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1932
- 1997
Even at an early age, De Wayne was aware that the
harp would lead him in a career of remarkable experiences and global travel.
After his studies at the Academy of Music in Vienna, Austria, and having
served three years as Principal Harpist with the Istanbul
Symphony, as well as
Professor of Harp at the Conservatory there, Mr. Fulton was invited by Maestro
Herbert von Karajan to join the Berlin Philharmonic as Principal Harpist, making
him the first American to become a member of this prestigious ensemble.
He toured Europe as a soloist, was a member of the Vienna Philharmonic
and the Vienna State Opera Orchestra, and served as Principal Harpist of the
Honolulu Symphony. Burt Hixson, owner of the world-famous Warehouse Restaurant
in Marina Del Rey, California, heard De Wayne and built a lounge especially for
him and his electronically amplified harp.
Fulton continually drew crowds of music lovers to that spot from 1969
through 1995, entertaining stars such as Julie Andrews, Bette Midler, Fess
Parker, Debbie Reynolds, Ava Gardner, Charlton Heston, John Wayne, Rock Hudson
and Lucille Ball.
He made his New York recital debut in 1983 at
Lincoln Center, using three harps: a
concert grand, an Irish fold harp, and a harp especially prepared with
electronic sound modification, in a program of classical, popular and folk
music.
He performed similar programs for Presidents Regan and Johnson, in Japan
for the late Emperor Hirohito at the Imperial Palace and on the NHK Television
Network. Beginning in 1985. De
Wayne presented hundreds of recitals coast-to-coast and in Europe for Community
Concerts under the auspices of Columbia Artists Management of New York,
accompanied in later years by Paul Hurst. A dream of De Wayne's was to revive out-of-print masterworks for harp, heretofore ignored by the larger publishers. Safari Productions expanded with Safari Publications and is the cause and result of Mr. Hurst's eight year partnership with De Wayne. It all started with a computer program that could print music. De Wayne and Paul continued to develop Safari Productions for the recording and distribution of harp music. De Wayne's dream will continue and the music will live on. HOME Return to Music In Action |