Democratic VP candidate trying to take bluegrass, old-timey harmonica skills to The White House - Entrepreneur Generations

"He carries multiple harmonicas in his briefcase. He has played with members of the Dave Matthews Band and the Grateful Dead. And he has been known to show up unannounced at bluegrass jamborees around his home state, Virginia, simply looking to jam," Nick Corasaniti reports for The New York Times. "Meet Tim Kaine, vice-presidential candidate, senator, former governor—and mouth organist."

"His time in Virginia has left him steeped in the history of bluegrass and old-time music," Corasaniti writes. "Kaine has made music an important part of his political life. He has often 'sat in' at bluegrass open jam sessions while campaigning and in office. During his Senate campaign in 2012, he held a promotional contest, 'Harmonica With Tim,' in which one lucky person would win not just a dinner with Mr. Kaine, but also a one-on-one harmonica lesson. He had a bluegrass band, No Speed Limit, play his inauguration in 2006 (and he hopped onto the stage for a few songs, naturally)."

"Politicians who also dabble in music are not uncommon; Bill Clinton famously jammed on his saxophone and Gov. Martin O’Malley of Maryland toted his guitar and banjo around the 2016 presidential campaign trail. For those who have the skills, it can be an invaluable way of connecting with voters beyond the handshake and selfie, Corasaniti writes.

Al Cross, director of the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues, which publishes The Rural Blog, told Corasaniti, “If you show up someplace where people don’t really know you and you can play a tune, even if it’s not a tune they recognize, they think, ‘This guy’s not a politician; he can play music,’" Cross said that ability "helped Kaine in particular in the Appalachian states like Virginia, where music is as much a part of life as stack cakes, goosefoot and greasy beans."

from The Rural Blog http://ift.tt/2ajLUpu Democratic VP candidate trying to take bluegrass, old-timey harmonica skills to The White House - Entrepreneur Generations

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