Category Archives: Random Topics

These posts are on topics that cannot be categorized in any of the other categories.

sixstr stories: The First Year

Posted on April 18, 2011 by sixstrstories

Today, April 18, 2011, is the first birthday of this blog. Thanks to my amazing daughter and her familiarity with WordPress, sixstr stories came to life as I sat next to her on her couch in her Somerville, MA apartment. … Continue reading →

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Merseyside, Part 1

Posted on April 17, 2011 by sixstrstories

    It started as an idea, casually tossed out in a conversation between three friends with a shared passion.     “Hey, we should get together sometime and play some Beatles’ songs.”     “Yeah!”     But, they were two singer/guitarists and a … Continue reading →

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This Historic Month In Music: “Louie Louie”

Posted on April 16, 2011 by sixstrstories

Through the walls of the dressing room, he could hear the band. It was summer, 1955. Richard Berry was the featured singer that night at the Harmony Park Ballroom in Anaheim, California. The band was Ricky Rillera and The Rhythm … Continue reading →

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The Day Before Yesterday In Music History: Lightnin’ Hopkins

Posted on March 17, 2011 by sixstrstories

Sam Hopkins was born in Centerville, Texas on March 15, 1912. Having two older brothers, John Henry and Joel, who played the Blues, Sam had learned enough on the guitar to be able to play and sing at local suppers and social functions when … Continue reading →

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Hey There! Remember Me?

Posted on February 27, 2011 by sixstrstories

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 →

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Sam & Janis

Posted on January 24, 2011 by sixstrstories

“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 →

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Happy Thanksgiving!

Posted on November 25, 2010 by sixstrstories

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 →

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Highly Recommended

Posted on October 13, 2010 by sixstrstories

I have used this phrase often in my posts, in reference to an artist or a song or a book. But this is the first time, dear readers, that I have used it in reference to your comments. My most recent post, … Continue reading →

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Better Late Than Not At All

Posted on October 3, 2010 by sixstrstories

As attentive and long-time readers of this blog will know, I’ve been reading a book: Delta Blues: The Life and Times of the Mississippi Masters Who Revolutionized American Music (2008) by Ted Gioia. I’ve referenced it in several posts, starting with … Continue reading →

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Odds & Ends, Vol.1

Posted on September 30, 2010 by sixstrstories

Hello. I’m sorry to have been away so long. Life’s been busy. No excuse, just an explanation. Looking back over my more recent posts, I’ve realized that there are a few things I wish I’d mentioned in a few of them. … Continue reading →

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