Three Rights Make a Left

"Pick it Up": The Stories Behind the Song Baker's Half Dozen Mickey Baker was, of course, a greatly influential guitarist, most famous for his Groove Records hit, "Love is Strange", with Sylvia Robinson. The song was written by Bo Diddley and features a nine note Baker guitar lick. By the time "Love is Strange" peaked on the charts in November 1957, I had been the young, mystified owner of a Roy Rodgers motif guitar for about a year. I had already learned all the songs in the book that came with the guitar, "Red River Valley", "Home on the Range", and a dozen others. When I heard that rippin' Baker lick, I was pretty sure that was the path for me. I wasn't sure how he made his guitar sound like that, but I knew I could pick out that lick. I did and was on my way to what quickly became an addiction to pickin' out licks. Mickey Baker had another role in my development as a guitarist. This influence came ...

Stringer's Groove 101 These are songs that, to my way of thinking, really drive home the concept of "groove", and I think all players, beginner and experienced alike, could learn from studying just how this feel was created in each song. 1. "You Can't Sit Down",  Phil Upchurch. From the first trumpet screech to the last chord on the B3, this recording JUMPS!!! Everytime it listen to it, I get the same old chill that I got the first time I heard it. It sounds LOUD, and wild and yet extremely well played. I know every player in the band understood exactly what the objective was and did not have to be told how to achieve it. One of the my favorite things about the performance is that after the drum solo, the drums stop and the organ brings the band back in! Great turn around on the cliche. 2. "Honky Tonk", Bill Doggett.  A masterpiece of understatement. Beginning with the most ubiquitous blues guitar lick of all time (da-DANG-da-DANG...), t...

How to Make Up a Story for Kids (and Grand kids) by   Jim Stringer   on Sunday, April 4, 2010 at 3:59pm · Public Friends Friends except Acquaintances Only Me Custom Close Friends Family See all lists... The Music Room Jim's Jam List Austin Music Band SMWest Family KU Alums The Music Room Texas Love Animals Self Employed Musician The University of Kansas Austin Area Shawnee Mission West High Acquaintances Go Back How to Make up Stories for Your Kids (and Grand kids)   I'm going to tell you how to make up stories for your kids, grandkids, etc., that they'll love and will forever etch out your place in their lives. In addition, these stories will put ‘em to sleep at bedtime, and keep them as quiet as a Packard straight-eight when in the car.   I don't have an English Degree... never wrote a novel. My skills in this department were initially garnered from my Dad who told me similar bedtime stories when I was a kid, permanently damaging my min...