R.I.P Bob Weir

Bob Weir and the Grateful Dead performing "The Last Time" in Landover, Maryland. On January 10, 2026, Bob Weir passed away. A founding member, the youngest member of the legendary band, a member of many Grateful Dead related projects and solo artist will be remembered as a remarkable rhythm guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and musician.

His final performance with Dead & Company "Touch of Grey." Below what might have been his final interview.

To me I saw him several times with the Grateful Dead and I saw him with his Campfire Band and lastly with an orchestra. 

A tiny desk concert from NPR. He will be missed but the music he left behind will fill the air for generations to come.

R.I.P Steve Cropper

 

Steve Cropper the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame guitarists from Booker T. & The M.G.s passed away at the age of 84. He has been awarded the Lifetime Achievement Grammy and inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame! Co-writing classics like "In the Midnight Hour" and "Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay" certainly provide credentials.

"In the Midnight Hour" by Wilson Pickett

Otis Redding "Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay"

On the Soul Man Riff

  Steve Cropper was the guitarist behind many of Stax Records soul hits. His guitar playing will certainly be missed but will live on in the classic hits that featured his playing.

                                                 Sam and Dave "Soul Man"

R.I.P Brent Hinds

 Brent Hinds died at the age of 51 due to a motorcycle accident. He was the guitarist Mastodon from 2002 until they parted ways earlier this year.

                                               "Oblivion"

Other notable collaborations included "Fiend without a Face"

"Black Grass"

Westend Motel was another group he was in..

"Burn it Down"

He will be missed by his family, friends and fans. At 51 he still had more music to give.

R.I.P David Crosby

 David Crosby a founder of The Byrds and Crosby, Stills and Nash has passed away at the age of 81. An important figure in the musical landscape of the 60s. He also had a solo career as well and a career that spanned into seven decades.

                                           "I Won't Stay for Long" from 2021

"Turn! Turn! Turn" from The Byrds

"Our House" from Crosby, Stills and Nash

"In the Wide Ruin" another solo song

He will be missed by his family, friends, and peers. His music will live on.

R.I.P Jeff Beck

 Jeff Beck without a doubt was one of the greatest guitarists ever.  An artist I saw several times, the last time being September 30th. He is the reason I bought a Fender Stratocaster and an artist I have featured numerous times on my Battle of the Bands. Jeff was in the Yardbirds and had an incredible solo career. He played sessions with a who's who list of artists.

Jeff Beck performing on David Letterman the piece "What Mama Said"

Jeff Beck with Rod Stewart "People Get Ready"

His cover of "A Day in the Life"

"Where Were You"

with The Yardbirds

Jeff Beck an influencer, a creative artist, and a guitarist who's music will live on.

Battle of the Bands: Swingtime in Springtime

 It seems like a long time since the last Battle of the Bands. A good time to switch gears.  So first the original Django Reinhardt....

                                            

Below are the two competitors....

                                             Paul Mehling/Nate Ketner Quintet 

Reve Boheme

Next you let me know which ones you like best in the comments, I count them up and announce a winner usually in about a week or so. Okay at least before June.

Battle of the Bands: 500 Miles High

Jazz pianist, composer and talented musician Chick Corea passed away this month. I wrote a brief post on it here. I am going to honor him more by using one of his pieces for my Battle of the Bands segment. It will also be my first genre change of 2021. 

Here is Chick Corea with "500 Miles High"

Genre might be changing but the rules remain the same. I will select two covers. My readers listen to the covers and tell me which version they like the  best, or which one they hate the least whichever the case might be. They tell me in the comments. You can expand on it and tell me why. I have quoted comments in the past or used them for suggestions for future Battles. Anyway I count up the votes and announce winner in a separate post in about a week. 

Chick recorded this as an instrumental and a version with vocals. To be like Chick and to jazz thing up I am going to do the same.

Contender One: Joe Pass

Contender Two: The Manhattan Transfer

Who gets your vote Joe Pass or The Manhattan Transfer? Instrumental or vocals? Joe Pass adds contrasts with a solo guitar version of the jazz pianist piece. The Manhattan Transfer version is beautiful and a bit more condensed compared to Chick's versions.  Hopefully it will be a good battle.

I hope you enjoy and I will be back with  the results!

R.I.P Tony Rice

 Tony Rice the great Bluegrass guitarist has passed away.  Eight years ago I was able to catch Tony Rice with Peter Rowan and the McCourys' my thoughts on the show are available here. 

Here performs "Church Street Blues"

"Blue Railroad Train"

A guitarist who played with Peter Rowan, Jerry Garcia,  David Grisman,  Ricky Skaggs,  Bela Fleck, and Jerry Douglas. Playing with the likes of those musicians it is no wonder he was inducted into  the Bluegrass Hall of Fame.

"Guitar Space Summertime" jamming with Jerry Garcia

"The Soul of a Man Never Dies" with Ricky Skaggs

The legend will be missed!

R.I.P Eddie Van Halen

 My introduction to Van Halen was this song "Jump" which came put when I was in seventh grade...

In high school our wrestling team would come out to "Running with the Devil"

When Sammy Hagar joined it was a big deal..."Best of Both Worlds"

Then there was the Van Halen that didn't go far..."Without You"

He was the guitar hero of my generation..

Here he is with Michael Jackson...

He was a legend on the guitar and will be missed!

"Ain't Talkin' Abut Love"

What is your favorite Van Halen sing? Any special memories? Favorite songs? Please feel free to share.

R.I.P Steve Holland

"Flirtin' with Disaster" is probably my favorite Molly Hatchet song.  Probably a good place to start as I write a tribute for the last original member of the band who passed away this week, guitarist Steve Holland. Steve had left the group in 1984. In 1999 Holland played  benefit concert for ailing original vocalist Danny Joe Brown, former Hatchet members Bruce Crump, Banner Thomas, and Dave Hlubek. They performed the benefit under the name The Dixie Jam Band.

Here they perform "Flirtin' with Disaster" there is1 to 2 minutes of talk before they perform the song...

In the years he left Molly Hatchet Steve played in a group called "Gator Country" comprised of Hatchet alumni.  

Here is that group covering Bad Company's "Oh, Atlanta"

Here is the original Molly Hatchet performing the song "Gator Country"

Maybe a different flavor "Fall of the Peacemakers"

Sad that the original band has all passed away. Being raised in "Gator Country," to heckling (it was in good fun) a guitarist who's band singer would eventually front Molly Hatchet I would have to say the band has a place on my musical shelve and it is nice to play the songs from time to time. I guess Rock and Roll Heaven needed to complete the band for some Southern Rock and Roll!

A to Z Challenge: G is for Gatton

I just ordered Tom Principato's new book about his life, the Washington (DC) area music scene, and plating guitar with legends Danny Gatton and others. I am really looking forward to reading it.

Danny Gatton was a DC area guitar legend. He was Grammy Award nominated and Fenderr even builds a signature guitar in his honor.


Here Danny does his thing on a cover of "Heartaches by the Number"...

His own tune "Funky Momma"

Nicknamed "The Humbler" because he would humble other guitarists.

Here he covers "Tequila" with guitar legend Arlen Roth...

Thanks for visiting I will see you soon!

R.I.P. Paul Barrere

"Let it Roll" by Little Feat. Sad news from Little Feat tonight guitarist Paul Barrere has passed away. You can read the band's statement here.



                                                "Lost in the Sound" with Roger Cole

"If The Phone Don't Ring" Paul Barrere

Having seen this band at their peak of resurgence with my Mom on a New Year's Eve show, to interviewing and meeting one of the co-founders of Little Feat I have a connection to this band. Obviously I am a fan too. 

Little Feat "Feats Don't Fail Me Know"  a different year but the same venue I went to with my mom.

"All That You Dream"

Vintage Little Feat from 1977

May he R.I.P on this sad night.

The King of Surf Guitar Has Died

Opening up my blog with "Let's Go Trippin'" by Dick Dale. The 1961 track is supposedly the first surf rock instrumental that ignited the surf  rock craze.

Dick Dale known as the King of Surf Guitar has passed away at the age of 81 on Saturday. A legend in his genre but also an innovator working closing with Fender to create some pretty neat guitar amps.  Here he is "Surfin' the Wedge" on the famous Ed Sullivan Show...

"Misirlou"

He continued to play live until his death and had tour dates scheduled through 

November of this year. He will be missed by his fans, friends and family.

R.I.P Roy Clark

Roy Clark guitarist, banjo player, comedian, actor passed away at the age of 85 yesterday (11-15-18). He was an inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame and was a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Along the way he was named Entertainer of the Year by the CMA twice and once by the ACM. Three times he was named the Instrumentalist of the Year by the CMA. Just to highlight a few awards.

He won a Grammy for this song...

He achieved stardom on Hee-Haw. "Talk About A Party"

This song was a number 6 hit in 1970.."Thank God and Greyhound"

Remember "Yesterday, When I Was Young"

The world will miss his comic and musical talents. May he rest in peace!

                                                      

Monday's Music Moves Me: A Tribute to Otis Rush

Otis Rush the great blues guitarist passed away this weekend. I was going to pay tribute to him anyway so what the heck I'm combining that with my Monday's Music Moves Me post, you can certainly dance to the blues and the music has been moving people for years.


Starting off with "Double Trouble"...

A vintage live version of "My Sweet Little Angel"

"All Your Lovin'" with Eric Clapton..

"I Can't Quit You"

May he rest in peace. I hope you enjoyed the tunes and I will be back soon!

R.I.P Walter Becker

Guitarist, songwriter, musician and half of the legendary duo "Steely Dan" Walter Becker passed away yesterday ( 09/03/17) at the age of 67.

                                                 "Reelin' in the Years"

Perhaps my favorite Steely Dan tune is "Hey Nineteen"

Here is a solo song "Medical Science"

I was turned on to Steely Dan by a guitar teacher probably 25 years ago. There are connections to other musicians Larry Carlton, Michael McDonald and Boz Scaggs who were just minor degrees of separation from Steely Dan.


Performing "Josie" on Letterman, enjoy Walter Becker playing guitar..

The band left a catalog of amazing songs. May he rest in peace. I'll leave you with "Black Cow"

A to Z: J. Geils may you R.I.P

John Warren Geils better known as J. Geils  the guitarist/songwriter for the J. Geils Band has passed away at the age of 71.

The song was probably no the most appropriate song for a 11-year old to like, however "Centerfold" became one of my earliest favorite rock songs.

Another favorite from them is "Love Stinks"

"Most of Got Lost" was one of their early big hits..

Here issome blues from his band Bluestime...

A talented musicians who leaves behind a string of hits and passionate covers. May he rest in peace.

Happy Birthday Eric Clapton!

Happy Birthday Eric Clapton! The guitar legend turns 72 today!

Kicking off the Celebration from the last time I saw Slowhand..

Me and Eric have a Rock N' Roll Heart...

A little Cream...

He used to be a Yardbird..

He's been Wonderful on many nights..

I'll be back  soon with a new post!

R.I.P Chuck Berry

Fitting I open my post with "Rock N' Roll" music as I write about te death of Chuck Berry.  Chuck Berry was a pioneer, perhaps one of the Fathers of Rock N' Roll. Sadden as a fan of his passing but 90 years is a long life for Rock N' Roll. The female singer was Etta James a legend in her own right.

Here is a vintage clip of "Johnny B. Goode"...

Here he is again with Keith Richards performing his classic "Nadine"...

"You Never Can Tell"

"Maybellene"

I could go on with classic song after classic song. What was your favorite Chuck Berry song? Did you see him in concert? Any favorite memories? He is a legend who will be missed.

My 5 Favorite Black Guitarists

Back in August I did a list of my favorite five guitarists. You can read that post here. I'm sure I could exchange a few names on that list at anytime depending on my musical taste at the time. Since, it is Black History Month I thought it would be fun to list my 5 favorite Black guitarists. Some of them were on my 5 favorite guitarist list.

Here it goes...

1) Jimi Hendrix

Jimi Hendrix was at the top of my other list two.

2) Buddy Guy

Buddy Guy is incredible he was number three on my other list but he moves up to number two on this list.

3) Prince

He is one of the guys I can't believe I left out of my first list. He could be the very best at guitar when he wanted to be, but he was such an artist and musician that he didn't always stick with the guitar.

4) Hubert Sumlin

He was a sideman, the guitarist for Waters and the Wolf.

5) Wes Montgomery

Ending the list is so hard. Should I include one of the King's? Albert Collins? Maybe Slash? The influential Chuck Berry? Oh well I went with jazz

Who would you have added into the list? Well I will see you soon with a new ost