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: “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

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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

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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

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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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Charlie Watts

Tuesday, August 24, 2021. The text came in from my son at 1:02 pm. “RIP charlie watts! Sad news” Rather stunned, I quickly replied: “Oh no! Very sad news!” The first article that appeared on the news feed on my … Continue reading

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A Guitar Music Double Header – The Night Game

As previously reported, I recently had the chance to do transcriptions of two of my older acoustic guitar instrumentals; pieces I have posted recordings of in the past. Now coming to the plate: “Home Alone.” On March 30, 2014, I … Continue reading

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A Guitar Music Double Header – The Day Game

I recently had the chance to do transcriptions of two of my older acoustic guitar instrumentals; pieces I have posted recordings of in the past. First up: “Sunday Morning” On October 24, 2010 (sixstr stories’ first year!), I wrote this … Continue reading

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Maura & Nanci

As I remember it, I had the tv on one afternoon while I was doing some chores around the house. When the chores were done, I picked up the remote and did some quick channel surfing… until I came upon … Continue reading

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This Historic Day In Music: Charlie Christian – Take 3

Oklahoma Jazz musician and electric guitarist Charlie Christian turned the nationally renowned Benny Goodman Quintet into a Sextet on August 16, 1939. Over the course of the next twenty-three months, Charlie’s dazzling contributions to the many live performances, recordings and radio … Continue reading

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The “Chitarra Battente” – a fourteenstr story

Last month, I had the great pleasure of spending an afternoon at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, Massachusetts. It was my first time visiting this magnificent venue. While exploring the Raphael Room on the museum’s second floor, I … Continue reading

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