Author Archives: sixstrstories
Marking The Trail: One Melody’s Journey Through American Music – Part Two
The journey continues: Rising to a higher elevation. Mississippi Sheiks was a string band from Bolton, Mississippi. [Pictured, L-R: Armenter “Bo Carter” Chatmon (1893/4-1964), Alonzo “Lonnie” Chatmon (1890-1942) & Walter Vinson/Vincson (1901-1975).] They made their first recordings on February 17, … Continue reading
Marking The Trail: One Melody’s Journey Through American Music – Part One
“Melody is the essence of music.” Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) The trailhead. Leroy Carr (1904-1935) – singer, pianist, songwriter, performer and recording artist – was one of the most prolific, popular and influential Blues musicians of the 1930’s. Leroy … Continue reading
Last Thursday
I heard the motorcycle approaching from my left when I was about twenty paces from the crosswalk. The pedestrians ahead of me had paused to let a few cars go by – something that actually happens on occasion in this … Continue reading
Sparklers: “Tootie Blues” by Paul Geremia
This is the tenth installment of this category featuring recordings of outstanding performances by noteworthy guitarists – or – outstanding guitarists giving noteworthy performances. Good day, Viewers & Readers! Let me introduce you to… “Tootie Blues” by Paul Geremia. Give a … Continue reading
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
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
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
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
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
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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