” There’s been considerable discussion about whetherBobby Darin should be classified as a rock & roll singer, a Vegas hipster cat, an interpreter of popular standards, or even a folk-rocker. He was all of these and none of these. Throughout his career he made a point of not becoming committed to any one style at the exclusion of others; at the height of his nightclub fame he incorporated a folk set into his act. When it appeared he could have gone on indefinitely as a sort of junior version of Frank Sinatra, he would periodically record pop/rock and folk-rock singles whose principal appeal lay outside of the adult pop market. At one point he started calling himself Bob Darin and recorded songs with vague anti-establishment overtones that could be said to be biting the largely bourgeois hands that fed his highest-paying gigs. It may be most accurate to say that Darin was, above all, a singer who wanted to do a lot of things, rather than make his mark as a particular stylist. That may have cost him some points as far as making it to the very top of certain genres, but also makes his work more versatile than almost any other vocalist of his era.”
” When Darin had his first hits in the late ’50s, he was a teen idol of sorts, albeit a teen idol with much more talent and mature command than the typical singer in that style. The novelty-tinged “Splish Splash” was his breakthrough smash, followed by “Queen of the Hop” and the ballad “Dream Lover.” There was a slight R&B feel to Bobby‘s delivery that may well have influenced R&B-pop/rock singers such as Dion, though it would be an exaggeration to call Darin a blue-eyed soul man. In late 1959, he found a new direction when the swinging “Mack the Knife,” a tune from Brecht–Weill‘s Threepenny Opera musical, made number one. The song came from an album of pop standards, heralding his move toward light big band jazz, which was consolidated by the Top Ten success of “Beyond the Sea” in 1960.”
” In the early ’60s, Darin had mostly abandoned rock for the adult pop market, becoming a huge success on the Vegas-nightclub circuit, and moving into the all-around entertainer mode with starring roles in movies (including one as a non-singing jazz musician in John Cassavetes’ Too Young Blues). He also continued to score regular hits with the likes of “You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby,” “Things,” and “Lazy River.” To keep people guessing, there was also a hit cover of “What’d I Say” and some country tunes (one of which, “You’re the Reason I’m Living,” made it to number three on the pop charts). Around 1963, he put a folk section into his nightclub act that employed guitarist Roger McGuinn, then a couple of years away from fame as the leader of the Byrds.”Continue reading
” Eric Patrick Clapton was born in Ripley, Surrey, England, the son of 16-year-old Patricia Molly Clapton (b. 7 January 1929 d. March 1999) and Edward Walter Fryer (21 March1920 – 15 May 1985), a 25-year-old soldier from Montreal, Quebec. Fryer shipped off to war prior to Clapton’s birth and then returned to Canada. Clapton grew up with his grandmother, Rose, and her second husband, Jack Clapp, who was stepfather to Patricia Clapton and her brother Adrian, believing they were his parents and that his mother was actually his older sister. The similarity in surnames gave rise to the erroneous belief that Clapton’s real surname is Clapp (Reginald Cecil Clapton was the name of Rose’s first husband, Eric Clapton’s maternal grandfather). Years later, his mother married another Canadian soldier and moved to Germany, leaving young Eric with his grandparents in Surrey.
Clapton received an acoustic Hoyer guitar, made in Germany, for his thirteenth birthday, but the inexpensive steel-stringed instrument was difficult to play and he briefly lost interest. Two years later Clapton picked it up again and started playing consistently. Clapton was influenced by the blues from an early age, and practised long hours to learn the chords of blues music by playing along to the records.He preserved his practice sessions using his portable Grundig reel-to-reel tape recorder, listening to them over and over until he felt he’d got it right.
After leaving Hollyfield School, in Surbiton, in 1961, Clapton studied at the Kingston College of Artbut was dismissed at the end of the academic year because his focus remained on music rather than art. His guitar playing was so advanced that by the age of 16 he was getting noticed. Around this time Clapton began busking around Kingston, Richmond, and the West End.In 1962, Clapton started performing as a duo with fellow blues enthusiast David Brock in pubs around Surrey. When he was seventeen years old Clapton joined his first band, an early British R&B group, “The Roosters”, whose other guitarist was Tom McGuinness. He stayed with this band from January through August 1963.In October of that year, Clapton did a seven-gig stint with Casey Jones & The Engineers. “
” By the time Eric Clapton launched his solo career with the release of his self-titled debut album in mid-1970, he was long established as one of the world’s major rock stars due to his group affiliations — the Yardbirds, John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, Cream, and Blind Faith — which had demonstrated his claim to being the best rock guitarist of his generation. That it took Clapton so long to go out on his own, however, was evidence of a degree of reticence unusual for one of his stature. And his debut album, though it spawned the Top 40 hit “After Midnight,” was typical of his self-effacing approach: it was, in effect, an album by the group he had lately been featured in, Delaney & Bonnie & Friends.
Not surprisingly, before his solo debut had even been released, Clapton had retreated from his solo stance, assembling from the D&B&F ranks the personnel for a group, Derek & the Dominos, with whom he played for most of 1970 and recorded the landmark album Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs. Clapton was largely inactive in 1971 and 1972, due to heroin addiction, but he performed a comeback concert at the Rainbow Theatre in London on January 13, 1973, resulting in the album Eric Clapton’s Rainbow Concert (September 1973). But Clapton did not launch a sustained solo career until July 1974, when he released 461 Ocean Boulevard, which topped the charts and spawned the number one single “I Shot the Sheriff.” “
” A January 1973 comeback concert at London’s Rainbow Theatre re-introduced him to public performing, but his solo career really commenced in earnest a year later with 461 Ocean Boulevard. Recorded in Miami, it was influenced by the mellower likes of J.J. Cale and Bob Marley. Striking a chord with the public, 461 Ocean Boulevard topped the album charts in 1974. Meanwhile, Clapton’s cover of “I Shot the Sheriff,” originally by Bob Marley and the Wailers, helped introduced reggae to a mass audience. Working with a steady band that included guitarist George Terry, Clapton pursued a mellow, song-oriented course that accentuated his husky, laid-back vocals. His Seventies output, including such albums as There’s One in Every Crowd (1975) and No Reason to Cry (1976) has been largely underrated and is ripe for rediscovery. Clapton again struck commercial paydirt in 1977 with Slowhand, a strong set that included Clapton’s definitive version of J.J. Cale’s “Cocaine” and the #3 hit “Lay Down Sally.”
Clapton remained a prolific artist throughout the Eighties, releasing a live double album that reached #2 (Just One Night), cutting two albums (Behind the Sun and August) with Phil Collins as producer, and launching his own label, Duck Records, in 1983, with one of his stronger studio efforts, Money and Cigarettes. In January 1987, he undertook the first of what would become an annual series of multi-night stands at London’s Royal Albert Hall. In 1992, his career received a major boost from his appearance on MTV’s Unplugged series. Returning to his roots on the heels of that acoustic folk-blues set, Clapton next cut a long-promised blues album, From the Cradle (1994). Throughout the Nineties, he continued to amass hits–no mean feat, given the shifting musical climate–including “Tears in Heaven,” a memorable elegy for his late son Conor; “Change the World,” a beatbox-driven collaboration with R&B artist/producer Babyface that won a Grammy for Record of the Year; and “My Father’s Eyes,” a ballad from his 1998 album Pilgrim.”
“ Tears in Heaven” was written after his son’s tragic death. It was co-written with Russ Titelman and acknowledged with a Grammy in 1993.
Most recently, Eric Clapton has organized a benefit concert in honor of Hubert Sumlin, the great bluesman, to take place at the Apollo Theater in New York on February 24, 2012. He will be joined by Jeff Beck, Keb Mo, Levon Helm, and Derek Trucks among others. Clapton is known to sponsor an array of charitable events and concerts. He has also established a rehabilitation clinic in Monserrat to help those with substance abuse problems.
‘ Clapton’ was released on September 27, 2010 by Reprise.
A live album titled Play The Blues Live At Lincoln Center performed with Wynton Marsalis was released on September 13, 2011 by Reprise.
Early 2013 saw the release of ‘Old Sock’, an album of 10 cover songs and two new originals, which was met with mixed reviews, some saying that it was lazy and unnecessary (“little commitment to the music here and even less enthusiasm”) whilst others appreciated the mastery he still exhibits over his craft (“winding down a legendary career with his typical class, reverence to the past and master’s touch”).
Eric Clapton is highly regarded as a premier musician, and continues to remain a force in music today.”
” The start of the British Blues Scene in The U.K.
Brithish Blues http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_… Jeff Beck http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Beck Eric Clapton http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Cla… Jimmy Page http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Page Jimi Hendrix http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimi_hen… 1:39 The Crossroads Blues http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cross_Ro… 2:45 New Castle,England (Eric Burdon) 5:06 Belfast,Ireland (Van Morrison) 6:35 London (The Stones) 7:09 Chess Records and Pye Records 7:48 Cyril Davies & Alexis Korner of Blues Incorporated (The Ealing Club) 8:41 John Mayall and Eric Burdon talk about Alexis Korner 9:55 Keith Richards meets Mick Jagger at a train station 10:30 Brian Jones 11:26 Giorgio Gomelsky talks about the Stones 12:55 Mick Jagger & Bill Wyman talk about Andrew Loog Oldham 15:25 Gomelsky signs The Yardbirds to a contract. 18:03 Van Morrison Interview 18:53 The Animals 23:03 The Rolling Stones arrive at Chess Records 24:01 John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton 24:52 Jeff Beck joins The Yardbirds after leaving The Tridents. 27:42 Brian Jones and Mick Jagger introduce Howlin’ Wolf 28:44 John Mayall interview 29:08 The Stones begin to lose Brian. 30:40 Jimmy Page interview 31:33 Jeff Beck talks about Jimmy Page during the Yardbirds years. 32:50 Cream is formed 34:11 Robert Johnson 34:45 In 1966 The Animals were crumbling. Chas then found Jimi Hendrix at The Cafe Wah?, thanks to Linda Keith,in July 1966. Jimi wanted to meet Jeff Beck and Eric Clapton if he goes to London. Chas said if the powers be you will. 38:00 Chas recruits Noel Redding to play bass for Hendrix 39:23 Chas and Noel talk about how Jimi got his sound. 42:36 Eric Burdon Interview about Hendrix 43:48 Jeff Beck talks about Jimi Hendrix and Hendrix tells Jeff how he stole a lick from Happenings Ten Years Time Ago and used it on Foxy Lady. 45:21 Hendrix at Monterey 46:08 Led Zeppelin Willie Dixon-You Need Love became “Whole Lotta Love”. 52:13 Robert Plant talks about his personal Blues hero Tommy Johnson “
” The Crossroads Guitar Festival is a music festival and benefit concert first held in 2004 and again in 2007 and 2010. The festivals benefit the Crossroads Centre founded by Eric Clapton, a drug treatment center located in Antigua. The concerts are also intended to be a showcase for a variety of guitarists. All were hand-picked by Eric Clapton himself, who addressed the 2007 audience, saying that each were some of the very best, and those who had earned his respect. 6 June 2004 – Crossroads Guitar Festival Crossroads Guitar Festival Fair Park and Cottonbowl Stadium Dallas, TX United States This is not the double DVD.
Songs:
0:03:30 “Layla” by Eric Clapton 0:11:42 “Killing Floor” by Hubert Sumlin feat Eric Clapton, Robert Cray & Jimmie Vaughan 0:16:44 “Sweet Home Chicago” feat Buddy Guy, Eric Clapton, Robert Cray, Hubert Sumlin & Jimmie Vaughan 0:23:01 “Six StringsDown” feat Jimmie Vaughan, Eric Clapton, Robert Cray & Robert Randolph 0:28:08 “I’m a man of constant sorrow” feat Dan Tyminski & Ron Block 0:32:22 “Steamroller” feat James Taylor & Joe Walsh 0:38:05 “Oklahoma Borderline feat Vince Gill & Jerry Douglas 0:43:15 “After Midnight” feat J.J. Cale & Eric Clapton 0:48:15 “City Love” feat John Mayer 0:58:00 “Rock Me Baby” B B King, Eric Clapton & Jimmie Vaughan 1:04:52 “Funk 49” feat Joe Walsh 1:12:10 “The March” feat Robert Randolph & The Family Band 1:18:55 “Jingo” feat Carlos Santana & Eric Clapton 1:29:04 “If I Had Possession Over Judgement Day” feat Eric Clapton 1:33:00 “Time Makes Two” feat Robert Cray 1:38:45 “La Grange” feat ZZ Top 1:44:18 “Tush” feat ZZ Top 1:48:16 “Cocaine” feat Eric Clapton
” When we think of easter eggs, we think of little details in movies and video games. It turns out that the music industry has been in on the game for decades as well. We asked you to bring us some of the best. The most awesome is below, but first the runners-up …”
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.” “
![Bobby Darin [1958]](https://i0.wp.com/cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_75/MI0000/054/MI0000054055.jpg)
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