I’m doing photo shoots thing the heart
I’m doing photo shoots thing the heart
I’m doing photo shoots thing the heart it’s humongous the harp is humongous the
it’s humongous the harp is humongous the
it’s humongous the harp is humongous the case is like a casket you can’t even get
case is like a casket you can’t even get
case is like a casket you can’t even get it on some planes and they make you wait
it on some planes and they make you wait
it on some planes and they make you wait to take another plane and I’m thinking
to take another plane and I’m thinking
to take another plane and I’m thinking this is not what I had in mind
this is not what I had in mind
this is not what I had in mind and then I remembered something else I
and then I remembered something else I
and then I remembered something else I got as a kid it was a book a picture
got as a kid it was a book a picture
got as a kid it was a book a picture book of ancient Egypt and it had a
book of ancient Egypt and it had a
book of ancient Egypt and it had a centerfold with these beautiful women
centerfold with these beautiful women
centerfold with these beautiful women strolling across the page and they were
strolling across the page and they were
strolling across the page and they were all wearing harps and I thought well if
all wearing harps and I thought well if
all wearing harps and I thought well if they could do it why can’t I why can’t I
they could do it why can’t I why can’t I
they could do it why can’t I why can’t I shrink it down strap it on and plug it
shrink it down strap it on and plug it
shrink it down strap it on and plug it in and I had this vision I thought my
in and I had this vision I thought my
in and I had this vision I thought my big concert Harper what if my big
big concert Harper what if my big
big concert Harper what if my big concert harp fell in love with an
concert harp fell in love with an
concert harp fell in love with an electric guitar they had a child I want
electric guitar they had a child I want
electric guitar they had a child I want that child
so I told every heart builder that I
so I told every heart builder that I knew I describe this thing and they
knew I describe this thing and they
knew I describe this thing and they tried to build it based on my
tried to build it based on my
tried to build it based on my description and they made all these
description and they made all these
description and they made all these little monsters that were nothing like
little monsters that were nothing like
little monsters that were nothing like what I had in mind so I made my own
what I had in mind so I made my own
what I had in mind so I made my own photo type I took a little lap harp and
photo type I took a little lap harp and
photo type I took a little lap harp and I covered it with red and silver Fleck
I covered it with red and silver Fleck
I covered it with red and silver Fleck contact paper till it looked like a
contact paper till it looked like a
contact paper till it looked like a Stratocaster and then I took it to
Stratocaster and then I took it to
Stratocaster and then I took it to France to gol Gagne the world’s most
France to gol Gagne the world’s most
France to gol Gagne the world’s most visionary heart builder and I said Joe
visionary heart builder and I said Joe
visionary heart builder and I said Joe well this is what I’m talking about yeah
well this is what I’m talking about yeah
well this is what I’m talking about yeah and he said ah now I understand what you
and he said ah now I understand what you
and he said ah now I understand what you want and six months later he handed me
want and six months later he handed me
want and six months later he handed me his prototype it was three feet tall he
his prototype it was three feet tall he
his prototype it was three feet tall he weighed 18 pounds it had 30 strings it
weighed 18 pounds it had 30 strings it
weighed 18 pounds it had 30 strings it was perfect except I had to hold it like
was perfect except I had to hold it like
was perfect except I had to hold it like this so I could only play with one hand
this so I could only play with one hand
this so I could only play with one hand so I went to the guitar shop and I tried
so I went to the guitar shop and I tried
so I went to the guitar shop and I tried a guitar strap that didn’t work I went
a guitar strap that didn’t work I went
a guitar strap that didn’t work I went to the marching band store and I tried a
to the marching band store and I tried a
to the marching band store and I tried a snare drum harness that didn’t work so I
snare drum harness that didn’t work so I
snare drum harness that didn’t work so I went to a clown I went to a physical
went to a clown I went to a physical
went to a clown I went to a physical comedian and he said okay so here’s the
comedian and he said okay so here’s the
comedian and he said okay so here’s the thing we got to forget that it’s a harp
thing we got to forget that it’s a harp
thing we got to forget that it’s a harp imagine it’s a prop imagine it’s a
imagine it’s a prop imagine it’s a
imagine it’s a prop imagine it’s a prosthetic
prosthetic
prosthetic imagine you are a centaur and this is
imagine you are a centaur and this is
imagine you are a centaur and this is part of you and so we made a harness
part of you and so we made a harness
part of you and so we made a harness with a strap from the left a strap from
with a strap from the left a strap from
with a strap from the left a strap from the right a strap over the top and
the right a strap over the top and
the right a strap over the top and suddenly
suddenly
suddenly [Music]
[Music]
[Music] future
future
future [Music]
[Music]
[Music] they’re just watching so I keep playing
they’re just watching so I keep playing
they’re just watching so I keep playing I write concertos hi right sweets I’ve
I write concertos hi right sweets I’ve
I write concertos hi right sweets I’ve learned how to write music I’m singing
learned how to write music I’m singing
learned how to write music I’m singing and dancing with his heart I’m traveling
and dancing with his heart I’m traveling
and dancing with his heart I’m traveling around the world in the Harper’s going
around the world in the Harper’s going
around the world in the Harper’s going as a luggage I’m writing one-woman shows
as a luggage I’m writing one-woman shows
as a luggage I’m writing one-woman shows where it makes perfect sense for the
where it makes perfect sense for the
where it makes perfect sense for the heroine to be wearing a heart like in
heroine to be wearing a heart like in
heroine to be wearing a heart like in the waiting room for heaven and it’s
the waiting room for heaven and it’s
the waiting room for heaven and it’s [Music]
[Music]
[Music] perfect for me but not so perfect for
perfect for me but not so perfect for
perfect for me but not so perfect for the harp company because nobody else is
the harp company because nobody else is
the harp company because nobody else is buying it so Showell passes the project
buying it so Showell passes the project
buying it so Showell passes the project on to his protege Jacques and Jacques
on to his protege Jacques and Jacques
on to his protege Jacques and Jacques starts to improve the heart and every
starts to improve the heart and every
starts to improve the heart and every improvement that he makes makes it a
improvement that he makes makes it a
improvement that he makes makes it a little bit heavier starts at 18 pounds
little bit heavier starts at 18 pounds
little bit heavier starts at 18 pounds but it goes up to 20 22 23 it’s 25
but it goes up to 20 22 23 it’s 25
but it goes up to 20 22 23 it’s 25 pounds and I can’t move and he said Deb
pounds and I can’t move and he said Deb
pounds and I can’t move and he said Deb aha
aha
aha we love to make this out for you but
we love to make this out for you but
we love to make this out for you but nobody is buying we cannot invest more
nobody is buying we cannot invest more
nobody is buying we cannot invest more and I think no this can’t be the end
and I think no this can’t be the end
and I think no this can’t be the end [Music]
[Music]
[Music] no we have to forget that it’s a Harper
no we have to forget that it’s a Harper
no we have to forget that it’s a Harper I mean what is it really at its essence
I mean what is it really at its essence
I mean what is it really at its essence it’s a frame with strings that resonate
it’s a frame with strings that resonate
it’s a frame with strings that resonate it’s a way for your fingers to sing but
it’s a way for your fingers to sing but
it’s a way for your fingers to sing but it has to be strong and it has to be
it has to be strong and it has to be
it has to be strong and it has to be light
like a bike and I say Jacques look at
like a bike and I say Jacques look at the harp look at the frame of the harp
the harp look at the frame of the harp
the harp look at the frame of the harp it’s just like the frame of a bike the
it’s just like the frame of a bike the
it’s just like the frame of a bike the bike has wheels the harp has strings but
bike has wheels the harp has strings but
bike has wheels the harp has strings but in essence it’s the same thing you’re in
in essence it’s the same thing you’re in
in essence it’s the same thing you’re in France go to the racing bike people and
France go to the racing bike people and
France go to the racing bike people and six months later he hands me his
six months later he hands me his
six months later he hands me his prototype
prototype
prototype [Music]
it’s got 32 strings it’s made of carbon
it’s got 32 strings it’s made of carbon fiber like a racing bike and it’s called
fiber like a racing bike and it’s called
fiber like a racing bike and it’s called the DHC instrument there’s a six-month
the DHC instrument there’s a six-month
the DHC instrument there’s a six-month waiting list they’re buying it in all
waiting list they’re buying it in all
waiting list they’re buying it in all these different colors they’re having a
these different colors they’re having a
these different colors they’re having a detailed like motorcycles and I go to
detailed like motorcycles and I go to
detailed like motorcycles and I go to shake hands and I say wow this was my
shake hands and I say wow this was my
shake hands and I say wow this was my idea of that made all the difference
idea of that made all the difference
idea of that made all the difference right and he says not exactly he says it
right and he says not exactly he says it
right and he says not exactly he says it is not just the design it’s a de
is not just the design it’s a de
is not just the design it’s a de Beauvoir you have been playing this
Beauvoir you have been playing this
Beauvoir you have been playing this happen out for 20 years a generation
happen out for 20 years a generation
happen out for 20 years a generation leader children they saw you and album
leader children they saw you and album
leader children they saw you and album covers on posters on TV and they thought
covers on posters on TV and they thought
covers on posters on TV and they thought oh that is de Barra but now they are
oh that is de Barra but now they are
oh that is de Barra but now they are grown and they are thinking that could
grown and they are thinking that could
grown and they are thinking that could be me
for 20 years I struggled to recapture
for 20 years I struggled to recapture the freedom that I had felt as a child
the freedom that I had felt as a child
the freedom that I had felt as a child with a bicycle and a ukulele but I had
with a bicycle and a ukulele but I had
with a bicycle and a ukulele but I had to keep reaching for that because I knew
to keep reaching for that because I knew
to keep reaching for that because I knew that that’s what it must feel like that
that that’s what it must feel like that
that that’s what it must feel like that it should feel like that it had to feel
it should feel like that it had to feel
it should feel like that it had to feel like to play music and I was so lucky to
like to play music and I was so lucky to
like to play music and I was so lucky to connect with these visionaries who
connect with these visionaries who
connect with these visionaries who believed in my vision because they made
believed in my vision because they made
believed in my vision because they made it a reality but not just for me
it a reality but not just for me
it a reality but not just for me together we put my dream into the hands
together we put my dream into the hands
together we put my dream into the hands of a whole new generation
[Music]
[Music] thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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