February, 2007: The Miner Museum Acquires Important Rare Specimens
by Gregg Miner
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February 1st/2nd, 2007: An intimate harp guitar summit occurred when Andy McKee coincidently showed up in Los Angeles the very day of Stephen Bennett’s first Southern Cal concert. Stephen and I were prepping for our Museum of Making Music gala opening night, while Mister-2-million-YouTube-hits McKee was in town for his appearance on the Carson Daly show. Andy practicing in the green room before his national
television debut. |
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After his afternoon taping down the street, Andy and his brother Erik stopped by Kulak's Woodshed where Stephen was performing. The Kulak's shows are live broadcast on the internet, and I was drafted into reading the many email song requests. |
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The next morning, the McKee brothers joined us for breakfast. Stephen's wife Linda with Auggie, Andy, Stephen and my wife Jaci enjoying a beautiful morning on our patio. |
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It was Linda's first visit to the museum... |
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I was thrilled that Andy had a chance to pay us a visit, and get to finally see my Museum Room first hand... ....unfortunately, his trip coincided with the Carlsbad exhibit, and so he would miss seeing two dozen of my best instruments - the various harp guitars and relatives. With the cases disturbingly empty, and two of the top harp guitar players in town, I happily recognized a rare and unique opportunity:
Why collect just harp guitars?... ...
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...when I can collect actual harp guitarists?!
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It is believed that the common name for “monkey” is a native mutation of “McKee” – perhaps due to its similarity to a curiously hairless ape. Captured while distracted from excessive ego-stroking when leaving taping of Hollywood talk show. |
Equally strange is this common denizen of the stage, collected during an excessively long intermission at one of its concerts. This is a prematurely gray specimen. |
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Needless to say, we were killing ourselves, and had a blast with this premise. Here, Linda snapped Stephen just as I said to him, “Unfortunately the cases are self-locking and you’ve only got five minutes of air.” |
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But in all seriousness, we realized the benefit and importance of the concept and it was agreed that I should change my will to read:
“to be stuffed, preserved and displayed alongside his instruments.”
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