Category Archives: History

Articles on Music History

Heading to the Delta .. With the Blues in Mind

  I recently attended a guitar and bass workshop at the Crossroads, the cradle of the Delta Blues in Clarksdale Mississippi. I have never been a big blues guy, not that I disliked it, just never overly exposed to the … Continue reading

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A Night To Remember

August 18, 1965 at 8:15 I was sitting in the Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta Georgia waiting to see The Beatles. That’s right, The Beatles. The story I recount below is pulled from the dusty memories of an impressionable 11 … Continue reading

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Memphis Blues

Memphis is the home of the delta blues sound and here I was, walking with my ten feet off of Beale. Walking in Memphis, but do I really feel the way I feel? While on a recent business trip to … Continue reading

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The Minstrel Show & the Banjo

This morning, I watched a segment called “Blackface” on the Sunday CBS Morning Show.  The show accurately portrayed this time in history as “Unmasking the racist history of blackface”.  It reveals the sad and disturbing portrayal of racist stereotype in … Continue reading

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A Musical Journey In Phoenix

A trip to Arizona for spring training baseball offered my buddy Jim and I the opportunity to visit the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix last week. It was our first visit there, but certainly not our last. Located just north … Continue reading

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Leo Fender – “Quiet Giant Heard Around The World”

A Memory-Filled Journey Into The Life Of Guitar Legend Leo Fender On November 1, 2017, a new book entitled “Leo Fender: The Quiet Giant Heard Around the World” will be released.  I have had the chance to briefly review this … Continue reading

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Country Music Hall of Fame

The Country Music Hall of Fame A Visit Down Memory Lane My wife and I spent the weekend in Nashville for our anniversary. We live an hour and a half south and believe it or not, had never been to … Continue reading

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Matchbox Blues

Matchcovers & Music What is the Connection? Over the past number of months, I have been busy working on a new blues instructional program for fretted instruments.  One of the songs incorporated in my lesson plan is “Matchbox Blues”, which … Continue reading

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Six More Strings Silenced

Guitar Legend Doc Watson Passes Away Not everyone gets to claim the title of being a living national treasure.  Yet, Doc Watson was a true American artist who made significant contributions to the development of bluegrass and folk music.  Sadly, … Continue reading

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Earl & Doug – Gone But Not Forgotten

Within a couple of months, we said goodbye to two of the great banjo players in the world.  Earl Scruggs, the father of three finger picking, and Doug Dillard, one of the great melodic banjo players and an artist who … Continue reading

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What Happened To My Frets?

Frets Magazine (1979-1989) In 1979, I had just finished my first year at college and returned home for a summer break.  Of course, my banjo, guitar and mandolin came back home with me.  After walking into a nearby music store, … Continue reading

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Jens & Uwe Kruger & Fretmentor’s 2010 Workshop

April 9-10, 2010 Jens & Uwe Kruger’s Banjo & Guitar Workshop For months now, I have been working out the details for Fretmentor’s First Annual Banjo & Guitar Workshop  – Featuring Jens & Uwe Kruger, to be held in Southeast … Continue reading

Posted in Banjo, Classes & Workshops, Fretmentor News, Guitar, History, Mandolin, News & Events | Tagged , , , | 9 Comments

Good Bye Les

Today the Music World Lost a Legend & Pioneer Earlier today, August 13, 2009, I received news that my friend Les Paul died at age 94. When I say my friend, I  should clarify that unfortunately, I did not have … Continue reading

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Banjo Rap

Does The Banjo Get A “Bad Rap” At Times? Is the banjo and instrument that sometimes receives undeserved or critical judgment from  non-musical observers? At times, I notice references made on television or in public, to the banjo or banjo … Continue reading

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Motor City Bluegrass?

I remember that first festival as though it was yesterday. Of all places, it was held outside of the Motor City.  That is right, just outside of Detroit, Michigan.  The home of Motown and automobile production, was taking a back … Continue reading

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