An email from Russ " Fantastica " Garcia

I'd sent him this missive :

" Greetings from a fellow ex-pat in Japan !

Late Saturday morning here in the Kumamoto hinterland , and I am enjoying a sho chu cocktail while listening to FANTASTICA , which is fantastique !

Only recently discovered you via Tikicentral - a website devoted to all things tiki ; exotic ; space age ; etc...

Hope all is well with you and yours in NZ . Just wanted to touch base with you . "

Took almost 2 months , but he replied :

" Dear friend John.... (Anyone that likes my music is a dear friend)..... Tnx much for your E. We all appreciate
appreciation. Ifm still going strong at 92. Working all over this silly world.
Stay happy, Your friend, Russ Garcia."

Very cool . Not many of these pioneers left , so whenever possible we should contact them and let them know how much we appreciate what they gave us .

I exchanged some e-mails with him a few years ago. Very sweet guy. We talked about Fantastica - he still has the original score. Wouldn't that be great to hear in concert?

Here is a recent interview with him here:

http://www.jazzwax.com/2008/09/interview-russ.html

Thanks for the link !