Guitar International’s feature article at “The Good Life” is an exclusive interview with the legendary John Coltrane Quartet pianist, McCoy Tyner, who now has his “Guitars” album out for your listening pleasure.
By: Rick Landers PART ONE HERE! The legendary singer-songwriter, Jesse Colin Young and I had a couple of conversations about his life in music, as well as his life and experiences throughout the years, including first hearing his signature song, “Get Together.” Our conversation shift to many transformational times in his life, including, helping found […]
Prolific singer-songwriter, Jesse Colin Young, and his contributions to music are forever woven into the fabric of the American Dream, where the fundamental elements of “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” are rooted in song gifts bestowed by him to all of us.
Pandit Debashish Bhattacharya is a man on a mission to introduce the traditional and contemporary music of India to the Western World. As an ambassador of Indian music, Debashish has performed and recorded with such legendary artists of sound, such as guitarist extraordinaire, John McLaughlin, the masterful slide guitarist, Jerry Douglas, England’s guitar virtuoso, Martin Simpson, eclectic slide guitar mix-master, Derek Trucks, and African kora aficionado, Ballake Sissoko.
Early on Vashti Bunyan was introduced to Rolling Stones manager, Andrew Loog Oldham, who recognized her musical talents, and who worked to help her make her first single, “Some Things Just Stick in Your Mind” (Jagger-Richards), with the B-Side a song penned by her, “I Want To Be Alone.” She would later record her hauntingly beautiful “Train Song.” (Columbia – 1966).
A stampede of both music legends and one hit wonders have risen from Austin’s music clubs and corner bars to reach national fame and stardom. This long list of pickers, singers and others includes Janis Joplin, the 13th Floor Elevators, Stevie Ray Vaughan, John Fred and His Playboy Band, as well as Texas blues brothers Edgar and Johnny Winter, just to name a few.
Today, Steve Earle has earned his own icon status, not only by writing his own songs and performing to thousands, but by deep digging into the entangled roots of more contemporary music, studying the wherefore and why of musical traditions of songs and styles beyond American shores. Like the generation before him, his own journey is part of both a land mass of musical traditions, and a migration of his own songs for future generations.
Steve Vai is a creative and innovative composer, guitarist and musician. Okay, that’s an obvious statement if I’ve ever written one. He’s changed the way people write within the instrumental guitar genre, his use of rhythm, effects and melodic development have helped to shape the modern guitar vocabulary and his Jem guitar series and Carvin amps have reshaped the custom gear market for the past 25 years. one
Dick Wagner’s songs and lead guitar have been featured on more than 200 renowned albums, garnering more than 35 Platinum and Gold records, BMI songwriter awards, Emmys, and numerous prestigious international awards.
Classic GI interview: In 1963 an unknown but persistent bassist by the name of Chas Chandler took notice of Hilton Valentine’s aggressive guitar playing and onstage antics and asked him to join his group called The Alan Price Rhythm and Blues Combo, soon to be rechristened The Animals by their manager, Mike Jeffery. The Animals were quickly rushed into the studio where they recorded their first single “Baby Let Me Take You Home”, which included Hilton’s cool, aggressive guitar intro. A year after forming, the band struck gold with a moody cover of “House of the Rising Sun”. From his haunting, arpeggiated guitar intro on “House”, which became a rite of passage for budding guitarists who came of age in the ‘60s, to his fuzz-through-a-tremolo power chords of ”Don’t Bring Me Down”, Hilton’s knack for musical hooks greatly contributed to The Animals’ string of hits until the breakup of the original band in late 1966…
