Author Archives: sixstrstories
This Historic Day… My Son
For my birthday this year, my son took me to a concert. We went to see the Allman Brothers Band with Grace Potter & The Nocturnals at the Comcast Center in Mansfield, MA on September 6. My most cherished memory from that … Continue reading
Here We Are
On April 6, 1998, I put the finishing touches on a new song. “Hold On (Tight)” was my reaction to a time in my life, my family’s life, that was indeed filled with “dark, demanding days.” I wrote the song … Continue reading
To A Mom, With Thanks
I don’t recall that any of the small handful of Rock bands that I played with in high school ever practiced in a garage. Living rooms, dining rooms, basements, a room over a garage, but never in the garage. (I … Continue reading
This Historic Day In Music: John Lennon
George Martin, the Beatles’ record producer, is quoted many times in the magnificent and massive volume called The Beatles Anthology. (“Here for the first time in print, is the history of The Beatles – by The Beatles.”) Here’s one, from … Continue reading
Finding Covers – “Faith”
In The Penguin Encyclopedia of Popular Music (Second Edition, 1989, edited by Donald Clarke), “cover” is described as “a recording of a song already a hit by another artist; now more especially of a song already recorded by its composer.” … Continue reading
This Historic Day… My Daughter’s Wedding
The music for my daughter’s wedding was as thoughtfully considered, carefully selected and perfectly realized as every other facet of that unforgettable and dazzling day-long event was. First there were the Beatles’ songs – exceptionally rendered on electric piano by my good friend Andy … Continue reading
This Historic Day In Music: Bruce Springsteen
When I graduated from high school, my godparents, Raymond and Pauline Brisson, gave me the gift of a check to spend as I wished. I don’t remember how much the check was for, but it was enough for me to … Continue reading
Woke This Morning To The Sound Of Thunder
This morning, once again, life imitated art. Or, at least, life reminded me of the first verse of a song I wrote a few years ago, inspired by a day that started much like today did. The song is called “Some … Continue reading
This Historic Day In Music: Georgia Turner Sings Her Favorite Song For Alan Lomax
I woke up this morning with an idea for a blog post. I worked on the idea off and on in my head all day as I did chores, ate lunch, drove to and from Portsmouth and then mowed the … Continue reading
A “This Historic Day In Music” Quiz
Ok, followers and readers of sixstr stories, it’s quiz time. What very well known song was given its first public performance at the Eagle Ice Cream Saloon in Pittsburgh, PA on this day, September 11, in the year of 1847? … Continue reading