This page is dedicated to one of our founding members, Rich Machiz.  Rich was an excellent player on both chromatic and diatonic. He did several workshops at the SPAH-Society for the Preservation and Advancement of the Harmonica events.

He had the most luminous, haunting, vibrato I have ever heard. Even better, he was an incredible teacher. Some of you remember his 3rd position workshop that he did a few years ago.

A few years ago, Rich died of prostate cancer. We were very sad to lose him. Hopefully, he his playing at the big blues jam in the sky. 

Here are some quotes from his former students and friends:

Rich Machiz and I had a special relationship.  We would hang out a few days out of the month and teach each other harmonica riffs and tricks. I helped him with the blues and he helped me with timing and musical theory.  We really enjoyed each other's company.

He was so persistant about me learning musical theory.  He once said, "Matthew you are a great player...like a great chef that has never discovered salt!"  I was a player that did not understand music. He was right! I will never forget that.

In his last days, I visited him.  He was very sick...he could not keep his food down, but I will be damned if he did not want to give me a lesson on the chromatic harmonica. 

- Matthew Smart

I took lessons with him for several years. He was a stickler for detail. He told me point blank that I had the worst rhythm of any student he ever had. However he did tell me that despite this I was always able to come back to the right place after I had gotten lost and he was unable to do this.I visited him a few weeks before he died and played a song for him that I thought he would like. Even though he was ill, weak and close to death he proceeded to tell me what I was doing wrong and how off tempo I was. I really do miss him.

- Michael Robinowitz

Rich's lessons can be compared to the lessons you learn while eating out:
HOT FOOD: I have practiced, Rich fells good, we are making progress.
COLD FOOD: I have failed to practice, Rich is irritable, and no progress is made.
GOOD SERVICE: no delays, Rich has plans, we discuss the future as musicians.
POOR SERVICE: More delays, Rich says I should quit.
Rich said eating out was a game and went into detail about the server, your guest, the menu, etc. However, in contrast, he said music was not a game, that to be the best entertainer/musician you have to work at it.Rich worked hard at both entertaining and teaching.

- Joey Blackmon

Rich was a perfectionist and it showed in his approach to teaching the harmonica. I'll never forget him attempting to teach me a scale during a break at a harmonica seminar and getting annoyed with me because I wouldn't slow down and learn the scale and kept playing the wrong notes. I just wanted to play, but Rich knew that an organized approach to the harmonica would take me a lot further than aimless playing. Rich was a class act and knew his stuff. We all miss him.

-Jim McBride