My conversation with Dickey Betts took place on July 16, 1981. Dickey understood that this interview was in honor of the 10th anniversary of Duane’s passing, and he told me he was happy to focus totally on Duane. I admired him then — and still do today — for doing it. Later on, I did do an in-depth interview with Dickey about his own playing.”
A teaser :
Would you describe how he played slide?
Duane played slide guitar more like a harmonica than he did a guitar. Like we were talking about him listening to Elmore James, he also listened to all the harp players – Sonny Boy Williamson and all that. He really played a lot of harmonica licks on slide guitar. He used glass, a Coricidon bottle. That’s before you could buy ’em in music stores – you can buy ’em in music stores now. And he wore it in his ring finger, which is so unorthodox. Most people who play slide either wear it on their middle finger or their little finger, so you can fret the guitar. But that was the way he wanted to do it, you know. He wore the slide on his ring finger, and he didn’t use a pick. He’d use just the thumb and the first and second finger, kind of a fingerpicking style, which is the same style I’ve adopted on slide guitar. As I say, he influenced my electric slide immensely.
” Music fans spend a lot of time trying to find meaning in the songs they know and love. Well, it turns out a lot of our most popular songs have meanings that are a lot more bizarre than we would’ve thought possible. We asked our readers to dig up some surprising facts on some of your favorite songs. The winner is below, but first the runners-up …”
Today March 2 is the birthdate of two of the greatest guitarists to ever live : Rory Gallagher who , had he lived would have been celebrating his 65th birthday today and Larry Carlton who turns 65 . Happy Birthday to them both and thank you for your tremendous contributions to the world of music .
” Gallagher was born in Ballyshannon, County Donegal; his father, Daniel, was employed by the Irish Electricity Supply Board, who were constructing a hydro-electric power plant on the Erne River above the town. The family moved, first to Derry City, where his younger brother Dónal was born in 1949, and then to Cork, where the two brothers were raised, and where Rory attended the North Monastery School. Their father had played the accordion and sang with the Tir Chonaill Ceile Band whilst in Donegal; their mother Monica was a singer and acted with the Abbey Players in Ballyshannon. The Theatre in Ballyshannon where Monica once acted is now called the Rory Gallagher Theatre.
Both sons were musically inclined and encouraged by their parents. At age nine, Gallagher received his first guitar from them. He built on his burgeoning ability on ukulele in teaching himself to play the guitar and perform at minor functions. After winning a talent contest when he was twelve, Gallagher began performing in his adolescence with both his acoustic guitar, and an electric guitar he bought with his prize money. However, it was his purchase three years later of a 1961 Fender Stratocaster for £100 that became his primary instrument and most associated with him for the span of his lifetime.[7]
Gallagher was initially attracted to skiffle after hearing Lonnie Donegan on the radio. Donegan frequently coveredblues and folk performers from the United States. He relied entirely on radio programs and television. Occasionally, the jazz programs from the BBC would play some blues numbers, and he slowly found some song books for guitar, where he found the names of the actual composers of blues pieces. While still in school, playing songs by Buddy Holly and Eddie Cochran, he discovered his greatest influence in Muddy Waters. Subsequently, Gallagher began experimenting with folk, blues, and rock music. Unable to find or afford record albums, Gallagher stayed up late to hear Radio Luxembourg and AFN where the radio brought him his only exposure to the actual songwriters and musicians whose music moved him most.[8] Influences he discovered, and cited as he progressed, included Woody Guthrie, Big Bill Broonzy, and Lead Belly. Initially, Gallagher struck out after just an acoustic sound.[7] Singing and later using a brace for hisharmonica, Gallagher taught himself to play slide guitar. Further, throughout the next few years of his musical development, Gallagher began learning to play alto saxophone, bass, mandolin, banjo, and the coral sitar with varying degrees of proficiency.[9] By his mid-teens, he began experimenting heavily with different blues styles.[10] ”
” Carlton was born in Torrance, California. He started learning to play guitar when he was six years old, studying under Slim Edwards near his Torrance home. Taking an interest in jazz while at high school, his playing style was influenced by Joe Pass, Wes Montgomery, Barney Kessel, and B.B. King. Saxophonist John Coltrane has also made a notable impression on Carlton, and Carlton’s live albums have featured cuts from Miles Davis‘ Kind of Blue.
His solo career took a twist in 1985 when he signed with MCA Master Series for an acoustic jazz album. The result was Alone / But Never Alone, which included a rendition of “The Lord’s Prayer“. During this time Carlton worked with musicians from around the world, including Japanese guitarist Hideshi Takatani. From 1985 to 1990 Carlton did various solo projects including the 1986 liveLast Nite. He won another Grammy for his cover of the McDonald/Abrams song “Minute by Minute,” from the successful LP Discovery.”
” Sadly, an Elvis guitarist died Friday at 67. John Wilkinson, who played 1,200 shows with Elvis Presley, passed away in Springfield, Mo. Family members say his cause of death was related to a battle with cancer. His wife said he spent is last hours listening to music by The King.
According to a report on Jan. 11 from News-Leader, Wilkinson’s wife, Terry, was by his side when Elvis’ upstart guitarist died yesterday.
Priscilla and Lisa Marie Presley reached out to Wilkinson’s family with their deepest condolences. A statement read: “John and the beautiful music he made with Elvis will live forever in our hearts.” “
