Category Archives: Random Topics
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
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
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
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
Happy Valentine’s Day
We met on Monday, February 17, 1975. We were students at the University of New Hampshire and our paths crossed that day in the office of The Granite, the school yearbook. I was there to have my senior picture taken … Continue reading
This Historic Day In Music: “Mr. Tambourine Man”
The first time Bob Dylan recorded “Mr. Tambourine Man” was on June 6, 1964. It was one of fourteen songs he recorded that day at Columbia Records’ Studio A in New York City. Eleven of those songs – “Mr. Tambourine … Continue reading
Louis Armstrong & His Hot Five + One
The legendary Louis Armstrong & His Hot Five… Edward “Kid” Ory – Trombone Louis Armstrong – Cornet & Vocals Johnny Dodds – Clarinet Lil Hardin Armstrong – Piano Johnny St. Cyr – 6-String Banjo …made their first recordings – for … Continue reading
Light Amidst Dark – “Six Feet Apart”
My son turned me on to this song by Luke Combs in August. He asked if I could teach him how to play it and, over the course of a couple of Sunday afternoon FaceTime guitar lessons, I did. “Six … Continue reading
Sparklers: “Shufflin’ The Blues” by T-Bone Walker
This is the seventh installment of this category featuring recordings of outstanding performances by noteworthy guitarists – or – outstanding guitarists giving noteworthy performances. That introduction used to include this explanation: It was inspired by whatever god oversees the shuffle … Continue reading