Category Archives: This Historic Day In Music
This Historic Day In Music: Bob Dylan
My 2010 post celebrating Bob Dylan’s birthday invited my readers to share their favorite Bob Dylan song. After missing the big day in 2011, I came back in 2012 and wrote a piece about some of the many outstanding (in … Continue reading
This Historic Day In Music: Robert Johnson
Robert Johnson, the King of the Delta Blues Singers (and Guitarists) was born in Hazelhurst, Mississippi, on this day, May 8, in 1911. To again celebrate this day – please turn to the archives for November 2011 to read my … Continue reading
This Historic Day In Music: Judy Collins
Among the many music books that I made frequent use of in my musically formative years and that still fill my shelves, one of the most memorable is a collection of songs recorded by Judy Collins. The Judy Collins Songbook was first published in October, … Continue reading
This Historic Day In Music: Muddy Waters
On April 4, 1915, McKinley Morganfield was born on the Kroger Plantation in Rolling Fork, Mississippi. He was the second son of Ollie Morganfield and Berta Jones. When, as a youngster, little McKinley showed a penchant for playing in mud … Continue reading
This Historic Day In Music: Eric Clapton
Eric Patrick Clapton was born this day, March 30, in 1945 in Ripley, Surrey, England. Starting with his first band, The Roosters, then with The Yardbirds in 1963, on through his time with John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers, Cream, Blind Faith and Derek … Continue reading
This Historic Day In Music: Doc Watson
Doc Watson was born this day, March 2, in the year of 1923 in Deep Gap, North Carolina. Doc is one of my most favorite guitarists, acoustic or electric, any style or genre. The word that always comes to mind … Continue reading
This Historic Day In Music: George Harrison
The cover story in the November, 1987 issue of Guitar Player magazine was written by then-Editor-At-Large, Dan Forte and was titled: “The Jungle Music & Posh Skiffle of George Harrison.” In the lenghty interview section of the article, Mr. Forte asked Mr. … Continue reading
This Historic Day In Music: “God Blessed America”
The day was February 23, 1940 and Woody Guthrie was in New York City. He’d arrived a few weeks earlier having hitchhiked from Pampa, Texas, a journey begun just after New Year’s Day. On that day, Woody’s “home” was Hanover House, a cheap hotel on the corner of 43rd Street … Continue reading
This Historic Day In Music: Jimi Hendrix
The book is called: History of the World in Nine Guitars. It was written by Erik Orsenna, accompanied by Thierry Arnoult and published in 1996. The English edition was translated from the original French by Julia Shirek Smith and published … Continue reading
This Historic Day In Music: “Guitar Rag” by Sylvester Weaver
My post of November 2, 2010 started thus: “On November 2, 1923, African-American Blues guitarist Sylvester Weaver sat in front of the large horn/”microphone” of the acoustic recording machine in the New York City studios of OKeh Records. He played and recorded two original instrumental guitar pieces … Continue reading
