The Power of Music

"Orphaned at age 5, WWII veteran, went on to play first chair trumpet at BYU. This is a remarkable story from Jack's military experience" - Youtube Description

...amazing stuff

Blind Willie Johnson Lesson

I figured I'd start doing some Blind Willie Johnson, as well. Trying to emulate his virtuosic bottleneck playing is definitely challening...see what you think. This is his tune called Nobody's Fault But Mine.

Broke Down Engine Lesson

Here's a long-haul lesson on Blind Willie McTell's great tune. Don't worry too much if you don't have a 12-string...his songs sound great on a sixer as well! If you do get a 12-string, get a Guild...

The Real Blues

        "No disrespect to the electrified Chicago version of blues music - things always change - but in my humble opinion, true blues belongs to the Delta. It doesn't boogie, it doesn't shred - that is a different thing. True blues is on the porch. It slinks and lurches and moans. It comes from a place and time that thankfully and hopefully will not come again, yet it can't be reproduced or faked...not a style but a piece of history and time."

- a Youtuber's comment on a Muddy Waters video

John Fahey Tribute

A bunch of weeks back, I had a typical evening where the Related Videos panel of Youtube basically had me glued onto the computer screen for several hours more than what I'd initially intended. Eventually, I was led to a Fahey video of him playing Steamboat Gwine 'Round the Bend and it just grabbed me! When he plays it, you actually feel like you're lazily meandering around a tropical riverbend...completely removed from the 'daily grind'. Anyways, I thought I'd have a little amateur go at it while also playing How Green Was My Valley...another one of my favorite Fahey tunes.

Son House Talks About The Blues

Let's be honest, most of the blues that you'll find at local bars this weekend is a far cry from the true blues of the pre-war era. Even compared to Muddy Waters' electrified blues, the stuff from today doesn't come close. The development of the term 'blues' into more of a rock n' roll jump sound with SRV licks thrown in is a bit questionable to me. Just listen to the words of Son House - it's way too true.