Author Archives: sixstrstories
The First Jazz Record
Since one of you asked, and it’s in the public domain, here it is! “Livery Stable Blues” by The Original Dixieland Jass Band The Original Dixieland Jass Band first recorded for Columbia Records on January 30, 1917. The two sides: … Continue reading
Hey There! Remember Me?
From the end of January, through February, up to now, things have been kind of crazy. Teaching, life, snow = crazy. So many Historic Days In Music have gone by in the past five weeks without my having commemorated them, that… well, I feel bad, but … Continue reading
Sam & Janis
“Darling, you – oo-oo-ooo send me. I know you – oo-oo-ooo send me. Darling, you – oo-oo-oo send me. Honest you do, honest you do, honest you do. Whoa – oh – oh-oh-oh-oh.” Can you hear the voice? That “sophisticated, … Continue reading
This Historic Day In Music: Elvis Presley
Elvis. Where did your mind go when you read that word? Mine went to shiny, combed-back, thick black hair. I heard a low, rumbling, twang-tinged voice saying: “Thank you. Thank you very much.” I pictured a young man (with that … Continue reading
This Historic Day In Music: Elizabeth Cotten
She’d forgotten that she could play the guitar. She hadn’t played since she was a teenager, back home in Chapel Hill, North Carolina; since she’d gotten married to Frank and given birth to Lillie, her one and only. And in all … Continue reading
Merry Christmas
This is my favorite recording/performance of Christmas music. Period. Hands down. No doubt. Head and shoulders above all the rest. Better than “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” by the Dexter Gordon Quartet. Better than John Fahey’s “Medley: Hark, The Herald … Continue reading
Dancing In The Kitchen
It was Sunday evening, a bit after seven o’clock. Late for us to be having supper. We’d had a long, mid-afternoon lunch with some old friends who now live on Cape Cod and were passing through town on their way … Continue reading
This Historic Day In Music: Another Double Header
Part 1. On December 3, 1927, Columbia Records held a recording session in Dallas, Texas. They recorded six sides by a 25-year-old gospel singer/slide guitarist/street-corner evangelist named Blind Willie Johnson. Among the six sides was a piece, not really a song, … Continue reading
This Historic Day In Music: Jimi Hendrix
When I was a teenager, I belonged to a record club. Not just any record club, mind you, but the Record Club of America. And though I’m sure that I bought a number of records from them, there’s only one that I … Continue reading
Happy Thanksgiving!
Happy Thanksgiving, dear reader. I hope this finds you well and enjoying this day. If I may, here is a bit of music for your holiday. “Thanksgiving Eve” by Bob Franke. The story, as I know it, is that at one time … Continue reading
