Modern Pied Piper Cheats Death

CBS Evening News: After Nine Heart Surgeries Washington State Man Spreads Joy Of Music To Kids

(CBS)  Every time 70-year-old Andy Mackie draws a breath, it's music to his ears - whether there's a harmonica there or not. As CBS News correspondent Steve Hartman reports, Mackie's just glad to be alive.

Mackie jokes, "I guess they don't need a harmonica player in heaven yet."

Mackie, a Scottish-born retired horse trainer, lives in a camper in northwest Washington state - he lives there, even though technically -- medically -- he should have died long ago.

After his ninth heart surgery, Mackie's doctors had him on 15 different medicines. But the side effects made life miserable. So one day he quit taking all 15 and decided to spend his final days doing something he always wanted to do.

He used the money he would have spent on the prescriptions to give away 300 harmonicas, with lessons included. "I really thought it was the last thing I could ever do," he says.

And when he didn't die the next month, he bought a few hundred more.

Harmonicas in hand, he explains, "I just started going from school to school."

It's now 11 years and 13,000 harmonicas later.

"I'll see a pregnant lady on the sidewalk and I'll give her a harmonica for the baby," he says as an example.

Today there's nary a kid in the county who hasn't gotten a free harmonica from Mackie, or played one of his strum sticks.

To keep the kids interested in music as they get older, Mackie now spends the bulk of his Social Security check making them beginner string instruments. He also buys store-made instruments for kids that show a special interest. He provides free lessons to everyone by getting the older kids to teach the younger kids.

Mackie says, "I tell them music is a gift, you give it away - you give it away and you get to keep it forever."

The end result is something truly unique to his corner of Washington. It seems everywhere you look, everyplace you go, every kid you meet has the same genuine passion for fiddle music.

"I can't explain the joy, Mackie says. "I don't think Bill Gates feels any richer inside than I do. He believes he's still living today because of the kids and the music.

And he doesn't expect any harmonica openings in heaven any time soon.

"I don't think the lord wants me yet, I still got something to do here -- lots more kids out there."

[TimothyKelley1955]

Andi its time to rest call me 931-676-3344 tim

[jfranklinwillis]

I would like to consider building strum sticks for our Sunday School Kids. Are there plans and instructions available? I have checked the internet, but have not found plans for a strumstick. Perhaps Mr. Mackie would share his plans and instructions on how to build?

I have an odd reason for wanting to build strum sticks. I am mathematically inclined. I have been a numbers cruncher in industry and taught mathematics and statistics at a community college. What does this have to do with strumsticks. Well, it appears that early music training builds the connections in the brain that result in better mathematics and science students. I would love to see the kids enjoying the strumsticks, while knowing that the sticks serve a dual purpose.

Jim Willis, Ed.D. (retired)
aka: J. Franklin Willis Photographic Artist (active)
www.jfranklinwillis.com

[mejordelahistoria]

awesome story

[debinok1]

For all of you with the drive to help, and the heart to give, you asked for information to help Andy with his mission in life. Below is the information. May you all be blessed.

Andy can be reached at:
[e-mail]

Andy Mackie Music Foundation
c/o JCEF
P.O. Box 967
Chimacum, WA 98325

[phone]

[number1GI]

God Bless you Andy There is a special place in Heaven reserved for you

[bizmannumber1]

I'm a bit late writting down how I felt after watching your broadcast on Andy Mackie. Both my wife and I had to hold back our emotions so that we could heir the hole story. Andy is a selfless person and a great person for teaching not only music to the students but also the way he's showing them great leadership as well. Some should give this man a Pulitsor.

ontario, Canada

[lizuk22_2006]

CBS news tries to find some bit of news to make you feel happy and believe in people again. It's good to know about people helping people and even better to recognize their efforts. Big think thanks the Katie Couric, Steve Hartman, the news team at CBS and expecially to people like Andy Mackie!!! <a href=http://www.citazioni-celebri.com/frases-celebres/>frases</a>

[YCantWeAllGetAlong]

We need many more stories like this....keep them coming. God bless you Andy.

[subwayco]

Stories like this are the reason I switched from NBC news. NBC was always focusing on the bad and sad things going on. Everything is a crisis at NBC.

CBS news tries to find some bit of news to make you feel happy and believe in people again. It's good to know about people helping people and even better to recognize their efforts. Big think thanks the Katie Couric, Steve Hartman, the news team at CBS and expecially to people like Andy Mackie!!!

[Dgunner]

I have fiught in wars seen the inhumamnity that man inflicts upon his brothers and sisters. I have caused and left death behind me on several continents in a attempt to correct things that were not right for the child the new born and the dying. This man shows that in the face of diversity and death that sleeps at the foot of his bed , he still found something to share and pass along without the hatred of all that has inflicted him . Truly a treasure in his world and a bright light for the small shy child that may feel inferior. If I knew how to contact him I would send a few harmonicas his way and could probably get them donated,. IF ANY ONE KNOWS THE MANS ADDRESS PLEASE PIOST FOR ME . i WILL BE OFF AIR MONDAY AND TUESDAY BUT WILL RETURN . WEDNESDAY.

[Gocougars]

Thank you for the time and Videos or our Wonderful Andy Mackie.
Andy showed me how to use the strum sticks in music class at our public school. We love his workshops where students participate in building the strum sticks with a parent or sibling.

Andy keeps the joy of teaching and encourages others to stay Joyful.
His inspiration is his faith in God, and he sings and shares and plays always.
Just his arrival at my school at lunch drew a crowd. "Is he really a Guinness world record
holder?" they asked. For the most courteous kids who greeted Andy I had a prize.
A harmonica, of course!

Here's to many more festivals and strum stick lessons!
Here's to caring enough for people that you share music with them.
Thank you Andy!

[Slrman]

Has there ever been a better example of "pay it forward"? Even better, he is teaching others to do the same thing. People like Andy are a national treasure and his example should inspire everyone.

[rillifane]

"I can't explain the joy, Mackie says. "I don't think Bill Gates feels any richer inside than I do."

It seems to me that neither Bill Gates or anyone else is richer in what counts than this man.

[41Darlene]

I like all Steve Hartman's stories - but this one made me want to make sure to help this man and his Mission.....therefore if someone can tell me how to reach him, I would like to assist him to continue this "American helping America's Children and Elderly Music Program" because obviously God has blessed this mission and him!!! And it proves once again, America is great because of her people!!!

[blabf23]

There has not been a more positive role model for the kids on the In Jefferson county. His fund raisers allow his students to share their new found talent and have provided college scholarships. My grand-daughters all have violins that were given to them by Andy and they can now play them. He has also touched the lives of the mentally ill folks that I use to work with by giving them harmonicas and teaching them to make music. I not sure anyone in that neck of the woods can say their lives have not been touched in one way or another by this man! He IS The music in our lives...

[j_freeman]

Steve Hartman at CBS does it again:
What a heart-warming story & breath of fresh air...
acknowledging a musical genius with a soul of gold.
Long live Andy Mackie (and Steve, too).
May God continue to bless you both!

[woodstock4]

What an incredible story and an incredible man. I hope Andy teaches many, many more children. He is a breath of fresh air in a troubled world.
Maybe someone could do a short documentary on him or even a movie.

[mattsircely]

Andy's a dear friend - I'm one of his many longstanding volunteers.

csa9848 (comment #3) - go to his website: www.andymackie.org

Last week, he showed me a small guitar that he built for only $20 in materials. He's also sharing the blueprints for his homespun instruments, which are currently being built by high school shops for younger kids to play. His work demonstrates how ingenuity, dedication and a gentle spirit can overcome any obstacle. And I've personally seen countless kids gain precious confidence and a sense of self that will last a lifetime.

Thanks for covering Andy - I know of no one who deserves it more!

[honeybunkraut]

Yes you can! Go to his website... http://andymackiemusic.org/ call him at 360 316 9556 or email him at [e-mail].

He is an awesome man! My 9 yr old has learned to love music because of him!

[legacyabq]

This is awesome!!

God bless Andy Mackie!

This is what it means to LIVE!