Quilcene music man Mackie plays farewell tune at namesake festival in Port Townsend this weeknd
Andy Mackie of Quilcene pays a harmonica on Monday like the more than 13,000 he has given to youths around the world. -- Photo by Jeff Chew/Peninsula Daily News
By Jeff Chew, Peninsula Daily News
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But deteriorating health has the septuagenarian saying he will perform for the last time this weekend at the music festival he founded.
Mackie's annual Family Music Festival and Highland Games at Jefferson County Memorial Field in downtown Port Townsend raises scholarship dollars for graduating Jefferson County music students.
The event runs form 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday at the field on Washington Street at Madison.
It is sponsored by John L. Scott Real Estate of Port Townsend and accepts tax-deductible donations that go to the Andy Mackie Music Foundation and Habitat for Humanity of Jefferson County, in care of the Jefferson County Education Fund.
Mackie, a native of Scotland who lives in Quilcene, said the festival shares Scottish culture and has a silent auction to raise scholarship funds, along with bluegrass, fiddle, folk, blues, jazz and rock performances.
Saturday night dance
A dance is scheduled Saturday night, and vendors will sell food.
Mackie said his heart trouble and other health issues have reached the point that he is becoming too weak to perform any longer, and he hopes the event will carry on without him.
"I have given 13,000 harmonicas away to kids," said Mackie, who started his foundation 11 years ago and also teaches students how to build and play "music sticks" — guitar-like instruments that can be strummed and picked.
The largest class he ever taught was 1,706 youths and adults he gathered on May 29, 2005, to play "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" in unison at the Northwest Folk Life Festival in Seattle.
It earned him a place in Guinness World Records for the world's largest harmonica ensemble.
His foundation provides instruments and lessons to children to foster confidence and a sense of self.
Performances encouraged
The foundation also encourages children to perform in fundraising concerts which, together with grants and donations, provide the money for instruments, materials, lessons and scholarships.
He said he sometimes runs into youths, now grown up, who thank him for inspiring their interest in music.
"We've given 82 $500 scholarships and several $1,500 scholarships," he said Monday, as his eyes welled up with tears.
"I get so much love and energy back from the kids who learn how to play harmonica."
________
Jefferson County Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-385-2335 or jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.
Last modified: August 25. 2008 9:00PM