Author Archives: sixstrstories

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About sixstrstories

I am the son and only child of a registered nurse & a self-employed collector of wildflowers. I went on to become: a Beatles’ fan; a record collector; a drummer; a music magazine subscriber; a guitar player; a songwriter; a high school graduate; a college student; a music major; a performing singer/guitarist; a photography student; a yearbook photographer; a student teacher; a boyfriend; a letter writer; a college graduate; an elementary school music teacher; an apartment dweller; a husband; a guitar teacher/independent contractor; a homeowner; an independent music producer; the father of a daughter; the father of a son; a bandmate; a teacher of the history of popular music in America; an instructor of music/adjunct faculty member; a grandfather (x3); a condo dweller; and a blogger.

This Historic Day In Music: June 20,1937, The Vitagraph/Warner Brothers Exchange Building, 508 Park Avenue, Dallas, Texas

Even though it was a typically hot middle-of-June Texas afternoon and even though the “recording studio” was a third-floor room in a warehouse/office building in downtown Dallas, Robert Johnson had the most productive day of recording in his career. Johnson cut seventeen … Continue reading

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This Historic Day In Music: Paul McCartney

“Eight Days A Week,” “Nowhere Man,” “Hey Jude,” “I Should Have Known Better,” “Blackbird,” “I’ve Just Seen A Face,” “Help,” “Rocky Raccoon.” As you, my knowledgeable reader, knows; these are all titles of songs recorded by The Beatles.  And, if you were … Continue reading

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With The Help Of Many Friends…

Here’s something a bit different from my usual sixstr stories fare. I was invited to participate in this project back in April by my friend and colleague, Bob Squires and one of his students, Oscar Dupuy d’Angeac. Oscar came up with the … Continue reading

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50 Years Ago Yesterday: The Audition At Abbey Road

It was 7:00 pm, on Wednesday, June 6, 1962. The Liverpool rock & roll quartet known as “The Beatles” – John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Pete Best – were in Studio Two of EMI Studios, 3 Abbey Road, … Continue reading

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Pancakes & Vivaldi

I don’t know which came first, but ever since the early years of parenthood, Sunday mornings in the Sinclair household have meant two things: pancakes and classical music. The only connection that I know of between listening to classical music and eating a … Continue reading

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So Long, Doc

Arthel “Doc” Watson died yesterday, Tuesday, May 29, 2012, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He was 89 years old. Doc Watson played acoustic guitar in both the flat-picking and fingerpicking style. Whether you called it Folk or Country or Bluegrass, the … Continue reading

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This Historic Day… My Father

Francis Matthew Sinclair, my father, was born on this day, May 27, in the year 1915. He was the son of Joseph F. and Mary (Winkler) Sinclair and lived almost his entire life in Exeter, NH. He graduated from Exeter High … Continue reading

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This Historic Day In Music: Bob Dylan

Today – May 24, 2012 – is Bob Dylan’s 71st birthday. Two years ago, in celebration of Bob’s big day, I asked: “What is your favorite Bob Dylan song?”  Many of you posted your answer through the “leave a comment” … Continue reading

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This Historic Day In Music: “Maybellene”

On May 21, 1955, Chuck Berry recorded his song “Maybellene” in the Chicago, Illinois studio of Chess Records. On May 21, 2010, I wrote and published my first post filled with all the details of this momentous musical event. I … Continue reading

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“The Reason I’m Here”

Musically, it’s a waltz. Lyrically, it’s a love song, with two verses, a chorus and a bridge: “I know how it might seem, but you’re still the reason I need to believe.” (As true now as it was then.) Guitaristically, I play … Continue reading

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