Comment by Mike Moss on August 29, 2013 at 15:28

I heard that the vellum that made Tapis de Souq famous was sold to him by another mysterious gentleman, Marchand de Tapis, probably a fellow musician who descended from the famous organist, Louis Marchand.

Comment by Jody Stecher on August 29, 2013 at 16:18

I heard a different story. According what I heard,  Joe Morley got some melodic inspiration from the barking of a French Poodle named Tant Pis Desus.  He was a Car Pet.  He liked to ride on the roof of the automobile. 

Comment by TONY BRYAN on August 29, 2013 at 19:25

I asked Maestro Tapis d'Orient if he would like to contribute to the discussion that his appearance on Classic Banjo has provoked. Being a proud and aloof man, he does not get drawn very much into common tittle-tattle, but he does point out that Tapis is a common name in his part of the world, and is often given to first-born boys of exceptional beauty. He is not sure who was Morley's inspiration for such gems as Zarana, Egyptian Princess, Desert Trail and Sunbeam Sand Dance, but it was unlikely to have been the notorious and disreputable rogue Tapis de Souq, who he doubts could play the banjo at all. Maestro d'Orient suspects a woman from the East may have been his muse (see "Bright Eyes"), but that the affaire soon broke up. It is generally believed that Morley was on the point of publishing such titles as Ottomantown, Bosporus Walk-Round and Dardanelles Dandies before the rejection. We may never know what was lost to the world.

Comment by Shawn McSweeny on August 29, 2013 at 21:42

Perhaps Maestro d'Orient is confusing the great soloist Tapis de Souq with his dissolute cousin Tapis Volant, infamous for his limited banjo skills as Ten Thumbs Tapis. Equally inept with household items, one night while on a desert journey, his hookah malfunctioned and sadly, Ten Thumbs was drowned.

Comment by Jody Stecher on August 29, 2013 at 22:00

But his banjo survived. I have just posted 3 photos as supporting evidence.

Comment by Jody Stecher on August 29, 2013 at 22:02

About the muffled tone: was this sc RUG gs picking?

Comment by Shawn McSweeny on August 29, 2013 at 22:31

Perhaps so Jodie as when he performed he was often referred to as the pEARL of the Souq.

Comment by Mike Moss on August 31, 2013 at 11:23

This reminds me of a proverb; "If Foggy Mountain will not come to Tapis de Souq, Tapis de Souq must go to Foggy Mountain." Unfortunately, on his way to the Foggy Mountain, the musician's camel broke down. This incident was since known as Pearl's Breakdown.

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