Author Archives: sixstrstories
This Historic Day In Music: “Blowin’ In The Wind” – Take 1
Bob Dylan wrote “Blowin’ In The Wind” sometime in late March/early April, 1962. He used the song “No More Auction Block” – a Civil War-era, African-American marching song/spiritual – as his starting point. (Dylan was a big fan of singer/guitarist … Continue reading
This Historic Day In Music: Stephen Collins Foster
Stephen Collins Foster – America’s first professional songwriter – was born on July 4, 1826 in Lawrenceville, Pennsylvania. Stephen Foster’s songwriting career started in December, 1844, with the publication of “Open Thy Lattice Love.” Over the next decade he became … Continue reading
“Father’s Day”
Eight different musicians/groups have each written and recorded a song called “Father’s Day.” Rap artist Father M.C. did in 1990 and Hip Hop duo Method Man & Redman did in 1999. Americana duo Barry & Michelle Patterson did in 2001 … Continue reading
Wrestling With The Angel, Chapter 10
If you’re a new visitor to this blog, the purpose of my Wrestling With The Angel series (or category) is to highlight and share individual songs that are on a list of mine entitled: Devastatingly Great Songs. The title phrase, … Continue reading
The Thrill Is Gone
B.B. King passed away yesterday, Thursday, May 14, 2015, in Las Vegas, Nevada. He was born Riley B. King on September 16, 1925 in Berclair, Mississippi, near the small town of Itta Bena. In 1950, while working as a DJ … Continue reading
This Historic Day In Music: The King Of The Delta Blues Singers
One of the first times I heard the words and music of Robert Johnson, I was listening to a Rolling Stones album. It was December 1969. I was listening to Let It Bleed, the new album by the Stones. The second … Continue reading
Quotations Marked 5
“A guitar sounds good even if you drop it on the floor. A beginner can find music in the guitar that has escaped the virtuoso. It’s a magical instrument, constrained by a short range and a peculiar tuning, that produces … Continue reading
John Renbourn, Guitarist & Teacher
On Saturday morning, March 28, 2015, the “Today’s Headlines” email that I receive from The New York Times delivered this very sad news: “John Renbourn, Eclectic Guitarist Who Founded the Pentangle, Dies at 70.” According to the obituary by Jon Pareles, … Continue reading
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