* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Magic New Zealand * www.watson.co.nz/ezine.html * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Issue Number: #473 Date: Sunday 21st January 2007 Editor: Alan Watson www.magicianz.com www.Alan-Watson.com e-mail: AW@Alan-Watson.com ================================ Hi here is the latest news ================================ 1. Editor's Message 2. 2008 Convention Tops 1000 Mark 3. Bill Brace - Broken Wand 4. Meetings With Remarkable Magicians # 44 - Nick Lewin 5. Pantomime: Communicating with your Audience - Kyle Peron 6. Second European Conference Magic - History & Collections 7. Howard Schwarzman Named "Magician Of The Year 2007" 8. S.A.M.  Announces Lectures For July Convention 9. Auckland Buskfest - New Zealand 10. Bruce Kalver British Lecture Tour 11. "A Magickal Life" On Vision TV 12. Broken Wand - Jules Lenier 13. Come-Together-Silks 14. IBM - The Greatest Annual Magic Convention On Earth 15. The Amazing Orchante Saga 16. e-zine Archives 17. Privacy Policy And Copyright Notice -------------------------------------------- 1. Editor's Message -------------------------------------------- Nick Lewin's weekly articles "Meetings With Remarkable Magicians" has become a very popular item on Magic New Zealand. To find out more about Nick Lewin, he has just finished his new website. Go to: http://www.NickLewin.com He has also just uploaded a new videos onto YouTube which I am sure you will enjoy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cw6NXsvNfSQ Count the magicians you recognize! ----------------------- Remember if you have any magic news drop me a line: AW@Alan-Watson.com -------------------------------------------- 2. 2008 Convention Tops 1000 Mark -------------------------------------------- January 19, 2007 - It was announced today that registration for the IBM/SAM 2008 Combined Convention has reached over 1000 delegates to date including 149 from 20 foreign countries. The Convention Committee reported that nearly 29% of the total allotment of rooms at the Galt House has been booked. "We're over half way to our original budget of 1800 registrants, and have started to receive registrations at the current $395 price", said Brad Jacobs Convention Co-Chair. "We've even heard chatter about this convention selling out by the end of this year." "One reason for all the excitement is the expectation of a highly charged competition from magicians around the world. Another is the remarkable array of talent that is being assembled. There are no plans to oversell our theater seating capacity," said Jacobs. "We'll have to remove about 100 seats in the theater due to sight lines, A/V and perhaps television cameras, reducing our maximum seating capacity to 2300. Banquet seating in the hotel ballroom is limited to 1800 with additional seating for 400 in the annex immediately adjacent to the ballroom. Those who wait until the end of December 2007 to register may find themselves disappointed with their seating for the Gala Shows and Banquet." The first convention of its kind ever staged in the United States will be held in Louisville, Kentucky, July 21-26, 2008 and will have up to 100 stage and close-up competitions. The convention has pledged a $20,000 cash purse, and equal amounts in performing contracts have already been committed. Complete information and a 2008 Convention Registration form and a hotel reservation link may be found on the web site IBM/SAM2008.com, or by email to IBMSAM2008@appsmagic.com. -------------------------------------------- 3. Bill Brace - Broken Wand -------------------------------------------- Message from Dean Gunnarson I'm sorry to share with you that Bill Brace passed away this past Sunday. He got many people interested in Magic through the S.Y.M. in Canada. He started more magic clubs and got more people to join the S.Y.M. then anyone in history! He did hundreds of free magic shows to raraisesie money for people in need over his life. He was very devoted to the S.A.M. and the I.B.M. He is a good example of how we can all be better Magicians and People... He was a great friend of mine and I thought I would share this story from The Winnipeg Free press; Dedicated magician Bill Brace devoted life to the young Thu Jan 18 2007 A truly magical Manitoban passed away earlier this week. Bill Brace, a retired RCMP officer who founded the Society of Young Magicians in Canada in 1982, died Sunday. He was 82. His friends in the magic circle have dubbed him Canada's greatest magician, not just for his performances but for his countless hours of volunteering. "Bill leaves quite a legacy," said a long-time friend, renowned escape artist Dean Gunnarson. "He was one of the most influential people in my career. There were times we'd talk on a daily basis. We were true friends, even though there was a 40-year age difference." Brace lived in Clandeboye, where he had a hobby farm and petting zoo, a magic museum and police museum. Over the years, he did hundreds of free magic shows at schools, youth centres and seniors' homes. Brace was also a founding member of the St. James Optimist Club. "He was very compassionate," said Gunnarson. "He was always into helping his community. He had this soft spot." Brace created the Philip Hornan scholarship, in memory of a young promising magician who passed away at an early age. He single handedly started more Society for Young Magicians chapters than anyone else worldwide. Gunnarson said thousands of Canadian kids with a passion for magic owe Brace a debt of gratitude. "Bill wasn't trying to make the next David Copperfield, he was just trying to give kids confidence and an interest in something," said Gunnarson. In 2000, Brace was honoured with the Governor General's Caring Canadian Award in person by Her Excellency Adrienne Clarkson In 2002, Brace was invested in the Order of Manitoba. He was also a lifetime member of numerous organizations including Optimist International, Chamber of Commerce, Society of American Magicians, International Brotherhood of Magicians and the RCMP Veterans Association. Brace, who was predeceased by his wife Margaret, leaves to mourn four children, 11 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. In accordance with his wishes, no service will be held. With great great sadness from the loss of my magic Friend Always escaping, Dean Gunnarson www.alwaysescaping.com escape@alwaysescaping.com -------------------------------------------- 4. Meetings With Remarkable Magicians # 44 - Nick Lewin -------------------------------------------- Message from Nick Lewin (US) One of magic's true gentlemen: John Fisher. There were many exciting people who enjoyed the company of Ken Brooke when I was growing up. It was a pleasure meeting and getting to know them. One of my acquaintances was a tall serious young man who gave the impression of being a historian or at the very least an academic. He turned out to be both of these and a great deal more. His name is John Fisher. I really didn't get a chance to spend much time with John because not long after we met I moved to the United States to begin a new life. John was currently working on the enormously popular Mike Parkinson talk show airing on the BBC. During one of our monthly telephone conversations Ken Brooke told me that John had assembled an all-star magic episode of the Parkinson Show. Ken was very excited at the prospect of seeing Fred Kapps, Ricky Jay and other top shelf magicians sitting in front of a camera performing what he knew to be some of the finest magic on the planet. Ken was to be a very special guest at the taping of the show. Kind and considerate as always, John arranged for my parents to attend the taping at the BBC Center and they were very proud to be included in the event. After the taping I phoned my mum to get all the details but she was surprisingly vague. Then she admitted to me that for almost the entire show she was watching Ken Brooke as he watched the show. She told me she had never seen a man look happier or prouder! Ken later expressed these exact sentiments to me and told me that it was an evening that had made him prouder of his beloved magic than any other. Fisher was kind enough to send me a signed photograph of the performers on the set and it is safely tucked away in my photographic archives. OK, the large stack of cardboard boxes in my cupboard! The magic special was a smash with the general public also and before you knew it a new magic series appeared on the air entitled 'For My Next Trick.' England was in need of a new comedy magician to rule its airwaves and it found one in the dynamic package that is Paul Daniels. I had heard much about Paul from Ken Brooke and knew that Ken considered him to be the next big star in magic. How right he was! Paul Daniels teamed up with John Fisher as his producer and between them they created a string of shows and series that went on to define the public's definition of Comedy Magic. The scope of the tricks performed was encyclopedic and the shows also allowed the British public to get a view of major international magicians for the first time. Paul Daniels quickly became a household name in England. Fisher is also a highly skilled author and I urge you to read his writings. The first book he wrote was 'The Magic of Lewis Carroll' and it stands today as a wonderfully quirky and scholarly exploration of magical literature. Another of my personal favorites of John's books is 'A Funny Way to be a Hero.' This book is a loving overview of England's comedians from the Music Hall era until the advent of television. If you like British comedy this book is a must. Today John Fisher is a very special member of the Magic World and writes, produces and directs magical events with a sure and steady hand. His knowledge of the history and the performance of magic are second to none. John is now the curator of the Magic Circle museum and did a great job of producing and filming the eclectic live shows performed during their centennial celebrations. Recently while I was digitalizing/cataloging the Billy McComb Video Archives (another huge stack of cardboard boxes in my cupboard!) I found a glorious 3-minute clip of McComb performing his 'Hole Collection' on TV. I emailed a link to this clip to John who instantly gave me the full story about the clip. Thank God for the natural historians in magic! At the end of this article I have added a link to this video clip and courtesy of John I can tell you that it was filmed in the mid-fifties at the bequest of McComb and Tommy Cooper manager Miff Ferrie. The piece was designed to show the BBC the potential of Billy as a television presenter. To me it is more simply described as 'McComb as Matinee Idol!' Please enjoy the McCombical clip at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S50WPZHtVZ8 And as always please send any 'bricks or bouquets' to NickLewin@earthlink.net. Or http://www.nicklewin.com/ -------------------------------------------- 5. Pantomime: Communicating with your Audience - Kyle Peron -------------------------------------------- Message from By Kyle Peron E-Mail: Magic4u02@aol.com The art of pantomime can be a wonderful tool for any magician and I would recommend any student of magic to learn and study it. I never once thought that my years of doing costume character work would ever have any real purpose later on with my magic, but it has been very valuable to me. The art of pantomime is the ability to tell or express emotion or a story through the actions and body language of the performer. There is no spoken word but only music if that. Red Skelton (amongst others) was a genius of this art form and literally could not only tell wonderful stories without word, but his audiences knew every single thing being expressed. They loved the characters he came up with and they felt sadness and emotional responses just through the body language Red was giving to them. Although spoken word was never used, props, expressions of the face and body language were. In many cases these are the exact same things a magician uses and can find him or herself with as well. There has been a lot I have learned over the years through the study of pantomime. It started when I was doing costume work and I came across it by accident. Basically I was never allowed to talk while in costume or while in "character". So I naturally had children wanting to know what I was doing and I wanted to express things to them like hunger, excitement, happiness, sadness, and laughter. I had no idea how to do this but started to try different things. I realized that if I could not talk, I must express my intentions through body language and movement. I soon realized just how much could be expressed without saying anything at all. There was an exercise that I used to do to train myself into creative thinking with pantomime. With any art form we use for our magic, you only get better at it if you study and practice it. This exercise really has helped me to express my intentions while on stage. It may help you. The basic idea is to write down single words that you think may need to be expressed while on the stage or in your act or show. These words may be such things as: sadness, confusion, happiness etc. There are literally thousands of words and ideas you may want expressed, but I am sure you get the idea. Now you start to figure out one word at a time. This focuses your mind and keeps you on track. Do not get so overwhelmed by trying to say or tell too much at once. Break it down to its simplest parts. Take a single word on your list and video tape yourself doing something in your show that expresses that word or idea. I know this sounds weird but trust me here for a second. Perform the idea and section onto video. Then watch it on TV with one very big exception. Turn The Volume Off! Watch what you are doing and really study your movement. In many cases you will start to realize that the body reacts and moves in certain ways naturally to what you are saying and doing. Study those movements. These movements are the things that the body does in subtle ways to express certain ideas. The idea now is to realize how the body reacts when it is happy, sad, or confused. The problem then lies in the fact that the body knows that people use many parts to convey an idea or feeling. Voice works along side of sight and body movement to easily convey ideas to people. The problem then lies in what happens when you take some of those "helpers" away. What you end up realizing is that you can take the subtle movements you studied, by watching yourself on video, and learn that by amplifying those moves they can be expressed even without voice. For example: When you are confused, watch what your face and body does. In most cases the head may tilt slightly, the eyes and eyebrows may squint and you may hunch a bit in posture. If you amplify this, then you can exaggerate these common traits and learn to add tell tale signs to them to send the right signals to the audience. In this case you would exaggerate the above signs but may add to them. You might bring your hand up to your chin and rub it in the state of pondering. You may switch your stance and do it with the other hand as well. All of this adds up to expressing an idea or emotion without voice. So how does this apply to magic? Well it can be used to tell the audience your intentions on stage and send those intentions to the person even in the farthest seat in the back. If you are doing diminishing cards, without word you can take a card and use your index finger and thumb and start off far apart and as you make them get closer, you hunch a bit and you show a bit of expression of force. Just this simple sign can be seen by the audience to say you are going to make them smaller before anything else is even done. I hope this is of help to some and may get folks talking about other ways in which you can tell your audience what you are doing. If anyone would like me to go over some other methods that I mentioned above, just let me know. It would be my pleasure. Because I am also partially deaf, I have realized even more the importance of being able to convey my magic to anyone at any time. It has helped my magic a lot and allowed me to share it with many others. As always, I encourage you the readers to let me know your thoughts. So if you have any thoughts on my articles or suggestions or comments, please feel free to e-mail me directly at magic4u02@aol.com. I would love to hear from you. Kyle Peron Magician and Illusionist Graphic Designer and Illustrator (Specializing in Logo creation) www.kyleandkellymagic.com -------------------------------------------- 6. Second European Conference Magic - History & Collections -------------------------------------------- Message from Peter Schuster After the first European conference of collectors in Paris 2005 follows now the second one in Berlin. It will be held 2007 August 24, 25 and 26. Well-known collectors and historians are the speakers. There will be lectures about Conradi-Horster, Hanussen, Magic in the age of enlightment and many others. There will be also a visit to the Egyptian Museum with the famous Westcar-Papyrus, a flea-market, dealer's fair, banquet, magic-show in the famous Wintergarten and an optional excursion to Dresden with the Zauberschloss and the grave of Bartolomeo Bosco. English will be the lingua franca for the lectures, that means they are given in English or will be translated. You find all informations, programme, hotels and an application form at www.magic-collector.de or contact Peter Schuster, Schöneberger Ufer 59, 10785 Berlin, Germany, schuster-p@t-online.de -------------------------------------------- 7. Howard Schwarzman Named "Magician Of The Year 2007" -------------------------------------------- Message from George Schindler - Dean - the Society of American Magicians Parent Assembly #1 of the Society of American Magicians named Howard Schwarzman 2007 Magician of the Year." The official presentation will be made at the 99th Annual "Salute to Magic" show May 12 at the Heckscher Theater in New York. Mr. Schwarzman has been a member of the Assembly for 45 years and has distinguished himself in the magical fraternity as being one of the top flight card magicians of the 20th century.  Originally from New York, Howard was one of the founders of FAME the New York City young magicians club in the 1940's mentored by Abe Hurwitz.  Now living in Baltimore Maryland, Mr., Schwarzman continues to be an active member of the magic fraternity, which recognizes his work as an innovator, writer and performer.  He flies his own plane, is a talented piano player and is one of the most knowledgeable card performers in the country. (Photo on request) -------------------------------------------- 8.  S.A.M.  Announces Lectures For July Convention -------------------------------------------- Message from George Schindler - Dean - the Society of American Magicians Looking for someplace to be this Fourth of July? The best place to be is at the S.A.M convention. The best in magic that you won't see anywhere else, will be on stage at the Adams Mark Hotel in Dallas.  Here is an alphabetical list of the eight lecturers who will offer you every kind of magic you'll want to see.   David Goodsell - brings you practical magic gleaned from his 30 years as editor of the MUM Magazine. Back by popular demand is England's most entertaining performer Mark Mason  whom you'll remember  from  the few minutes you saw in Louisville at a dealer show - Juan Ordeix  is the  exciting FISM winning  mentalist who proved that he can fool you without putting you to sleep. Another FISM winner Gustavo Raley - astounded the FISM judges with his unique inventions and more - Dean George Schindler offers his "Entertainment First" lecture of stand-up close-up magic from your pockets. Loads of laughs and great "walk around" magic -. John Shryock's comprehensive lecture teaches not only great tricks but his "let's have fun" teaching technique covers what makes the tricks work, how to get booked and how to get the right music for your act. Rarely seen corporate performer Bob White tips the commercial effects he uses in the "real world", An unique Cruise Ship Panel answers questions and gives you tips on how to book yourself and what to do on cruise ships. This group is made up of performers from the "Oceans 7" gala show so you know it will be great. -  But wait there's a plus - Author Jeff Crilley is a working journalist with a lecture that  teaches you how to get free publicity for your show or  Assembly. Guarantee your best seating by registering now. There are surprises in store before and after the "fireworks" - July; 4-5-6-7 - register online at www.magicsam.com or e mail - sam@appsmagic.com -------------------------------------------- 9. Auckland Buskfest - New Zealand -------------------------------------------- Message from Nick Nickolas Just thought I'd drop you a line to say the Auckland Buskfest is on again 31st Jan - 6th Feb 2007. Once again we have a massive line up of top international acts including some fantastic street magicians. Two nights at the Classic comedy club, 3 night shows outside O'Hagens and over 80 street shows around downtown Auckland. If you're around town, be great to see ya, come and say Hi. The link for more info http://www.nicknickolas.com/auckland%20buskfest.html cheers and have a top chipper day nick http//:www.nicknickolas.com -------------------------------------------- 10. Bruce Kalver British Lecture Tour -------------------------------------------- Message from Bruce Kalver (US) I am thrilled to announce that I will be visiting Great Britain for a Magic Lecture tour! The last time I was there was in 1983. I wonder if the prices are the same? Is Mrs Lovett still making meat pies? Will I have a chance to visit Cadbury and stock up on my favorite candy - Flake and Crunchie Bars? Is Stonehenge still standing? The schedule will grow as the lectures  are confirmed during the two week visit. Here's the schedule so far: October 16 - Watford October 17 - Zodiac Club - N. London October 18 - Bristol October 21 - Magic Circle Young Magicians Club - London October 22 - The Magic Circle, London October 24 Wolverhampton Dates will be added as we go along. Please check out my blog for updates  and info on what's in the lecture at www.brucekalver.com Yes I will be bringing my Growing and Shrinking Head Illusion discs. Will a new spiral  illusion be ready by then? I hope so! Anyone wishing to book a lecture in Great Britain during this period should contact Mandy Davis mandy@themagiccircle.co.uk to arrange a lecture.  There are a few open dates left. Thanks Mandy for all your assistance! Bruce Kalver www.brucekalver.com -------------------------------------------- 11. "A Magickal Life" On Vision TV -------------------------------------------- Message from Jeff McBride (US) Las Vegas, January 11, 2006 - Local magician Jeff McBride, last seen on the strip headlining in "The World's Greatest Magic Show," is featured as the subject of "A Magickal Life: Jeff McBride," one of the first episodes of the new documentary series Enigma on Canada's Vision TV.  The show will first air on the evening of January 24 at 9pm, or 10pm PST.  Repeats air on Saturdays, starting Jan. 13 at 10 p.m. ET, and on Mondays, starting Jan. 15, 10 p.m. and 1 a.m. ET. The documentary begins with a teen-aged Jeff McBride performing his magic at the Orange County Fair in upstate New York.  By his twenties, McBride was opening for rock bands like Cheap Trick, touring with Diana Ross and headlining at The Hilton in Las Vegas. But at the height of his success, this young illusionist was overcome by the urge to explore new territory. So began his search for the source of real magic: a journey to the mythological roots of this art form that would lead deep into the worlds of neo-paganism, drum circles and fire rituals. He would return a changed man. In this documentary, McBride tells of what he learned on his quest, and reveals how even the simplest magician's trick can hold layer upon layer of meaning. "Magic is about transformation," he says. "It reminds us that everything changes - including ourselves." Filmed mostly in and around Las Vegas during the spring of 2006, "A Magickal Life" takes viewers on a stroll down the Las Vegas Strip, into one of McBride's Master Classes, onto the stage at The World's Greatest Magic Show, to local fire circle celebration, to the Burning Man Festival, and to numerous other fascinating locales.  Interviewed are McBride, fellow magicians Lance Burton and Eugene Burger and many others. Says Alberta Nokes, Vision TV's Director of Independent Production: "As the success of author Dan Brown's novels has shown, there is a huge appetite for knowledge about secret societies, arcane symbology, the occult and other esoteric subjects. Enigma takes a skeptical but open-minded approach to topics like these. While humor may play a part in many Enigma stories, that doesn't diminish the essential role of good research in producing these films. This journalistic approach will distinguish Enigma from a great deal of other programming on the unexplained." Enigma features "real-life stories at the edge of the possible," delving into all aspects of esoteric spirituality and the unexplained. The hour-long documentaries commissioned for Enigma take an entertaining, contemporary view of historical subjects, investigating everything from Eastern mysticism and secret societies to psychic communication and belief in the afterlife. McBride will also be appearing on another upcoming episode of Enigma, "Mysteries of the Tarot Cards," which begins airing on March 21. To learn more about Enigma and view a clip from the show, visit www.visiontv.ca. -------------------------------------------- 12. Broken Wand - Jules Lenier -------------------------------------------- Message from Nancy Gray Jules Lenier passed Sunday jan14 2007  I believe the services for Jules Lenier are at Forest Lawn at 2:30 on Wednesday, Jan. 31. ----------------- 13. Come-Together-Silks ----------------- Message from Gavan Duffy (South Africa) I'm looking for a set of Come-Together-Silks in new or hardly used condition.  If you are able to help, please email Gavan Duffy who resides in Durban, South Africa.  I will be attending a convention in the UK in the near future and can arrange collection personally or by post. Alternatively, please email me on gavanduffy@absamail.co.za Many thanks. ----------------- 14. IBM - The Greatest Annual Magic Convention On Earth ----------------- Message from Mel Kientz (US) If you have already registered for the convention in June... we thank you for supporting what is shaping-up to be the most amazing magic convention value on the planet. Besides the UK invasion (Ali Bongo, Trevor Lewis and Terry Seabrook) we will be bringing you acts and lectures from the four corners of the world -- just what you have come to expect from the International Brotherhood of Magicians -- including Antje Pode. Here is a list of some of the Magic Dealers that you can expect to see ... BJW Magical Jewelers Creative Magic Daytona Magic Dean Dill Magic Dick Barry's Magic Fantasma Toys FISM - Beijing 2009 Grimlin Magic IBM Regalia J.B. Magic Joker Magic Laflin Magic Magic Depot Magic for Less If you haven't registered yet, here is a hot link to on-line registration . . . Don't wait too long.  Registrations rate increase again in May!!!!! Click here--->  http://magician.org/convention2007.htm Make your hotel reservations by calling the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno (800) 648-5080 today to book your room at the $99.00 convention rate. Be sure to tell them that you are a proud member of the I.B.M. ----------------- 15. The Amazing Orchante Saga ----------------- Message from Tommy Orchard (The Amazing Orchante)(UK ex-pat Kiwi) Page 138 Eddie ôThe Voice In a Millionô Low Many, many moons ago, Eddie popped around home to give me a taped copy of an hour-long radio documentary, "THE EDDIE LOW STORY". The programme, compiled and narrated by Neil Collins, a Disc Jockey, Compere and Columnist from Dunedin (and Eddie - interspersed with various recordings), was broadcast via the NZBC (The New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation) throughout New Zealand in 1971. Although I was aware of most of Eddie's story, much of what I've related has come from the tape that Eddie gifted me, nearly thirty years ago! October 1973. Eddie, together with his management - Joe and Dennis Brown, arrived at the Country Music Association annual D.J. Convention in Nashville, Tennessee, USA, where he performed on the 'International Show'. Eddie's fabulous 'Voice in a Million', brought the house down! The 3,000 plus hard-core music business people roared their approval as they cheered, whooped and hollered him back to centre stage for the show's only encore! At his guest appearance on the 'Grand Ole Opry Show' the packed auditorium reverberated with applause as Eddie was introduced onto the stage, his reputation had obviously preceded him, following his appearance at the 'International Show'. As Eddie came to the finishing lines of 'Out Of Reach Of My Two Empty Arms', the applause thundered, as the delighted crowd in that huge auditorium rose, demanding an encore from the 'Magic Voice' of our own, brilliant, Maori entertainer - Eddie Low. The Ryman auditorium was shaken to its very foundations as the ecstatic audience voiced its approval, as the compere/host recalled Eddie back to the microphone. As Eddie finished singing: 'I Can't Sop Loving You', the entire theatre again erupted in frenzied exhilaration! Just listening to the tape sends shivers up my spine. One can only imagine what it must have been like to have actually been there, physically feeling, experiencing the excitement and electrifying magic of the moment! As Eddie said: "That was a moment of a lifetime for me. It is getting back a bit now but, it is still fresh in my mind and something I'll never forget"! A treasured compliment for Eddie came from the great Tex Ritter who remarked: "Eddie Low, he was sensational, dynamic - he makes Tom Jones look like a sharecropper!" Whilst in Nashville, Eddie met many of the Country Music Greats. The list of worldwide household names runs like a Who's Who of C & W. All of them had nothing but compliments for Eddie. What followed is what Eddie himself describes as the fulfilment of his greatest ambition. He was invited to record in the Nashville Sound Studios, under the direction of Bill Walker, the musical director of the then popular Johnny Cash television series. Grady Martin, lead guitarist on many of Elvis Presley's hits was also on the session Eddie also travelled to Canada, staying for six months, recording in Toronto and was a guest on a host of television shows. John Rowles, Peter Snell, Kiri Te Kanawa, Colin Meads, Sir Edmond Hillary, Bob Charles, Edgar Benyon, Tex Morton, Franquin; just some of the fine New Zealanders who have carried the flag high for our country overseas. Add the name of Eddie Low. Eddie Low has been a mate and a friend for a great many years, as has his lovely wife Bunny, whom we met when they immigrated to Sydney. Like me, Eddie is proud of his Maori heritage, as well as being a New Zealander. Actually, Eddie is half Scots as well, from his fathers side. To celebrate his twin heritage, he produced a two CD compilation about two or three years ago, which he very kindly gifted to Veronica and I ; one disc covers various Maori songs, the other, Scottish. The album is titled: Eddie Low - 'Land of my Mother. Land of my Father'. The little booklet that accompanies the album has a cover story that was written by Eddie's daughter, Maria Cowin (nee Low). It is a most interesting, poignant and well written discourse about Eddie and his family. I've been trying to reach Eddie in Sydney but to no avail so far; so I'm taking the liberty of repeating Maria's cover story in my next episode. I know for sure that Eddie or Maria won't mind. CONTINUES NEXT WEEK! -------------------------------------------- 16. Magic New Zealand e-zine Archives -------------------------------------------- Back issues of the Magic New Zealand e-zine go to: www.watson.co.nz/fezine.html Both the User Name and Password MUST be entered in lower case to gain access. User Name: magic Password: kiwi When you enter the archive the e-zines are in issue order and are coded. Eg 001 Nov06 1999.txt first three numbers (001) denote issue number, then the date (Nov06) and the last figures the year (1999) -------------------------------------------- 17. Privacy Policy And Copyright Notice -------------------------------------------- Our subscriber list is NOT made available to any other companies or individuals. We value every subscriber and respect your privacy. You can subscribe to or unsubscribe from the Magic New Zealand® E-zine at www.watson.co.nz/fezine.html. Magic New Zealand® E-zine is published each Sunday. The opinions expressed therein are those of the individual contributors and not necessarily those of Magic New Zealand®. Neither Magic New Zealand® nor Alan Watson vouch for the accuracy or reliability of any opinion, message, statement, or other information reported via Magic New Zealand® E-zine. Subscribers to this publication and authors who contribute to it by doing so agree they will not hold Magic New Zealand® or Alan Watson, jointly or individually liable or responsible in any way for the opinions expressed therein. Magic New Zealand® reserves the right to alter, correct or disregard any articles submitted. Readers are encouraged to submit timely articles or news items which may be of interest to subscribers. By submitting articles to this e-zine, the authors grant Magic New Zealand® the right to publish such articles and such authors confirm their copyright of the material submitted. All works published by Magic New Zealand® are protected by international copyright legislation and articles must not be published for profit by anyone other than the individual authors without the written permission of Magic New Zealand®. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this publication may be freely redistributed, but not sold, to other magicians if copied in its entirety, including the copyright notice below and the above disclaimer. © Copyright 2007 Alan Watson