I studied with Vince in Inglewood in the late seventies. I feel very privileged to have done so - he was a wonderful musician - his Nonesuch recording accompanying the mandolin of Emmanuel Sheynkman (spelling?) is one of the most beautiful records I know, I've been listening to it for over thirty years. Vince made special arrangements for me as I didn't have a lot of money and couldn't take regular lessons - as he usually required. I had no contact for many years, since moving to Hawai'i and then back to Ireland, but I never forgot him and was horrified and deeply saddened to read of his Parkinson's when I tried to look him up in order to say hello. I am sad now too at the loss, even though I imagine that for him it may have been a release not to suffer anymore. I'm sorry that I didn't get in touch in time to let him now that I always thought of him and never forgot his playing or his arrangements.

Vince Macaluso came into my life after the death of my father...He married my mother and became my step-father,,being young i hadnt thought much about it other than he was my mothers husband and my step-dad......but as i grew older i came to realize that this was truly a blessing..... Vince was excepitionally good to us and devoted his life to us all.. As a young adult/stupid idiot,,,he never ceased to amaze me with ability to always remain calm and never raise is voice amongst all the trouble and craziness i so truly regret bringing into his life... I came to love Vince as a true father for he was ALWAYS there for me as he was for ALL of us and in every way possible..... Vince was an extremely intelligent and talented man,,,everytime i had a question i needed an answer to,, i just asked Vince,,,it was like he literally knew everything....and he could sure play that guitar....truly amazing,,,but most of all Vince was a very kind and considerate,,thoughtful,,warm-hearted ,,peaceful,,friendly ,,loving human being to say the least...as im sure that anyone who had the pleasure in meeting him would undoubtedly agree.... Vince was robbed of life by this terrible disease called Parkinson's,,yet throughout all the suffering he went through i never once saw him complain.... As an adult i look back and truly wish i could have been more like him,,AND I REALLY MEAN THAT....The world is at a loss in losing Vince,,,and i cant even describe in words how much i miss him,,,but i do know this,,my fear in dying has been reduced to practically nothing in knowing that that day i will see him again.... I recently lost a beautiful little dog that also suffered and was robbed of life as Vince was,,,but i pleases me to know that the two of them are up there enjoying each others company,,i knew the both of them and just know they would absolutely love each other....shes in the best hands possible..shes with Vince With Vince gone my life will never be the same....Until we meet again.....

DEAR! DEAR! What a special word "DEAR" means to me. I met Vince in 1997 when I met and married his son Joseph. I was never a guitar student and honestly never listened to classical music until 2 days ago when Tamra allowed me the honor of going through his old photos, newspaper articles about his wonderful talent of playing the 10 string classical guitar, and making my own personal copies of his beautiful music. I drove home 120 miles with his music playing and it brought a smile to my face and tears to my eyes. Oh how I will miss the word "DEAR" as that was how he greeted me ALWAYS. "ROSE DEAR"....I loved it. I feel honored to be his daughter-in-law. I will never forget Vinces beautiful smile. (yes the smile that was so big that he squinted his eyes.) "VinTam" another special word that I would see on a cookie jar and other places throughout his home...Short for Vince & Tamra. My beautiul mother-in law TAMRA who took such great care of Vince thoughout her life with him and during his 11 year battle with Parkinsons Disease. Tamra never wanted Vince to feel like he was sick or different. I watched this wonderful woman take care of Vince from the moment she woke up from her 3 hours sleep if she was lucky and bathe him and dress him and feed him when the Parkinsons had taken its toll on her precious Vince. Oh how Tamra and our whole family miss him. Vince was truly the kindest man I have ever met. And how he loved his precious Tamra and what a beautiful marriage they shared that was taken from him too soon and unkindly. A man who touched so many lives in such a loving caring way. Tamra, as you grieve know that I am remembering you and Vince together in happier times and honoring the memory of "Vincent Macaluso".

Vince was a wonderful man, a very accomplished musician, and a dear friend. I will miss him a lot. I find great comfort in knowing that Vince had his loving wife Tamra looking after him through his ordeal. I’m also glad that he was able to enjoy being a parent to Tamra’s sons, and was able to spend time enjoying his son, daughter-in-law, and his grandchildren. I began studying guitar with Vince’s former student Tom Runyan after graduating from high school in 1980. I progressed very quickly, and Tom passed me on to Vince around 1981. The first few years my lessons were in Inglewood at Howard Heitmeyer’s guitar shop. I have very fond memories of this period in my life. Stepping into Howard’s store was like stepping into a little musical haven where you could soak up musicality from being around these two wonderful musicians. Vince’s lessons always ran long because he could not isolate the musical training from his friendship with the student or his desire to discuss and solve the world’s problems with them. I sometimes had to wait an hour or more from the time my lesson was supposed to start, but I viewed this as a gift because I was usually hanging out with Howard, listening to him play and bumming arrangements from him. Usually by the time Vince and I were finished with our lesson and with enjoying each other’s company, there was another student who had been waiting patiently for a long time outside the lesson room. My lessons with Vince, which began at the very formative and confusing time when I was just entering adulthood, were instrumental in shaping who I am today. He took me under his wing, not just as a guitar student but also as a lost soul needing guidance, and helped me figure out who I really was, as opposed to who I thought I should be based on what others had told me all my life. When Howard closed down his shop, I began going to Vince's home in Thousand Oaks for lessons. This allowed me the privilege of getting know Tamra. I also have fond memories of this period. Tamra always treated me like family when I showed up at the door for my lesson. Eventually I became busy with raising my family and had to stop taking lesson from Vince. I lost touch with Vince and Tamra for a while when they moved to Banning, but got re-connected to them through a friend I had met who knew Carolyn Kassian, another one of Vince’s students. This was just after Vince had connected with his son David and his family, and was enjoying being a grandparent. Here is a quote from an email Vince sent to me that makes me smile every time I think about it: "Regarding my son David, it has turned out to be one of the best things to happen in my life. He is a wonderful man and I am thrilled to have 2 beautiful granddaughters after raising Tamra's 2 sons. What a difference, having your granddaughter sit on your lap and smile up at you and say I love you grandpa. Now that grabs your heart." I think about Vince very often, especially when I’m confronting problems Vince helped me with in the past, and especially when I sit down to play my guitar. Although Vince has passed away, his impact on this world continues, and will continue to do so for a very long time.

Vince will be missed. I've know him since the late 1960's. I play several of his great arrangements. He was one of a kind. Paul McGuffin

I shall always be grateful for the lessons I had with Vince. He was a marvelous musician and a really good friend.

I only met Vince a few times, after his performances, however he always impressed me with his dignified presence. He was a true gentleman and both he and his supreme artistry will be missed. ~David Norton, Utah

Vince has been my step-father since I was 13 years , he married my mother Tamra Asturino at a time where my brother and I were in our rebellious adolescence and even though we had our times we still respected him . for myself as an adult I didn't get to spend too much time with him time that is now lost , I always knew that he was a great man a man who made a promise and kept it till the end a man who was greatly loved and respected by many and a man who filled my heart with so many memories and lessons of life and to who I am thankful for for our last conservation , I love you I miss you and godspeed Vince