Posted on 08/14/2008 11:23:12 AM PDT by JZelle
LKHORN, Wis. — When Tallan "T-Man" Latz was 5, he saw Joe Satriani playing guitar on TV. "I turned around to my dad and said, 'That's exactly what I want to do.'"
Three years and countless hours of practicing later, 8-year-old Tallan is a blues guitar prodigy. He has played in bars and clubs, including the House of Blues in Chicago, and even jammed with Les Paul and Jackson Browne. He has a summer of festivals scheduled and has drawn interest from venues worldwide.
What, you might ask, would a boy not even in the third grade have the blues about? The state of Wisconsin, for one, and some possibly jealous older musicians for another.
An anonymous e-mail sent to state officials complained that Tallan was too young to perform in taverns and nightclubs because of state child labor laws.
When Tallan's father read him the state's letter saying Tallan couldn't play clubs anymore (he can still play festivals) the boy's response - like his music - seemed beyond his years.
"He goes, 'It's not how many times you get knocked down but it's how many times you get back up and go forward,' Carl Latz said his son told him. "And I told him that's exactly what this is all about, and if nothing else, this letter just taught you a life lesson."
The lesson can be stiff: Each day he performs, his employer can be fined $25 to $1,000 and the parent $10 to $250.
Jennifer Ortiz of the state Equal Rights Division says her agency has a responsibility to enforce the law once it becomes aware of a violation. "Well, the law prohibits it, and the Legislature enacted the laws to protect the health, safety and welfare of all children," she says.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
The kid is incredibly good! There should be a youtube video about him. Our local paper featured him in a video but the buffering made it very choppy.
Let the kid play his gigs.
/johnny
incredible
What blues can you sing about when you’re eight? Sombody stole my lunch money? My bike chain broke?
Another child prodigy who plays the blues on guitar! This kid has a future. See post #3 for a youtube video link.
Some people are born with the ability to transcend social norms and age barriers.
In case you hadn't noticed, his main instrument is guitar. I've heard the kid play, and he's got some blues in his soul.
His playing and his singing will only get better.
P.S. - Having a bully steal your lunch money or breaking your bike chain is a lot more traumatic for an 8-year-old than it would be for you or I. So, yeah - I guess that could give him the blues. Did you ever get the blues when you were a kid?
This isn’t child labor ,Wisconsin, this is a child who loves to play music and is actually living his dream! Leave the kid alone!
I hate to admit I live in this state.
Wow.
*********************
LOL! The blues is a state of mind, man. It's a state of mind.
he’s 8.
Hate him!
Hate him!
There are some real cold pr!cks around this place. No wonder people are leaving in droves.
Does it make you buttmunches feel better about yourselves to belittle an 8-year-old kid who, most likely, has more talent in his little finger than you do in that big gut hanging over your belt?
We can feel bigger and more important by micro-sizing those around us.
Sot off.
If you are serious, then you are a jackass. Do you play guitar? It’s not an easy instrument. He plays better than some guys who’ve been playing longer than that kids been alive.
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