Author Archives: sixstrstories
Verse 1, Verse 2
In September 1980, John Lennon told David Sheff, an interviewer for Playboy magazine, that “In My Life” was “the first song that I wrote that was really, consciously about my life.” John elaborated: “‘In My Life’ started out as a … Continue reading
Tonight
I started going to concerts not long after I became a teenager. The first concert I attended was in the Field House at the University of New Hampshire in Durham. The performer was Judy Collins. I don’t remember what songs she played … Continue reading
This Historic Day In Music: Louis Armstrong
In 1979, Woody Allen directed, co-wrote and starred in the film Manhattan, a romantic comedy-drama set in New York City. In the film, Isaac Davis, the character Allen plays, is asked the question: “Why is life worth living?” In his lengthy and now-famous answer … Continue reading
This Historic Day In Music: A.P., Sara, Maybelle & Ramblin’ Jack
In the evening, on this day, August 1, in 1927, Alvin Pleasant Carter, his wife Sara Dougherty Carter and Sara’s younger cousin, Maybelle Addington Carter sat around a microphone in a make-shift recording studio on the second floor of an … Continue reading
A Trip To The Library
Eighty years ago this month, in July of 1933, musicologist John Lomax and his 18-year-old son Alan met and recorded Huddie Ledbetter, a singer and 12-string guitarist, at the Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola, West Feliciana Paris, Louisiana. Huddie, who … Continue reading
This Historic Day In Music: Tommy Gallant
“Bonjour,” he’d say, adding to his greeting a little chuckle and a smile. Tommy Gallant, my colleague and friend, always brought a smile. “Bonjour,” as I remember it, was the punch line of one of his favorite jokes. More often than not, he would … Continue reading
This Historic Day In Music: Mississippi John Hurt
Today! was the first album of music by Mississippi John Hurt that I owned. Although I don’t recall where or when I bought it, I do know that Today! introduced me to an artist that remains among the most enjoyable and remarkable of … Continue reading
Hot Dog! P.S.: Jim Boyd
Ok, Google. Search: Jim Boyd. About 6,970,00 results in 0.20 seconds and the first ten are for Jim Boyd, the television news anchorman; Jim Boyd, the insurance agent; Jim Boyd, the musicain (born in 1956); and Jim Boyd, the member of the Florida House … Continue reading
Hot Dog!
On June 15, 2010, I wrote and posted an essay called “Recent Discoveries.” In it, I relayed the story behind my exciting discovery of the very first use of an electric guitar – “Spanish,” not “Hawaiian” – on a commercially-released record! I had … Continue reading
Wrestling With The Angel, Chapter 6
Joe Keone was a trumpet player and, as I remember it, like me, a Music Education major at the University of New Hampshire in the 1970’s. During the course of our college-days friendship, Joe introduced me to one of his … Continue reading
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