Category Archives: This Historic Day In Music
This Historic Day In Music: Sweet Baby James
In February of 1970, I was a high school student, a drummer and a passionate Led Zeppelin fan. (Led Zeppelin II had come out in October 1969!!) Come the Fall, I was in my senior year, teaching myself how to play … 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
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
This Historic Day In Music: Led Zeppelin – August 21, 1969
My friend Tom had his driver’s license and a car. Somehow we’d gotten two tickets. Led Zeppelin, our favorite band, was playing at the Carousel Theater in Framingham, Massachusetts and we were going to be there! Also, I’d just purchased … Continue reading
This Historic Day In Music: Tommy Gallant (Take 2)
I’ve been getting together with some old friends and colleagues lately; catching up, reminiscing. Got me thinking about… “Bonjour,” he’d say, with a little chuckle and a smile. Tommy Gallant always brought a smile. “Bonjour,” as I remember it, was the punch … Continue reading
This Historic Day In Music: “Like A Rolling Stone”
Bob Dylan started recording songs for his sixth album on Tuesday, June 15, 1965. The session was held in Columbia Records’ Studio A, located at 799 Seventh Avenue in New York City. Tom Wilson was the producer and the band … Continue reading