Melvin Lehair IBM competition 1993

Melvin Lehair’s real name is Richard Melvin Gamble. His birthday is the 7th of January 1961. He was born in Motherwell in Scotland and was christened and lived in East Kilbride.
An interesting thing is that his Mother’s side of the family are Lehair named. They are musicians who play organs and pianos. Often in churches. It’s interesting that his mother had letter communication from Franz Lehàr’s sister. Their mother was born in a gypsy encampment and hence a reason for Lehár’s ‘Gypsy Love’ play (musical).
Franz Lehár’s sister lived in Zurich and Richard and his parents visited her in 1973.
Richard told me that at a magic club he got introduced as Franz Lehár. He was delighted they knew, but left after that and never went back to any magic clubs.
Richard wrote his first poem about a trick he bought in 1981 called ‘Gypsy Curse’. He never knew that Franz Lehár loved the gypsies at that time. He was studying to go to Glssgow University at the time and his English tutor introduced him to many gypsy writings. His tutor, like Richard, had a love of gypsies and both agreed that no gypsies cause wars. That they have been classed as thief’s. Why? It’s because they are treated badly by the public. Why steal? Simply because they aren’t employed and need to survive.
I was pleased to meet Richard who is a close friend. He told me that he was given a T-Shirt with ‘Star Jumble’ on it. He likes that and said he wants to give his friend a thank you for it.
To think that someone as great as this is never allowed to be known. Possibly because of his love of gypsies, then sad be it.
A problem that is, is that one can live amongst many human beings who are uneducated and dislike gypsy people.