Author Archives: sixstrstories

About sixstrstories

I am the son and only child of a registered nurse & a self-employed collector of wildflowers. I went on to become: a Beatles’ fan; a record collector; a drummer; a music magazine subscriber; a guitar player; a songwriter; a high school graduate; a college student; a music major; a performing singer/guitarist; a photography student; a yearbook photographer; a student teacher; a boyfriend; a letter writer; a college graduate; an elementary school music teacher; an apartment dweller; a husband; a guitar teacher/independent contractor; a homeowner; an independent music producer; the father of a daughter; the father of a son; a bandmate; a teacher of the history of popular music in America; an instructor of music/adjunct faculty member; a grandfather (x3); a condo dweller; and a blogger.

Finding Covers – “She’s Got You”

Posted on May 16, 2016 by sixstrstories

“Really?!” I couldn’t believe it when I first heard the news. Rhiannon Giddens was going to start her Spring 2016 US Tour here in southeast New Hampshire. The singer, fiddler, banjo player and songwriter was scheduled to perform on Tuesday, April … Continue reading →

Posted in Finding Covers, Posts with Video | Tagged Factory Girl, Hank Cochran, Patsy Cline, Rhiannon Giddens, She's Got You, Tomorrow Is My Turn | Leave a comment

No. 6

Posted on April 18, 2016 by sixstrstories

sixstr stories turns six years old today! Two “six” songs came immediately to mind as I began planning for this birthday party post: “Six Days On The Road” and “Route 66.” “Six Days On The Road” was written by Alabama … Continue reading →

Posted in Posts with Video, Random Topics | Tagged (Get Your Kicks On) Route 66, Livingston Taylor, Route 66, Six Days On The Road, The Rolling Stones | 1 Comment

Woo hoo! It’s International “Louie Louie” Day!

Posted on April 11, 2016 by sixstrstories

Yes, it really is! To join in on the celebration, I am re-posting a piece I first published on April 16, 2011. Included this time are Richard Berry & The Pharaohs’ original recording of the song and the famous cover … Continue reading →

Posted in Posts with Video, Random Topics | Tagged Dave Marsh, International Louie Louie Day, Louie Louie, Richard Berry, Richard Berry & The Pharaohs, The Kingsmen | Leave a comment

Two Days In New York City

Posted on March 26, 2016 by sixstrstories

I’ve written about days like this before: days that are pinpoints on the timeline of music history, when paths crossed and discoveries were made. Days that changed lives and (ultimately) changed music. For instance… August 1, 1927: The day that … Continue reading →

Posted in Random Topics | Tagged A Grapes of Wrath Evening, Alan Lomax, American Folk-music Revival, American School of the Air, Forrest Theater, Huddie Ledbetter, John Steinbeck Committee for Agricultural Workers, Lead Belly, Library of Congress, Mecca Temple, Mordecai Bauman, Pete Seeger, Why Do You Stand There In The Rain?, Will Geer, Woody Guthrie | 1 Comment

“Before Breakfast”

Posted on March 7, 2016 by sixstrstories

November 8, 2014 was a Saturday. Waking up with a tune in my head on a morning when I could actually take the time to sit with my guitar and get notes down on paper was a gift. Three days … Continue reading →

Posted in EFS Music, Guitar Music, Posts with Audio | Tagged Acoustic Fingerstyle Guitar, Acoustic Guitar Instrumentals, Before Breakfast, Guitar Music | 1 Comment

Happy Leap Day!

Posted on February 29, 2016 by sixstrstories

“And now, ladies and gentlemen, here’s a classic track from Count Basie & His Orchestra guar-an-teeeed to add more than a little lift to your Leap Day festivities: ‘Jumpin’ At The Woodside!’” “Jumpin’ At The Woodside” was recorded in … Continue reading →

Posted in Posts with Video, Random Topics | Tagged 1930's Jazz, Count Basie, Count Basie & His Orchestra, Head Arrangement, Jazz, Jumpin' At The Woodside, Leap Day | Leave a comment

This Historic Day In Music: Lonnie Johnson

Posted on February 8, 2016 by sixstrstories

Can you imagine all of the Pop, Rock, Blues, Country & Jazz recordings of the past 90 years that have a guitar solo in them not having that guitar solo? Well, the person who pioneered the single-string, played-with-a-pick, vibrato-and-string-bending-filled guitar … Continue reading →

Posted in Posts with Video, This Historic Day In Music | Tagged American Folk Blues Festival, Another Night To Cry, Blind Willie Dunn, Eddie Lang, Handful Of Riffs, James Sallis, Lonnie Johnson, Mr. Johnson's Blues, OKeh Records, The Guitar Players | Leave a comment

This Historic Day In Music: Etta James

Posted on January 25, 2016 by sixstrstories

WBLM (102.9 FM) is a 100,000-watt Classic Rock radio station broadcasting from Portland, Maine. For many years, WBLM helped its Sunday morning listeners get ready for church with an all-Blues program called The Maine Blues Project. I didn’t get to … Continue reading →

Posted in Posts with Video, This Historic Day In Music | Tagged Adele, At Last!, Blues To The Bone, Etta James, Maine Blues Project, The Sky Is Crying, Trust In Me, WBLM | Leave a comment

Guitar Music: “The Water Is Wide”

Posted on January 10, 2016 by sixstrstories

(To see more Guitar TAB transcriptions, click on Guitar Music in the Categories list!) sixstr stories, as it says on the home page above the right hand corner of the close-up photo of my favorite guitar, is “Just another WordPress.com weblog.” … Continue reading →

Posted in EFS Music, Guitar Music | Tagged Fingerstyle Guitar Music, Guitar TAB, TAB Transcriptions, The Water Is Wide, The Water Is Wide Guitar TAB | 3 Comments

“O Holy Night”

Posted on December 23, 2015 by sixstrstories

I originally shared the recording of “O Holy Night” by The City of New Orleans on the occasion of sixstr stories’ first Christmas. On December 22, 2010, I wrote: This is my favorite recording/performance of Christmas music. Period. Hands down. … Continue reading →

Posted in Posts with Audio, Random Topics | Tagged Christmas Music, Oh Holy Night, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, Trombone Shorty, Troy Andrews | 2 Comments