Background and Blasts from the Past
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I had some formal piano training when I was in grade school, but didn't
get interested in guitar until the late 1950's. I did take some lessons, but for the most
part am self taught. As the saying goes, I can read music but not enough to hurt my
playing! A friend of mine lent me an arch top acoustic Kay or Stella which had incredibly
high action (needed to capo the 2nd or 3rd fret to play it without bleeding!) and welding
rod type strings. Needless to say, I over reacted when I got my own guitar in 1964 and got
one with nylon strings! My guitar teacher said to me "get a Telecaster!", but
did I listen? Nooooo! :)
I started playing basslines with the steel string guitar and thought,
this would sound really neat on a "real" bass. So I got a Fender Bass VI
first figuring I could adapt to it easily since I was a six-string "guitar
player" already. And although this was true I soon decided I needed the sound of a
"real" Jazz Bass so I got one in 1964. My guitar teacher borrowed the Bass
VI and went to Memphis or Nashville with and made a record. The name of the song escapes
me (of course).
My musical influences are '40's and '50's pop, bluegrass, folk, country,
'50's and '60's rock, R&B, blues, Cleveland Style polkas and waltzes, and jazz. The
First band was bluegrass/folk, the Second was folk/rock and I played in church services
later. I play acoustic guitar, electric guitar, and electric bass. I play horizontal
(electric) bass with several polka groups now. I play what I like
and like what I play.
Now I've pretty much phased out of guitar playing and am sticking with
electric bass.
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