>> VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM... [CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY KCET PUBLIC TELEVISION AND FRIENDS OF NCI] Huell: WELL, HELLO, EVERYBODY.

I'M HUELL HOWSER, AND RIGHT NOW I'M STANDING IN THE MIDDLE OF BEAUTIFUL DOWNTOWN CLAREMONT, CALIFORNIA, THIS BEAUTIFUL LITTLE COMMUNITY, LOCATED ABOUT 30 MILES EAST OF LOS ANGELES, RIGHT OFF THE 10 FREEWAY.

NOW CLAREMONT IS FILLED WITH CULTURE AND WITH CHARM.

IT'S THE HOME OF A LOT OF VERY NICE PEOPLE.

IT'S ALSO THE LOCATION OF A STORE THAT'S BEEN HERE ALMOST 50 YEARS.

AND THIS PLACE IS MUCH MORE THAN JUST A STORE.

IN FACT, IT'S BECOME ICONIC.

THIS PLACE IS FILLED WITH GOOD MUSIC, GOOD SOUNDS, AND GOOD VIBES.

[CONCH SHELL BLARES] I GUESS THAT'S OUR OFFICIAL WELCOME.

THANK YOU, RUFIE.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

Huell: WE APPRECIATE--WE FEEL VERY WELCOME.

THAT WAS QUITE A FLOURISH.

>> WELL, WELCOME.

Huell: WE'RE DELIGHTED TO BE HERE.

WE'VE NEVER BEEN WELCOMED LIKE THIS BEFORE, ELLEN.

>> WELL, EVERYBODY GETS WELCOMED IN A BIG WAY.

Huell: TELL US EXACTLY WHERE WE ARE, BECAUSE THIS IS NOT A MUSIC STORE.

FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, IT'S BEEN CALLED... >> IT'S THE FOLK MUSIC CENTER AND MUSEUM.

SO WE'RE A TOUCH AND PLAY AND EXPERIMENT KIND OF A STORE.

Huell: ALL ROLLED INTO ONE.

>> ALL ROLLED INTO ONE.

Huell: STARTED BY YOUR PARENTS ALMOST 50 YEARS AGO.

AND THIS IS AN AMAZING STORE, JUST TO LOOK AT IT.

LET'S WALK RIGHT BACK HERE BECAUSE THIS IS PART OF THE STORY BEHIND HOW YOUR PARENTS CAME UP WITH THE IDEA OF STARTING THIS PLACE.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

THEY STARTED THE STORE BECAUSE OUR HOUSE SIMPLY WAS TOO FULL OF INSTRUMENTS, AND WE COULDN'T SIT DOWN ANYWHERE ANYMORE.

Huell: WHERE DID ALL THESE INSTRUMENTS COME FROM?

>> UM, MY PARENTS JUST PICKED THEM UP IN YARD SALES, SWAP MEETS, ANYWHERE THEY COULD FIND THEM, AND SOMEHOW WHEN YOU START DOING THAT, IT ATTRACTS OTHER INSTRUMENTS, SO THEY STARTED GETTING A COLLECTION.

MOSTLY TRADITIONAL FOLK INSTRUMENTS.

GUITARS, BANJOS, MANDOLINS.

Huell: SO THEY DECIDED TO OPEN UP A STORE.

>> THEY DECIDED TO OPEN UP A STORE.

AND THEY OPENED UP A TINY, LITTLE SHOP THAT WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF 2 OTHER STORES.

THERE WAS A REAL ESTATE AGENT IN FRONT, AND AN ARTIST IN THE BACK.

AND WHEN THEY OPENED IT, THEY SAID, "WELL, WE HOPE THE NOISE DOESN'T BOTHER YOU," TO THE AGENT.

AND SHE SAID, "OH, NOBODY'S GOING TO COME IN AND SEE YOU ANYWAY, SO DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT."

AND THEN, OF COURSE, IT GREW OUT OF THAT IN NO TIME.

AND GREW AND GREW AND GREW, TILL WE MOVED HERE.

Huell: AND THIS GIVES SOME KIND OF AN IDEA ABOUT WHY THIS PLACE IS ALSO CALLED A MUSEUM TODAY.

ALL OF THESE INSTRUMENTS ARE JUST AMAZING.

AND THEY'RE LITERALLY FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.

>> FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.

AND THEY--THEY WERE COLLECTING WORLD INSTRUMENTS FROM WAY BACK.

WAY BEFORE IT BECAME FASHIONABLE.

Huell: EVERY SHELF, EVERY NOOK AND CRANNY OF THIS ENTIRE STORE, ALL THE WAY AROUND-- >> MM-HMM.

Huell: IS JUST LOADED DOWN WITH THESE AMAZING INSTRUMENTS.

DID THEY HAVE ANY IDEA WHEN THEY STARTED THIS THAT IT WAS GOING TO GROW INTO THIS?

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

I THINK IT REALLY PROGRESSED IN AN ORGANIC KIND OF A WAY.

ONE THING ATTRACTED ANOTHER, AND THEN THEY WERE BOTH EDUCATORS AND LEARNED AND LEARNED AND LEARNED ABOUT ALL THE INSTRUMENTS.

Huell: AND FROM THE EARLY DAYS, THIS PLACE HAS BEEN A PLACE OF LEARNING, HASN'T IT?

PEOPLE COME HERE TO LEARN.

>> THEY LEARN MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS LIKE DULCIMER, BANJO, GUITAR, HARP, MANDOLIN, DRUMS.

WE HAVE WORKSHOPS AND ALL KINDS OF THINGS.

Huell: CONCERTS.

>> AND CONCERTS.

Huell: WHEN WE GOT HERE TODAY, YOU HAD SCHOOLKIDS OUT HERE.

>> FIELD TRIPS.

MM-HMM.

Huell: YOU HAVE--I MEAN, IT'S AN AMAZING CROSS-SECTION OF ACTIVITIES.

YOU DON'T JUST COME IN HERE TO BUY AN INSTRUMENT.

YOU COME IN HERE, IT'S A WHOLE EXPERIENCE, ISN'T IT?

>> IT IS.

IT'S AN EXPERIENCE.

AND SOME PEOPLE COME IN JUST BECAUSE THEY SAY THEY NEED A BREATH OF--WHATEVER IT IS WE OFFER.

FOLK MUSIC.

Huell: OR THEY NEED TO HEAR THE SOUNDS.

>> MM-HMM.

Huell: BECAUSE WHEN YOU COME IN HERE, IT'S A VERY TACTILE PLACE.

THERE'S SOUNDS IN HERE, AS WELL.

>> YES, ALWAYS SOUND.

LOTS AND LOTS OF SOUND.

[TEMPLE HORN BLARING] Huell: AND TALKING ABOUT SOUNDS.

THESE ARE THE KIND OF SOUNDS YOU HEAR WHEN YOU COME IN THIS PLACE.

>> YEAH, WE--ALL THE PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE PLAY--IT'S ALL DIFFERENT KINDS OF INSTRUMENTS, YOU KNOW.

SO EACH ONE OF US KIND OF SPECIALIZES IN A LEAST A FEW THINGS.

Huell: ALL RIGHT.

WHAT ARE WE JUST LISTENING TO HERE?

I'VE NEVER SEEN OR HEARD ANYTHING LIKE THIS.

AND IT COMPRESSES UP.

>> YEAH, WE CALL IT A TEMPLE HORN, AND IT COMES FROM TIBET.

AND THEY USE IT IN THE TEMPLES UP THERE.

Huell: SO THIS IS OLD.

>> YEAH.

THIS ONE IS--THIS ONE IS ACTUALLY NOT OLD.

IT'S MEANT TO LOOK OLD.

THEY MAKE NEW ONES THAT LOOK OLD.

Huell: AND SHOW HOW THIS THING-- >> IT TELESCOPES FOR EASE OF TRAVEL.

Huell: YEAH!

LOOK AT THIS.

>> BECAUSE IF YOU CAN IMAGINE BEING UP IN THE HIMALAYAN MOUNTAINS.

Huell: WOW!

>> TO GET AROUND, YOU NEED TO-- Huell: AND WE GO FROM THIS TO-- PULL OUT THOSE STRAWS, 'CAUSE THAT WAS REALLY INTERESTING.

>> WELL, I HAD THIS IDEA A LONG TIME AGO.

I'M SURE PEOPLE HAVE DONE IT.

IT'S LIKE A ZAMPONAS, THEY CALL 'EM, FROM CHILE.

AND THEY'RE LIKE A CANE, AND I JUST MADE SOME-- Huell: THESE ARE JUST PLASTIC SOFT DRINK STRAWS.

>> I HAVE THIS RULE WITH MYSELF.

I MAKE AN INSTRUMENT OUT OF ONE STRAW.

IT HAS TO JUST BE ONE STRAW.

AND I CUT IT.

THIS ONE I JUST CUT WITH A KNIFE AND PLUGGED THE ENDS, AND IT'S-- [PLAYING WHISTLE] Huell: SEE, THAT GIVES HOPE TO PEOPLE.

[BOTH LAUGHING] THAT THEY COULD MAKE SOMETHING OUT OF STRAW AND MAKE IT SOUND THAT WONDERFUL.

>> YEAH, WELL, WHEN I DO THE WORKSHOPS WITH THE KIDS HERE, I TRY TO INSPIRE THEM WITH JUST ORDINARY THINGS THAT YOU CAN TURN INTO MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

Huell: AND THAT PLAYS OFF THIS INSTRUMENT RIGHT HERE, WHICH I DON'T KNOW ITS BACKGROUND.

>> THIS ONE IS A CHINESE SONA, THEY CALL IT.

Huell: LOOK AT THIS.

>> AND IT'S VERY LOUD.

IT'S PROBABLY THE LOUDEST INSTRUMENT WE HAVE IN HERE.

Huell: YOU WOULDN'T KNOW IT BY LOOKING AT IT.

>> AND THE REEDS ARE VERY HARD TO COME BY.

Huell: ALL RIGHT.

LET'S HEAR THIS.

BE READY FOR THIS.

THIS ONE'S LOUD.

[SONA PLAYING] NOW HOW FAR BACK DOES THAT SOUND, DOES THAT INSTRUMENT GO?

>> I BELIEVE, LIKE, OVER 2,000 YEARS.

FOR SURE, OVER 2,000 YEARS.

YEAH.

Huell: SO MUSIC--ONE OF THE THINGS WE CAN ALL LEARN BY COMING IN HERE IS THAT FROM THE VERY EARLIEST DAYS, MUSIC HAS ALWAYS BEEN AN INTEGRAL PART OF EVERY CIVILIZATION.

OF EVERY CULTURE.

>> I THINK SO.

IF YOU--YOU KNOW, WHILE YOU'RE IN YOUR MOM'S WOMB, YOU'RE LISTENING TO HER HEART BEAT A RHYTHM THE WHOLE TIME YOU'RE IN THERE.

AND SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST AN INNATE PART OF US.

WE WALK IN A RHYTHM.

Huell: YEAH, IT'S UNIVERSAL.

>> YEAH, IT'S A UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE.

Huell: LET'S HEAR ONE MORE.

OH, NO, TWO MORE, 'CAUSE WE GOTTA LISTEN TO THIS LITTLE--IT LOOKS LIKE A DRUM, BUT IT'S NOT A DRUM.

LOOK AT THIS INSTRUMENT.

NOW I GUARANTEE YOU, PEOPLE WOULD THINK THIS IS A DRUM.

>> YEAH, IT'S A KIND OF DRUM, BUT IT'S ALSO--IT'S ALSO A LITTLE BIT MORE--I TELL THE KIDS THAT I KEEP A LION AND A MONKEY INSIDE OF HERE, HUELL.

Huell: UH-HUH.

>> AND THE WAY THAT IT WORKS IS, LIONS ROAR, RIGHT?

AND I GET THE KIDS TO ROAR, AND THEN IT MAKES A SOUND LIKE THIS.

[STACCATO VIBRATING] LIKE THE M.G.M.

LIONS OR SOMETHING, WHEN THEY ROAR RIGHT BEFORE THE MOVIE.

AND THEN THE MONKEY, HE'S UP IN THE TREE, AND HE SEES THE LION ROARING.

[STEADY VIBRATING] AND THE MONEY LOOKS DOWN AND LAUGHS AT HIM.

[RAPID SQUEAKING] Huell: NOW IS THAT THE WAY THIS--IS THAT WHAT THIS INSTRUMENT WAS DESIGNED TO SOUND LIKE?

>> IT IS.

WHAT THEY DO IS, THEY USE IT IN SAMBA MUSIC, AND THEY ACTUALLY PLAY IT MORE LIKE-- [SQUEAKING] Huell: YOU EVER WONDER WHO CAME UP WITH THESE... >> OH, YEAH, YOU KNOW, JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING.

ONCE YOU START TO THINK YOU INVENTED SOMETHING--I MAKE MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, AND I ALWAYS AM THINKING THAT I CAME UP WITH SOMETHING NEW, AND I GO FIND IT IN A MUSEUM SOMEWHERE, AND IT'S BEEN AROUND FOR 1,000 YEARS.

YEAH.

Huell: LET'S HEAR ONE MORE.

'CAUSE THIS IS, UH, THIS IS A MORE TRADITIONAL-LOOKING-- WELL, IT'S NOT REALLY THAT TRADITIONAL.

WHAT IS THIS?

>> IT'S TRADITIONAL IN CHINA.

THIS IS A RUAN.

Huell: LOOK AT THIS.

>> IT'S A CHINESE--THEY CALL 'EM A MOON LUTE HERE IN THE WEST.

Huell: A MOON... >> MOON LUTE.

Huell: LUTE.

>> NORMALLY, THEY'LL HAVE HALF MOONS HERE, BUT THIS ONE'S A FULL MOON LUTE.

THEY'VE GOT 2 FULL MOONS.

Huell: WOW.

AND LOOK AT THE WAY IT'S CONTROLLED UP HERE.

>> YEAH.

MM-HMM.

IT HAS TUNING MACHINES, AND IT HAS 4 STRINGS.

AND WE'VE GOT IT TUNED-- [STRUMS] A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

I LIKE TO PLAY IT LIKE KIND OF A BLUESY TYPE OF SOUND ON IT.

[RUAN PLAYING] Huell: WOW.

THAT IS BEAUTIFUL.

WHEN PEOPLE COME IN HERE-- >> MM-HMM.

Huell: DO THEY--THEY'VE NEVER SEEN THESE INSTRUMENTS BEFORE, HAVE THEY?

IS THIS A TOTALLY NEW EXPERIENCE, OR DO PEOPLE KNOW WHAT THEY'RE COMING IN HERE FOR?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, WE GET ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE IN HERE.

WE GET PEOPLE THAT ARE--DO MUSIC SOUNDTRACKS THAT ARE LOOKING FOR A CERTAIN SOUND THAT THEY WANT TO PUT ON.

YOU KNOW, C.S.I., THERE'S A GUY WHO COMES IN WHO DOES SOME OF THOSE TV SHOWS AND THINGS, AND THEY WANT A PARTICULAR SOUND.

BUT THEN A LOT OF TIMES, WE'LL HAVE PEOPLE THAT COME IN THAT MAYBE PLAY GUITAR OR SOMETHING MORE TRADITIONAL, AND THEY KIND OF COME OVER HERE INTO THIS AREA, AND THEY SEE ALL THESE POSSIBILITIES.

Huell: YEAH, LOOK AT THESE POSSIBILITIES JUST OF STRINGED INSTRUMENTS, AND THEN, YOU'VE GOT ALL OF THESE--AND MOST OF THESE LOOK LIKE AFRICAN-- >> YEAH, THERE'S AFRICAN-- Huell: DRUMS ALL THE WAY AROUND HERE.

AND THEN IT GOES--I'M NOT SURE.

WELL, WE'VE GOT DIDGERIDOOS HERE, SO THIS GOES BACK.

THIS IS ONE OF THE EARLIEST INSTRUMENTS.

>> VERY MUCH SO, YEAH.

THAT'S VERY MUCH SO ONE OF THE VERY EARLIEST INSTRUMENTS.

Huell: AND THEN WE GO OVER HERE, AND YOU'VE GOT--WHAT IS THIS?

IT'S A GOURD THAT'S-- >> YEAH.

THIS IS--THEY CALL IT AN IMBIRA IN AFRICA.

Huell: CAN YOU PLAY THAT?

>> IT'S KNOWN AS A THUMB PIANO.

YEAH.

[IMBIRA PLAYING] Huell: LOOK AT THIS.

OH, HEY.

AND THEY WORKED WITH WHAT THEY HAD.

>> MR. CHASE, ELLEN'S FATHER, USED TO MAKE THESE OUT OF STREET SWEEPER BRISTLES.

THE LITTLE BRISTLES THAT THE STREET SWEEPER--YEAH, HE WOULD USE THEM TO MAKE THESE OUT OF.

Huell: SO PEOPLE COULD ACTUALLY EVEN GET INSPIRED TO MAKE THEIR OWN INSTRUMENTS OR TO MAKE THEIR OWN SOUNDS WHEN THEY COME IN HERE.

>> WELL, IT'S REALLY NEAT.

ME AND MY BROTHER BOTH MAKE INSTRUMENTS.

WE'RE BOTH LUTHIERS.

WE MAKE GUITARS AND OTHER THINGS.

AND WE REALLY LIKE TO SUPPORT PEOPLE WHO TRYING TO DO THAT.

SO OFTENTIMES PEOPLE WILL COME IN HERE, AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO HELP THEM ON THEIR ADVENTURE OF MAKING AN INSTRUMENT.

AND IT'S REALLY SOMETHING WE LIKE TO DO.

Huell: AND MUSIC IS AN ADVENTURE, ISN'T IT?

>> IT REALLY IS.

Huell: A NEVER-ENDING ADVENTURE.

>> IT'S A JOURNEY.

IT NEVER ENDS, AND THERE'S ALWAYS--SEEMS LIKE THE MORE YOU KNOW, THE MORE YOU REALIZE YOU DON'T KNOW.

THERE'S MORE THAT YOU JUST DON'T KNOW.

IT'S EVER EXPANDING, AND IT'S REALLY AMAZING.

[SITAR PLAYING] Huell: WHAT A WONDERFUL SOUND.

IT'S SO SOOTHING!

>> IT'S A VERY HARD INSTRUMENT TO STOP PLAYING.

Huell: YEAH!

>> 'CAUSE IT'S SO... Huell: CAN YOU PLAY AND TALK AT THE SAME TIME?

>> A LITTLE BIT.

HA HA.

Huell: BECAUSE WE'RE LISTENING TO A... >> THIS IS AN INDIAN SITAR, AND IT GETS ITS NAME FROM THE FACT THAT IT HAS 7 PLAYED STRINGS.

IT'S THE OLD SANSKRIT WORD FOR SEVEN.

Huell: IT SOUNDS ANCIENT.

IT SOUNDS SOOTHING.

IT SOUNDS SPIRITUAL.

>> IT IS.

IT, UH, IT'S A MEDITATIVE INSTRUMENT.

IT HAS, YOU KNOW, IT'S A MEDITATIVE QUALITY.

Huell: DID YOU KNOW ABOUT MUSIC BEFORE YOU STARTED WORKING HERE?

>> WELL, ACTUALLY, I GOT MY FIRST GUITAR HERE WHEN I WAS SEVEN.

Huell: WOW!

>> SO... Huell: SO YOU KNEW ELLEN'S MOM AND DAD, THE ORIGINAL OWNERS OF THIS PLACE.

>> YEAH, THEY WERE FRIENDS WITH MY PARENTS, ACTUALLY.

AND RUFIE'S PARENTS.

HE'S MY LITTLE BROTHER.

RUFIE.

Huell: SO WHAT AN AMAZING JOB FOR YOU BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT TO BE CONSTANTLY LEARNING AND GROWING IN YOUR MUSICAL KNOWLEDGE.

>> TO ME, THAT'S ONE OF THE MOST CHALLENGING THINGS, ACTUALLY.

BECAUSE I THOUGHT I KNEW SOMETHING ABOUT MUSIC WHEN I STARTED WORKING HERE.

Huell: YEAH.

>> BUT NOW I HAVE TO, UH, I HAVE TO LEARN THE NAMES AND HOW CERTAIN INSTRUMENTS ARE PLAYED FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD, AND IT'S VERY CHALLENGING, YES.

Huell: WE'RE LISTENING TO... >> A TONGUE DRUM.

Huell: A TONGUE DRUM.

>> YEAH.

Huell: AND WE'VE GOT A WHOLE SELECTION OF TONGUE DRUMS HERE FROM WHAT COUNTRY?

>> WELL, THEY'RE HERE FROM ARIZONA.

THEY'RE ACTUALLY FROM FLAGSTAFF, ARIZONA.

A GUY NAMED MICHAEL THIELE INVENTED THEM AFTER HE CAME IN THIS STORE HERE.

AND HE MET UP WITH MR. CHASE, ELLEN'S FATHER, AND HE SAW A DRUM THAT WE HAVE RIGHT HERE, AN AZTEC DRUM.

Huell: OH, MY GOSH.

>> THIS IS A SLIT DRUM, THEY CALL IT.

Huell: SO THIS WOULD BE AN ANCIENT DRUM.

>> THIS IS AN ANCIENT DRUM.

THEY USED IT IN THE AZTEC EMPIRE.

Huell: AND HOW IS THIS PLAYED?

>> IT HAS 2 RECTANGULAR WOODEN TUNGS ON IT, AND YOU GET A SOUND KIND OF LIKE GEORGE OF THE JUNGLE HERE.

Huell: SO THIS FELLOW FROM ARIZONA SAW THIS PIECE OF WOOD FROM THE AZTEC DAYS-- >> HE SAW THIS HERE, AND HIM AND MR. CHASE GOT TALKING ABOUT IT, AND HE THOUGHT, WHAT IF I MADE ONE OUT OF A BOX AND ADDED OTHER TUNGS AND TUNED THE TUNGS AND TO MAKE IT-- Huell: WOW!

>> AND THAT'S HOW HE CAME UP WITH THIS, YEAH.

Huell: SO A LOT OF WHAT'S HAPPENED HERE IN THIS PLACE OVER THE YEARS HAS BEEN VERY INNOVATIVE BECAUSE OF YOUR PARENTS.

>> YES, THEY BOTH, UM, THEY ENCOURAGED EXPERIMENTATION.

I JOKINGLY SAY THEY ENCOURAGED MANY PEOPLE TO GIVE UP THEIR SECURE CAREERS FOR FOLK MUSIC.

[SINGING BOWL RINGING] Huell: HE'S PLAYING A BOWL.

>> YES, IT'S A SINGING BOWL.

I USE THIS FOR HEALING.

Huell: SO THIS COMES FROM WHAT CULTURE?

WHAT-- >> FAR EAST, ACTUALLY.

TIBETAN.

THEY COME FROM INDIA.

EVEN ACTUALLY, I HEARD SOMEBODY SAY AZTECS.

EVEN THE AZTECS HAD SOMETHING SIMILAR.

Huell: SO DID YOU COME BACK KNOWING THAT YOU--I MEAN, LOOK AT ALL THESE BOWLS.

HOW DO YOU SELL SOMEONE A BOWL?

WHAT DO YOU--HOW DO YOU-- >> SELL THE BOWL?

Huell: YEAH.

>> WELL, UM, HE KNOWS A BIT ABOUT IT, OBVIOUSLY, BUT, UM, JUST SHOW 'EM LIKE THIS AND KIND OF SHOW 'EM HOW TO PLAY IT.

IF YOU KEEP YOUR HAND OPEN LIKE THIS, SO YOU DON'T DEADEN THE SOUND.

THESE ARE FROM TIBET.

UM, AND YOU JUST KIND OF... [BOWL RINGING] Huell: WOW.

IT GROWS IN INTENSITY, DOESN'T IT?

>> IT DOES, YEAH.

AND IT DOESN'T TAKE A LOT OF PRESSURE.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO FAST OR ANYTHING, IT JUST-- Huell: WOW, THAT'S FILLING THE ROOM.

>> YEAH.

>> PEOPLE DO COME IN AND PURCHASE THEM FOR MEDITATION CLASSES AND DIFFERENT THINGS, AS HE SAID, FOR HEALING.

Huell: I'M KIND OF MELLOWING OUT JUST STANDING HERE LISTENING TO YOU ALL.

IT WORKS, DOESN'T IT?

>> IT SURE DOES.

IT'S BEEN THOUSANDS OF YEARS.

AND WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY, IT'S ALL CULTURES, ALL HEALING PEOPLE AND MUSICIANS GET TO A CERTAIN LEVEL, SO THERE'S NO ONE--AS FAR AS I KNOW--"I CREATED THIS OR I CREATED THAT OR THAT'S MY STYLE."

LIKE, WAIT A MINUTE.

IN THIS STATE OF HIGHER CONSCIOUSNESS, WE'RE ALL THE SAME.

Huell: YEAH.

>> AND IT'S ALL BRINGING DOWN TO US FROM--FROM AGES, CENTURIES.

>> THIS IS AN UKULELE.

AND THE KING OF HAWAII NAMED--THAT MEANS--THAT WORD MEANS "DANCING FLEA."

AND THE KING OF HAWAII SAW--WHEN HE FIRST SAW THE UKULELE, HE SAW THEIR FINGERS RUNNING AROUND, AND HE SAID THAT LOOKS LIKE A DANCING FLEA.

AND THAT'S WHAT THAT WORD MEANS.

THAT'S WHERE IT CAME FROM.

Huell: AND THIS IS THE TRADITIONAL HARMONICA.

>> AND YOU DON'T ALWAYS SEE THESE TWO TOGETHER, BUT PLAYING IN THE STORE, I'M SHOWING PEOPLE HARMONICAS, SHOWING UKULELES, AND I END UP BLENDING THE TWO.

Huell: LET'S HEAR WHAT THEY SOUND LIKE TOGETHER.

>> OK. [PLAYING BLUES MUSIC] Huell: NOW HOW MUCH TIME ARE YOU ALLOWED TO PLAY DURING YOUR WORKING HOURS?

OR IS THAT PART OF YOUR WORK?

>> IT'S PART OF OUR WORK, WHICH IS INCREDIBLE, AND I NEVER TAKE THAT FOR GRANTED.

WE GET TO PLAY PRETTY MUCH, INTERMITTENTLY, ALL DAY LONG.

AND YOU END UP LEARNING DIFFERENT INSTRUMENTS BY WORKING HERE.

YOU END UP TUNING MANDOLINS OR TUNING BANJOS AND YOU FIND YOURSELF LEARNING TO PLAY OTHER INSTRUMENTS, AND IT'S JUST SO MUCH FUN.

Huell: I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THIS IS.

THERE'S ONE STRING IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS, AND THAT'S-- I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE.

>> IT'S A STRINGED INSTRUMENT, BUT THEY USE IT IN PERCUSSION, AS WELL.

IT'S CALLED THE GOPICHAN.

Huell: AND WHERE IS THAT FROM?

>> IT COMES FROM INDIA, AND YOU WOULD BE AMAZED AT THE--THE MASTERY OF THE LEVEL THAT PEOPLE CAN PLAY THIS AT.

Huell: SOMETHING THIS SIMPLE.

IT'S JUST A WOODEN-- >> AND WHEN YOU PLUCK THE STRING, AND THEN-- [PLAYING GOPICHAN RAPIDLY] Huell: WOW.

A LOT OF THESE INSTRUMENTS CAME FROM INDIA AND CHINA WHICH SHOWS HOW FAR BACK-- >> THEY GO.

THEY GO BACK THOUSANDS OF YEARS.

THOUSANDS OF YEARS, AND I HAVE ONE FROM CHINA THAT I WANTED TO SHOW YOU.

Huell: LOOK AT THIS.

>> IT LOOKS LIKE A LITTLE FAN HERE.

Huell: LOOK AT THIS.

GET A TIGHT SHOT OF THIS, CAMERON.

IT'S JUST 4 PIECES OF METAL.

>> YEAH, 4 PIECES OF BRASS THAT HAVE BEEN MASTERFULLY CUT WITH HAND TOOLS.

Huell: UH-HUH.

>> AND THEY EACH MAKE THEIR OWN LITTLE SOUND.

[PLAYING SCALE] BUT WHAT YOU NEED TO DO IS PUT 'EM UP YOUR MOUTH.

[VIBRATING MELODY PLAYING] Huell: WOW.

>> SO... Huell: WOW.

>> YOU CAN MAKE SOME REALLY NEAT SOUNDS WITH THESE.

Huell: I FIND IT AMAZING, THE SIMPLICITY OF SOME OF THESE INSTRUMENTS, AND YET THE COMPLEX SOUNDS THAT COME FROM THEM.

>> YEAH, AND THE PEOPLE THAT PLAY THEM CAN GET SO GOOD AT SOMETHING THAT SEEMS SO SIMPLE, THAT YOU WOULD NEVER EVEN BELIEVE IT.

ESPECIALLY PEOPLE, LIKE, FROM INDIA.

YOU SEE THESE MASTER MUSICIANS THAT ARE MASTER OF THE GOPICHAN.

OR THIS WITH THE MORSING, THEY CALL IT IN INDIA.

Huell: YEAH.

>> AND THEY CAN DO THINGS THAT ARE JUST VIRTUOSIC ON IT.

[HOLLOW RUMBLING] Huell: NOW THIS TAKES THE CAKE.

THIS IS A... >> A THUNDER TUBE.

Huell: A THUNDER TUBE.

LET'S HEAR SOME MORE THUNDER.

IS THIS SOMETHING NEW THAT SOMEONE'S COME UP WITH?

>> UM, RELATIVELY NEW.

I THINK LATIN PERCUSSION STARTED IT, AND THEN-- Huell: SO YOU JUST SHAKE IT AROUND AND IT SOUNDS LIKE THUNDER.

>> OR REMO, I GUESS IT WAS REMO, ACTUALLY, THAT--YEAH.

AND THEN YOU CAN, YOU KNOW--ESEPCIALLY WITH A BIG HAND, YOU CAN GET A LOT OF WAH-WAH-WAH-WAH.

Huell: WOW!

NOW WE'VE GOT--LET'S PLAY THESE BECAUSE WE WANT TO DEMONSTRATE THAT NOT EVERYTHING IN HERE IS OF MUSEUM QUALITY.

>> WELL, WHO KNOWS IN A HUNDRED YEARS?

THEY MIGHT BE.

Huell: THAT'S TRUE.

THAT'S TRUE.

THAT'S FOR KIDS IN A RHYTHM BAND.

>> YES.

UH-HUH.

Huell: THIS WOULD DRIVE PARENTS CRAZY IF THE KIDS DECIDED THEY WANTED TO BECOME CYMBAL PLAYERS.

>> YES, AND WE DO HAVE A LOT OF GRANDPARENTS THEY BUY THESE FOR THEIR GRANDCHILDREN IN...

REVENGE MAYBE.

I DON'T KNOW.

I DON'T KNOW.

Huell: WE HAVE JINGLE BELLS.

>> JINGLE BELLS.

Huell: WE HAVE THESE BELLS.

WHICH ALMOST LOOK LIKE CHIMES OF SOME SORT, BUT THEY'RE KIND OF COORDINATED.

>> THEY'RE NOAH BELLS.

THEY'RE FROM INDIA.

Huell: UH-HUH?

>> MM-HMM.

Huell: SO PEOPLE COME IN LOOKING FOR EVERYTHING.

>> YES, EVERYTHING.

AND WE TRY TO PROVIDE IT, AS LONG AS IT MAKES NOISE, WE TRY TO STOCK IT.

Huell: NOW WAIT A MINUTE.

YOU SAID, "NOISE."

>> SOUND.

Huell: I THOUGHT YOU WERE GOING TO SAY "MUSIC."

>> SAME THING.

Huell: NOW WE'VE COME TO THE BACK OF THE MUSIC CENTER BECAUSE THIS IS AN HISTORICALLY IMPORTANT PART OF WHAT'S ALWAYS GONE ON HERE.

>> YEAH, YOU KNOW, STARTING WITH ELLEN'S FATHER CHARLES, HE STARTED REPAIRING HIS WIFE'S INSTRUMENTS, AND HE GOT GOOD AT IT, AND THEN, HE ALWAYS LIKED HAVING OTHER PEOPLE THAT WERE GOOD HERE REPAIRING WITH HIM.

AND SO AS THE STORE GREW, THERE WAS ALWAYS AT LEAST ONE OR 2 OTHER REPAIRMEN BESIDES HIM, AND WE'VE BEEN LUCKY TO HAVE SOME OF THE MOST TALENTED REPAIR PEOPLE HERE.

Huell: I MEAN, THIS LOOKS LIKE A MAJOR JOB RIGHT HERE.

>> YES, THIS ONE'S GETTING COMPLETELY REBUILT.

THE NECK BLOCK'S RUINED, AND-- Huell: ISN'T IT INTERESTING HOW PEOPLE CAN GET SO ATTACHED TO THEIR SPECIFIC INSTRUMENT?

THEY WANT TO KEEP IT, DON'T THEY?

>> YEAH, IT'S TRUE.

THEY'RE ATTACHED, AND ALSO SOME OF THESE INSTRUMENTS ARE EXTREMELY VALUABLE AS WELL.

Huell: YEAH.

YOU GOT TO KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

RIGHT OVER HERE--HENRY, I'M NOT SURE.

I JUST SAW YOU CUTTING ALL THE STRINGS OFF, AND YOU'RE DOING WHAT HERE?

>> WELL, THIS GUITAR HAS SEVERAL THINGS WRONG.

FIRST OF ALL, IT NEEDS A NEW NUT, AND THIS WHITE PIECE AT THE END IS CALLED A NUT.

Huell: MM-HMM.

>> AND THIS ONE'S PLASTIC, BUT WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IS I'M GOING TO SHAPE A BONE ONE, AND PUT THE BONE ONE IN.

Huell: SO YOU'RE BRINGING THE QUALITY UP.

>> I'M BRINGING THE QUALITY UP ON THIS INSTRUMENT.

EXACTLY.

Huell: WOW.

THIS IS SO-- YOU KNOW, THIS WHOLE PLACE HAS SUCH AN OLD SCHOOL LOOK AND FEEL TO IT.

>> WELL, IT'S BEEN HERE SO LONG THAT IT HAS A SOUL.

IT'S, YOU KNOW, HARD TO--ANY INSTRUMENT THAT GETS WORKED ON HERE INCREASES HOW MUCH SOUL IT HAS.

Huell: YEAH.

IT LEAVES HERE WITH MORE SOUL THAN IT CAME IN WITH.

>> EXACTLY.

THAT'S TRUE.

Huell: BOY, WE'RE INTO SOMETHING NOW, ELLEN.

WHERE HAVE YOU BROUGHT US NOW?

>> WELL, I'VE BROUGHT YOU INTO THIS STORAGE PART OF THE STORE INTO WHERE-- Huell: A LOT OF STORAGE.

A LOT OF, UH... >> IT'S A CATACOMBS.

Huell: A CATACOMBS.

LOT OF DUST.

>> LITTLE BIT OF DUST, YEAH.

Huell: LOT OF HISTORY.

INSTRUMENTS EVERYWHERE BACK HERE.

THERE'S GOT TO BE A STORY ABOUT THIS PLACE.

>> UM, THIS IS--WELL, RIGHT NOW, WE'RE KIND OF IN TENOR BANJO WORLD.

THERE'S A LOT OF TENOR BANJOS AROUND AND NOT THE MOST POPULAR INSTRUMENT-- Huell: WHY ARE THEY HERE?

>> WELL, MY FATHER AND MOTHER LOVED BANJOS.

AND THEY JUST ACCUMULATED THEM BY-- Huell: SO THEY JUST COLLECTED THESE.

>> THEY COLLECTED THEM.

AND SOME ARE VERY UNUSUAL.

WE'VE GOT, LIKE, A...THIS IS A 5-STRING BANJO WITH A BIG POT ON IT.

Huell: AND LOOK AT ALL THESE.

THESE--ALL OF THESE CASES.

IT LOOKS LIKE THEY HAVEN'T BEEN TAKEN OUT OF THE CASES FOR DECADES.

>> WELL, YEARS, MAYBE, WE COULD SAY.

Huell: I THINK I'VE JUST--THERE WE GO.

I'M PUTTING IT BACK.

AND YOU'RE--HERE, YOU'VE GOT A VERY SPECIAL BANJO.

>> THIS WAS MY MOTHER'S TEACHING BANJO, THE ONE SHE USED WHEN SHE TAUGHT CLASSES.

Huell: WOW.

>> AND IT'S MADE BY A FELLOW NAMED DAVE SLATER.

Huell: CAN YOU PLAY THE BANJO?

>> I CAN PLAY A LITTLE BIT.

Huell: LET ME GET OUT OF THE PICTURE HERE AND GET A GOOD SHOT OF YOU PLAYING YOUR MOM'S BANJO.

[PLAYING BLUEGRASS MUSIC] HOW DO YOU FEEL PLAYING YOUR MOM'S BANJO HERE AMONGST THEIR COLLECTION OF INSTRUMENTS?

>> WELL, IT MAKES ME FEEL CONNECTED TO THEM.

AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, THEY SORT OF LIVE ON THROUGH THE MUSIC AND THEIR INSTRUMENTS.

Huell: YEAH, 'CAUSE IT'S KIND OF POIGNANT STANDING HERE.

I WAS KIND OF MAKING A JOKE ABOUT ALL THE DUST.

BUT THERE'S A CERTAIN BEAUTY TO ALL OF THIS, ISN'T THERE?

>> YES, I THINK SO, AND I HOPE--I HOPE PEOPLE SEE IT, TOO, AS WELL AS US.

Huell: WHAT A WONDERFUL DAY WE'VE HAD HERE AT THE FOLK MUSIC CENTER AND MUSEUM IN DOWNTOWN CLAREMONT, STARTED BY YOUR PARENTS ALMOST 50 YEARS AGO.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

IT'LL BE 50 YEARS NEXT YEAR.

Huell: AND STILL GOING STRONG.

>> STILL GOING STRONG.

Huell: BECAUSE THERE'S ALL KINDS OF STUFF GOING ON HERE.

THERE ARE CONCERTS FOR THE COMMUNITY HERE ON THIS STAGE, FIELD TRIPS FOR YOUNG AND OLD ALIKE.

>> MM-HMM.

Huell: UM... >> WORKSHOPS, CLASSES, LESSONS.

AND WE EVEN SELL A GUITAR ONCE IN A WHILE.

Huell: HA HA HA.

AND OTHER INSTRUMENTS AS WELL.

BECAUSE WHEN YOU COME IN THIS PLACE, YOU ARE LITERALLY TAKING A MUSICAL TRIP AROUND THE WORLD.

AND IT'S GOTTA BE A WONDERFUL LEGACY FOR YOU TO BE CARRYING THIS ON FOR YOUR MOM AND DAD WHO STARTED THIS WITH THEIR DREAMS ALMOST 50 YEARS AGO.

>> YES, IT IS.

IT'S A JOY, AND EVERY DAY I'M THANKFUL THAT WE'VE GOT THIS PLACE STILL HERE IN TOWN.

Huell: WELL, WE'RE LUCKY THAT THIS PLACE IS HERE FOR ALL CALIFORNIANS TO ENJOY.

IT'S WELL WORTH A VISIT.

YOU WILL LEAVE THIS PLACE ENRICHED, EDUCATED, AND FEELING BETTER ABOUT LIFE AND LIVING.

THERE'S NO WAY TO LEAVE HERE AND NOT FEEL GOOD ABOUT THE HUMAN SITUATION.

>> THANK YOU.

I'M GLAD YOU FEEL THAT WAY.

WE FEEL THAT WAY.

WE LOVE BEING HERE.

AND EVERY DAY, BY THE WAY, WE DISCOVER SOMETHING WE DIDN'T NOTICE BEFORE.

[GOLD WATCH AND CHAIN PLAYING] ♪ I WILL PAWN YOU MY GOLD WATCH AND CHAIN, LOVE, I WILL PAWN YOU MY GOLD DIAMOND RING, I WILL PAWN YOU THIS HEART IN MY BOSOM, ONLY SAY THAT YOU LOVE ME AGAIN ♪ [CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY KCET PUBLIC TELEVISION AND FRIENDS OF NCI] [CAPTIONED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE --www.ncicap.org--] ♪ DARLING, HOW CAN I STAY HERE WITHOUT YOU?

I HAVE NOTHING TO CHEER MY POOR HEART, THIS WHOLE WORLD WOULD SEEM SAD, LOVE, WITHOUT YOU, WON'T YOU TELL ME WE NEVER WILL PART?

I WILL PAWN YOU MY GOLD WATCH AND CHAIN, LOVE, I WILL PAWN YOU MY GOLD DIAMOND RING, I WILL PAWN YOU THIS HEART IN MY BOSOM, ONLY SAY THAT YOU LOVE ME AGAIN, ONLY SAY THAT YOU LOVE ME AGAIN ♪ Huell: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WE ENDED UP WITH SOME TRADITIONAL AMERICAN FOLK MUSIC.

THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

WE'VE HAD A WONDERFUL TIME.