Author Archives: sixstrstories
This Historic Day… My Granddaughter
My granddaughter, Margaret – aka Molly – was born this day, May 25, in 2021. Though I didn’t get to meet her in-person until about two weeks later, I had this song all ready to serenade her with as I … Continue reading
This Historic Month In The World of Guitar
April is “International Guitar Month.” Ok, but I’ve got five very good reasons why I think March should get that honor. They are: Doc Watson, Wes Montgomery, Mississippi John Hurt, Lightnin’ Hopkins and Eric Clapton. Why those five? Each of … Continue reading
Finding Covers – “Oh Babe It Ain’t No Lie”
I’ve been a big fan of Gillian Welch & David Rawlings since I first heard them perform in August 2004 as part of The Sweet Harmony Traveling Revue. The last time I was fortunate enough to see them in concert … Continue reading
“Johnny B. Goode” – Who(?), What, When(?) & Where
Last week, I was putting together a “This Historic Day In Music” post to celebrate the anniversary of something good that happened on a January 6: the recording of “Johnny B. Goode.” At least I thought that January 6, 1958, … Continue reading
“Christmas In The Trenches”
“Christmas In The Trenches” is a song by John McCutcheon. It is the fictionalized but masterfully rendered telling of the very real events that took place on Christmas Eve in 1914 between British and German troops on the battlefields of … Continue reading
This Historic Day In Music: “Sweet Home Chicago”
“Oh, baby, don’t you want to go?” If you were to make a list of “standard” Blues songs, “Sweet Home Chicago” would definitely be among the top ten. I can’t, however, think of any song on that list with roots … Continue reading
Dear Boston Red Sox,
Thanks for a great season! (O = a win, X = a loss.) Wait’ll next year! In the meantime, here’s a great rendering of “Take Me Out To The Ballgame” by guitarists Doc & Merle Watson, with T. Michael Coleman … Continue reading
This Historic Day In Music: Chuck Berry
If you wouldn’t mind, read the next two lines out loud. “Well, I’m a write a little letter, I’m go’n mail it to my local DJ. Yes it’s a jumpin’ little record I want my jockey to play.” Good! Now … Continue reading
Wrestling With The Angel, Chapter 14
Five years ago – almost to the day – I wrote about the song “Copper Canteen” by James McMurtry. “Copper Canteen” was the lead song on McMurtry’s then-brand-new album, Complicated Game. The last line of that post (titled “A Somewhat Recent … Continue reading
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