Crazy ‘Bout an Automobile
Much has been written about America’s love affair with the automotive vehicle. And I’m certainly not the first music blogger to throw together a “car song” playlist. But I’ll justify this post by [...]
Chico and The Kid
Jazz drummer and bandleader Chico Hamilton passed away last week at the age of 92. Often associated with cool West Coast jazz, Chico also could kick it up a few notches and play a lot closer to [...]
1950s Radio in Color
(Listen to Eddie Cochran while you read.) Start with a good mystery. Then throw in some intimate and revealing images from the early years of rock ‘n roll. Therein lies the beauty of “1950s Radio [...]
Keith Richards, Johnnie Johnson and the Sacred Order of Rock ‘n Roll Sidemen
In one of our first posts, I described the unique challenges of serving as a hired sideman for rock legend Bo Diddley. Well, that assignment probably was a cakewalk compared to backing up Chuck [...]
Chico and The Kid
Alright, guitar fans. I know all of you have your favorite examples of six-string nirvana – Derek & the Dominos, The Allman Brothers Band at Fillmore East, Stevie Ray Vaughan’s first album, [...]
Robert Quine: The Hits
In my recent post on guitarist Robert Quine, I pulled together a few personal stories while carefully sidestepping any attempt to define his musical legacy. That’s better left to those who can [...]
Me and The Bo
Bluesman Little Walter was the troubled genius of Chess Records. But when it came to just plain crazy, it was hard to top Walter’s label-mate, Bo Diddley, who recorded some of the most [...]
Little Walter, By the Book
Greetings from Carefree, AZ… where they like to point out “it’s a ‘dry’ heat.” I’m using this brief respite from the Rubber City as an opportunity to read yet [...]