Author Archives: sixstrstories

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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.

A Very Historic Day In Music: Doc Watson

I may be a little early getting to the party, but I did not want to risk missing the day and have not posted something! 100 years ago – on March 3, 1923 – Arthel Lane “Doc” Watson was born … Continue reading

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This Historic Day In Music: “Dixieland Jass Band One-Step” & “Livery Stable Blues”

On Monday, February 26, 1917, five musicians – pianist Henry Ragas, clarinetist Larry Shields, trombonist Eddie Edwards, cornetist Nick LaRocca and drummer Tony Sbarbaro – gathered in the New York City recording studio of the Victor Talking Machine Company. This … Continue reading

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Sparklers: “Greensleeves” by Jeff Beck

This is the ninth installment of this category featuring recordings of outstanding performances by noteworthy guitarists – or – outstanding guitarists giving noteworthy performances. Truth – the 1968 debut solo album by Jeff Beck – was an early addition to my record … Continue reading

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Songs of 2022

These Songs of 2022 are not songs that I wrote this past year. They are the songs that came back to haunt me; songs that I finally finished; songs that got into my head and fingers for many days at … Continue reading

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Quotations Marked 11

“Music is… the sound life uses to keep the living alive.” Woody Guthrie American Musician (1912-1967) From: Woody Guthrie : songs and art * words and wisdom (2021) by Nora Guthrie & Robert Santelli. Woody Guthrie’s music certainly keeps the … Continue reading

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Quotations Marked 10

“As far as music itself goes,  the simplest thing to forget is that what music is about… is creating the kind of things that you think are beautiful. In other words, when you sit… and you’re creating, you have to … Continue reading

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Sounds of Swasey

Ambrose Swasey was born in Exeter, NH, on December 19, 1846. This Exonian became a mechanical engineer, inventor, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. He made his fame and fortune with the Warner & Swasey Company, which he founded with his partner, Worcester … Continue reading

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A Song My Mother Sang

As I recall, the song that my mother – Avis Louise Foss Sinclair (1914-2001) – sang the most often around the house when I was a kid was “Let Me Call You Sweetheart.” “Let me call you sweetheart, I’m in … Continue reading

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“Summer Solstice Rag” – Take 2

Today’s the day! Here’s some finger-style acoustic guitar music to get your first-day-of-summer party started: my “Summer Solstice Rag.” Hope you enjoy it! And… here’s my guitar TAB transcription if you’re a picker and want to try it out yourself. … Continue reading

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Going To The Zoo

52 years ago, when I bought my first guitar – a mahogany-body Harmony H165 acoustic (aka: the best $50.00 I ever spent)… … I also bought my first song book: Ramblin’ Boy and other songs by Tom Paxton. That small … Continue reading

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