Origins of 'The Point'

As most of you know, I am a fan! I truly do get excited about each interview because I appreciate and respect those who have given us music! Along the way, I began gathering selfies (long before there was such a term) and the very first was with Milt Hinton when I was only 15. These selfies have come to be affectionately known as “Dan and...”. Later, while in my 20s, I got to meet Jonah Jones and we posed for a photo where he pointed to me, thus the beginning of the now-famous pose of mine, 'The Point!' Over the years I have pointed and was pointed to in many photos. Since I am often asked about who was in the first pointing photo, I wanted to share it, along with a few other personal highlights.

Please note that I did not get to interview everyone I pointed to in these selfies, such as the singer Ben E. King. However, all those with a link below have been interviewed.

Enjoy 'The Point'!

Jonah Jones

Ben E King

Jack Black

Bobby Watson

Elvis (cardboard cut out)

John Carruthers

Dan Del Fiorentino
NAMM Music Historian
dand@namm.org