Simplemente Leland
Simply Leland
The voice of North Philadelphia once spoke a phrase to its listeners: “there is a daily song for each of us” That phrase was etched into the memory of the children of North Philly by the ingenuity of a bluesman I met on Cecil B. Moore: Leland Darnell Porter, whom I encountered again on Beale Street on the eve of a music festival, after having lost track of him while he was organizing community welfare programs.
He brought Jimi Hendrix within reach of those less accustomed to his style, revealing the nobility of a man who exalts the music that lives within the heart and has safeguarded it through talent forged by creative impulse.
What drives him is not notoriety, but the higher value of the caress found in the applause of the audience—the attainment of glory through the ecstatic listening of others.
His guitar vibrates, harmony emerges, and the romantic thunder of his blood flows into the ears of those who witness the virtuosity of his notes, marked by strong, free, fulfilled fingers that fill every space with absolute vitality as they move along the frets.
Simply put, Leland has given voice to the independent, the dispossessed, and those hungry for the stage, musically consecrating his land of prominent talent, and elevating through his style the voice of the bluesman who lives the dream of the just.
Simplemente, Leland
La voz del norte de Philadelphia dictaba una frase a sus oyentes “hay una canción diaria para cada uno de nosotros” dicha frase fue impresa en la memoria de los hijos del North Philly por el ingenio de un bluesman que conocí en la Cecil B Moore: Leland Darnell Porter, a quién volví a encontrar en Beale Street en la víspera de un festival de música; después de haberle perdido la pista mientras organizaba programas de bienestar comunitario.
Colocó a jimi Hendrix al alcance de los menos acostumbrados a su estilo, presentando la nobleza del hombre que exalta la música que habita dentro del corazón y le ha resguardado a consecuencia del talento forjado por el impulso creativo. Lo suyo no es la notoriedad, es el valor superior de la caricia recibida en el aplauso del público, el alcanzar la gloria en el ajeno éxtasis auditivo.
Su guitarra vibra, la armonía surge y el estruendo romántico de su sangre fluye hasta el oído del que presencia el virtuosismo de sus notas, señaladas por dedos fuertes, libres, plenos y que colman los espacios con una absoluta vitalidad al repaso del trasteo.
Simplemente, Leland ha logrado dar voz a los independientes, a los desheredados y a los hambrientos de escenario, consagrando musicalmente su tierra, de prominente talento y ha encumbrado con su estilo la voz del bluesman que vive el sueño de los justos.
