Category Archives: Posts with Video
The Ballad of “Wayfaring Stranger”
Ballad: “A poem or song narrating a story in short stanzas, or verses.” Verse 1 I’m just a poor wayfaring stranger, a traveling through this world of woe But there’s no sickness toil or danger in that bright land to … Continue reading
A Christmas Jazz Piano Sparkler: “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town” by Dave McKenna
I know. My Sparklers category is supposed to feature: “Recordings of outstanding performances by noteworthy guitarists – or outstanding guitarists giving noteworthy performances.” Oh, well! Not today. Dave McKenna’s Christmas Ivory is very high on my list of all-time-favorite Christmas music … Continue reading
This Historic Day In Music: Merle Travis
I first learned about Merle Travis in the September 1976 issue of Guitar Player magazine. GP editor Jim Crockett began his introduction to Bob Baxter’s cover-story article/interview with Mr. Travis with this statement: “Countless guitarists, particularly in the country music … Continue reading
This Historic Day In Music: November 23, 1936, The Gunter Hotel, Rm.414, San Antonio, Texas – Take 2
They had travelled from Mississippi to Texas, the young black man with a guitar and the older, white business man. Years later, people along their route would still remember this unusual sight. The business man was Ernie Oertle, a talent scout … Continue reading
This Historic Day In Music: Wanda Jackson
Wanda Jackson – the singer, guitarist & songwriter who became known as the “Queen of Rockabilly” – was born in Maud, Oklahoma on this day, October 20, in 1937. In 1956, 19-year-old Wanda signed with Capitol Records and soon saw … Continue reading
This Historic Day In Music: Chuck Berry
This songbook has been in my music library for many years. Fred Sokolow’s excellent note-for-note transcriptions of 17 Chuck Berry classics have repeatedly proven themselves to be invaluable to me as a guitarist and as a teacher. The Michael Ochs Archives … Continue reading
One Thing Leads To Another
That’s me. I’m standing in the middle of Jones Street, just off of West 4th Street, in Greenwich Village, the borough of Manhattan, in the city of New York. The picture was taken by my son on a magical Saturday … Continue reading
Some Kind Of Smelling Salts: “Groovadelphia”
Some Kind Of Smelling Salts features songs from my personal playlist of musical stimulants and audio caffeine delivery systems; a distinct selection of creations and performances that I find to be deliciously intoxicating, undeniably invigorating and unapologetically addictive. Listening not for … Continue reading
This Historic Day In Music: “Call It Stormy Monday (But Tuesday Is Just As Bad)”
On September 13, 1947, Aaron “T-Bone” Walker went to work in the recording studios of Black & White Records in Hollywood, CA. With a five-piece band behind him, the Blues guitarist/singer/songwriter recorded the song that would become his biggest hit. … Continue reading
