Author Archives: sixstrstories
This Historic Day In Music: Wanda Jackson
Wanda Jackson – the singer, guitarist & songwriter who became known as the “Queen of Rockabilly” – was born in Maud, Oklahoma on this day, October 20, in 1937. In 1956, 19-year-old Wanda signed with Capitol Records and soon saw … Continue reading
This Historic Day In Music: Chuck Berry
This songbook has been in my music library for many years. Fred Sokolow’s excellent note-for-note transcriptions of 17 Chuck Berry classics have repeatedly proven themselves to be invaluable to me as a guitarist and as a teacher. The Michael Ochs Archives … Continue reading
The Beginning
The first time I gave a guitar lesson was on Monday, October 13, 1975. My student’s name was Catherine. She was 13 years old. Catherine’s Mom was a classroom teacher at the elementary school where I was the brand new, … Continue reading
One Thing Leads To Another
That’s me. I’m standing in the middle of Jones Street, just off of West 4th Street, in Greenwich Village, the borough of Manhattan, in the city of New York. The picture was taken by my son on a magical Saturday … Continue reading
Some Kind Of Smelling Salts: “Groovadelphia”
Some Kind Of Smelling Salts features songs from my personal playlist of musical stimulants and audio caffeine delivery systems; a distinct selection of creations and performances that I find to be deliciously intoxicating, undeniably invigorating and unapologetically addictive. Listening not for … Continue reading
This Historic Day In Music: “Call It Stormy Monday (But Tuesday Is Just As Bad)”
On September 13, 1947, Aaron “T-Bone” Walker went to work in the recording studios of Black & White Records in Hollywood, CA. With a five-piece band behind him, the Blues guitarist/singer/songwriter recorded the song that would become his biggest hit. … Continue reading
This Historic Day: The March On Washington
Today is the 56th anniversary of The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. On August 28, 1963, an estimated 250,000 people peacefully gathered in Washington, D.C., on the National Mall in front of the Lincoln Memorial. The purpose of … Continue reading
This Historic Day In Music: Led Zeppelin – August 21, 1969
My friend Tom had his driver’s license and a car. Somehow we’d gotten two tickets. Led Zeppelin, our favorite band, was playing at the Carousel Theater in Framingham, Massachusetts and we were going to be there! Also, I’d just purchased … Continue reading
The Ballad of “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”
Verse 1 The melody came first. Published in Paris, in 1761. It was titled “Ah! Vous Dirai-Je, Maman.” (“Oh! Shall I Tell You, Mummy”) from a collection called Les Amusements dune Heure et Demy. Verse 2 Then the words. From a … Continue reading
