What Is Your Fondest Memory Of ......
guitbox
(just want to remind all there are minors reading this group)?
I was listening to someone describe their favorite guitar moment in their
life to date. Just thought it would be a fun topic for the group.
Otis
"guitbox" <chuck...@cox.net> wrote in message
news:Oa6ac.2692$of.1703@lakeread03...
Why not start with yours?
Joe Tattoo
star!! I couldn't believe i was actually making music with my guitar!!! I
was a teenager with big dreams!! haha
Tony Meloche
It may be at that . . .
I have dozens I could give you - really priceless memories, I mean,
(I've been playing a very long time), but the one that first came to
mind was this . . .
About four years ago, I was playing pit one summer for a production
of "Evita". The entire cast and crew became good friends, and after the
strike party on the closing night, we all wound up out on a deck
attached to the theatre building. One of the chorus memembers of the
cast was a gorgeous 24-year-old redhead who favored miniskirts and white
high heels. She had talked from the beginning of production about one
of her passions - 1960's music - (she was born in 1975). She suggested
a 60's sing-a-long out on the deck that night, and enough of us were
sixties fans that we thought it was a good idea. Until 2:30 AM that
morning, I sat out there on the deck, with the Martin in my lap, playing
and singing (with their help) any 60's favorite they could think of.
This girl eventually parked right in front of me, dancing gently to
every song, and saying after about every third one: "God, you are SO
good!" No, nothing happened. But to this day, I remember the magic of
that evening (as far as the music goes) and the fantastic ego strokes
(as far as the girl goes - so sue me!) Well, that's one from me - hope
it didn't offend anyone!
The Old Guy
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guitbox
"Otis" <o...@usa.net> wrote in message
news:KE6ac.22910$vo6....@news1.mts.net...
Okay, I was in a hurry when I posted earlier and intended to follow ... so
I will and here it is. Like Tony I could point to many fun ones, but my
most favorite occured a little over 10 years ago during a visit to Utah to
see my grandfather. The memory is more sentimental for me as his health was
beginning to fail at age 70 and it would be the final visit I would see him
alive.
He had grown up in the Northeast (Maine to be exact) and eventually played
in several bands, even had his own radio show at one time. He learned to
play guitar early in his early teens after a bout with polio. His mother
bought him an acoustic guitar and he learned to play it slide style since he
spent so much time on his stomach. It was a very different style versus
what people were used to at the time (1940 +/-) and he told me because of
the curiosity factor he would get many paid offers to play as a result.
Eventually he attended Julliard (at least as he tells it, I think he
embellished this somewhat as he loved to tell stories). Well he followed
his heart West and eventually married my grandmother and settled in Utah.
During my visit an impromptu visit by an old friend of his led to the two of
them and one of my uncles playing old western tunes and some bluegrass songs
in the back yard. His friend was one heck of a player too (now that I am
trying to play I really appreciate the flatpicking/strumming ability he
displayed that evening). His friend and my uncle each played 6 string
acoustics and my grandfather was playing an electric slide guitar through a
small amp. At first he struggled as he had not played in several months due
to his medical treatments. His voice was barely a whisper when he tried to
sing because of radiation burn from some of the treatments. Then after
about four or five songs we could see him begin to get stronger, his fingers
became more fluid and the music flowed, his voice became stronger and for a
guy 70 years old he sounded 50 again. The vocal harmonies the three of them
belted out were really something to hear. I remember seeing the tears in my
grandmother's and uncle's eyes when we all realized what was happening as
the vocals and music flowed forth. It was early in the evening and the
neighbors began to gather to listen and enjoy, even the teenagers in the
neighborhood dropped what they were doing to listen. There we were, family,
friends and neighbors gathered and captivated. This went on into the
evening and winded down about four hours later. I'm convinced my
grandfather would have kept playing and singing if the others hadn't tired
before he did!
I didn't recognize many of the songs as they performed but the level of
guitar skill was incredible. I remember thinking to myself and asking how
in the world they were able to get so much sound out of three guitars? The
experience, which I believe was a gift from above will forever be with me
and I'm grateful and inspired by it!
Pt
gig holds a lasting impression.
I was a teenager in the early 60's and taking jazz lessons on the
guitar.
Unknown to me a friend of my fathers arranged a bar gig for me.
Big place with a nice stage, bright colored lights etc.
I knew enough jazz tunes to do an hour gig.
I was scared to death and I was ready to just go home and forget about
it as well as forgetting about playing the guitar.
But somehow I got myself up on the stage.
My whole body was shaking.
There was a large crowd that night which just made things worse for
me.
As soon as I played my first chord there was total silence in the
audience and eyes were staring at me from all directions.
I just wanted to go home.
But in minutes everything changed.
I started playing for my audience rather than playing just to get it
over with.
By the time I was finished I was as high as I could get from the
experience.
I did not drink or take drugs but that high was the best high you can
get!
I got a standing ovation and I was the happiest kid on the planet.
I will never know if they all applauded just to be nice or because
they liked my music.
I have to assume that it was because I played well.
I think that if I was a flop on my first solo gig I would have given
up playing the guitar.
That night changed my life forever.
That was over 40 years ago but I remember it often.
Pt
Otis
I remember that I had a big problem with stage fright.....untill I went to a
blues jam and saw and heard a guy up on stage that wasnt bad but I knew that
I was way better a guitar player then him and he sang too and was a bit out
of key.....I thought man I know I can do better than that guy the next week
I brought my guitar to the jam then finally got up on stage for the first
time....then I was hooked, I soon realized I was more scared waiting for my
name to be called then when I was actually on stage..
Cathy Cowette
I used to be like that until about 5 years ago. For some reason, I got it in
my head that I just couldn't sing. I would sing when I was alone, but not in
front of people. In fact, the first recording I ever made had only
instrumentals on it. I sent it to a friend, and she said, "Don't you sing?"
I explained to her that I wasn't comfortable singing in front of people. I
don't know what put me over the hump, but within a couple months, I was
singing and enjoying it, and as my confidence increased, the stage fright
disappeared.
Cathy
http://www.cathycowette.com
johnty
> This girl eventually parked right in front of me, dancing gently to
> every song, and saying after about every third one: "God, you are SO
> good!" No, nothing happened.
Oh, come on -- make something up! That's too good a story to peter out...
Doug Cunningly
news:Oa6ac.2692$of.1703@lakeread03:
Having one of the Everly Brothers throw me a broken guitar string I
was reaching for after a show at the old Freedomland amusement park back in
'62. Of course, my mother threw it out a week later....
Doug
Hippy
> Having one of the Everly Brothers throw me a broken guitar string I
> was reaching for after a show at the old Freedomland amusement park back
in
> '62. Of course, my mother threw it out a week later....
>
> Doug
Trick fan....I wandered into a free show at the Ohio State fairgrounds in
the early 80's....free admission....I was always curious about that multi
neck guitar he played....after about 10 minutes of making my way
forward...he started playing that half-ton axe...well he tossed a pick
out....I caught it...one hellva of scuffle later...I still had it.....still
do in fact....
Hippy
Rock it-Ride it-Roll it