August 12, 2008

The Wisconsin Blues

Wisconsin bans 8 year old from performing the blues in bars and clubs
When Tallan "T-Man" Latz was 5, he saw Joe Satriani playing guitar on TV. "I turned around to my dad and said, 'That's exactly what I want to do.'" Three years and countless hours of practicing later, 8-year-old Tallan is a blues guitar prodigy. He's played in bars and clubs, including the House of Blues in Chicago, and even jammed with Les Paul and Jackson Browne. He has a summer of festivals scheduled and has drawn interest from venues worldwide.

And what, you might ask, would a kid not even in the third grade have the blues about? The state of Wisconsin for one, and some possibly jealous older musicians for another. An anonymous e-mail sent to state officials complained that Tallan was too young to perform in taverns and nightclubs because of state child labor laws. His booking agent even got an anonymous letter threatening her with death if she keeps booking him.
I'd understand their beef (no..that's not a pun on Wisconsin :)) if they'd crib about him being in bars and lounges, where any one under 21 is normally not allowed... but to claim he as an entertainer is subject to state child labor laws is to say Wisconsin will not allow Dakota Fanning (or any other kid artiste) to come shoot in the state?

Anyways, you are free to sit back and enjoy his guitar strumming though... :)



Also, another 8 year old guitar phenom - Japan's Yuto Miyazawa


And apparently, there is an Argentine whiz-kid who is quite adept on the guitar too - Lucciano Pizzichini.

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