There's no doubt in my mind that the guitar has become THE representative instrument of our times. I seldom go down Detroit or Madison Avenues without seeing someone toting a black guitar bag. Guitar-accompanied music wafts from the doors of homes, coffee houses, churches, and bars around Lakewood virtually around the clock. Whether your taste in music runs to rock, folk, jazz, country, or classical, the sound of the guitar will be there helping to mark the pulse of this city.

Not too long ago, I was tootling along the aisles of a local music store when I saw a rather attractive black acoustic dreadnaught-style guitar. (These were so-named after British battleships around WWI, due to being oversized, compared to parlor guitars.) As I walked over to it, it was apparent that the instrument was an Esteban. As I had not closely examined one of these imported guitars before, I decided to take a look. This one even had Esteban's autograph in the soundhole of the guitar.

For those of you who have been hiding under a rock, Esteban is the shades-wearing, high-profile, Spanish-hatted man in black appearing on TV shopping shows and on a well-known insurance commercial. Esteban is known for selling inexpensive guitars and educational packages on TV and on the net. Unfortunately, Esteban's colorful presentation and sales techniques may have caused some in the guitar community to regard him as a bit cartoonish.

Even I chuckled when I saw the guitar. Then, on a whim, I bought it. The store wanted very little for it, and it even turned out to have a great lightweight nylon/foam semi-hard case with a bunch of Esteban's educational materials included!

Gary Rice, "Guitar Tech to the Stars," playing an inexpensive Esteban? That might be good for a laugh. Little did I know that the laugh would be on me.

Now for any of you who know me, you know there are two subjects I feel very strongly about: the importance of young people's education, and people overcoming adversity in their lives and thereby achieving success. In my quest to learn more about this man and his guitar, I learned much about life, as well.

Stephen Paul was an eight-year old son of a Pittsburgh area steelworker when he picked up his first guitar. Although largely self-taught, the young man had a tremendous quest for knowledge about his instrument.

Graduating from Carnegie-Mellon University in 1972 with a dual degree in Guitar and English Literature, Stephen wanted to learn more about the guitar. It was his greatest desire to be able to study under Andres Segovia, the late, great Spanish Maestro of classical guitar.

Unfortunately, these learning opportunities were generally handled through referrals and master classes. Admission was secured through connections that Stephen did not possess. Through sheer tenacity, Stephen secured master classes with Segovia, and later, private lessons after Segovia himself tested Stephen with a number of compositions carefully chosen by the Maestro.

Stephen studied under Segovia from 1974 to 1978, when Segovia gave Stephen his endorsement. While with Segovia, the Maestro referred to Stephen as Esteban. Stephen then began to tour around 1978. A year later, he lost the ability to play due to severe damage to his left arm and hand from an accident involving a drunk driver.

After a 10-year hiatus from the instrument, he resumed playing in 1990. He has since dedicated his life to enriching the lives of children through the magic of the guitar. Also, he has returned to the concert stage and soon plans to open a show in Las Vegas. His passionate CDs, as well as his famous guitars and lessons, are available on his website:
www.estebanmusic.com.

In our e-mails, Esteban and I discussed our mutual interest in helping children to learn skills that they can apply. Esteban wrote: "My calling is to educate children and adults in music, and furnish them with inexpensive good quality guitars." Esteban continued that he wanted to get the kids away from nasty video games, TV, and excessive computer use. Of course, I agree with this completely!

He also thanked me for being what I was (a retired special ed. teacher) and for making a difference. He also wrote that I sounded like an awesome brother in music.

Well Maestro Esteban, I will certainly try to be that brother, both to you and to those who need reminding that there are no limits to what determination to succeed can achieve.

Oh yes, that guitar? Let's just say that I am honored to have and to play an Esteban guitar. This guitar is really nice! Even the bridge was shaped in the professional manner of a thousand-dollar acoustic, thus making intonation and playability out of this world! My cousin in Pennsylvania has a vintage flattop worth thousands, and he, too, loves his Esteban guitar for much of his work. I've already used this inexpensive but very nice guitar in a number of public performances.

Stephen's instructional stuff is great too. His acoustic case is my favorite, hands down, of ANY acoustic case that I have ever owned, regardless of price!

I would encourage all of you to explore the passionate magic that is Esteban. Anyone who values learning and the overcoming of adversity would be inspired by this man. No less important, of course, is the tremendous talent that ripples from his hands in the presentation of beautiful music.

So yeah, the laugh was on me! I learned so much from my encounter with this gentle soul filled with the love of learning and the heart of a champion. May your music reach all the way to Heaven, Maestro Esteban. From that lofty place, I know in my heart that Segovia beams down upon you with great joy.


An earlier version of this article was used in the Folknet publication CONTINUUM.