Amy Winehouse Dead At 27

   Amy Winehouse was found dead Saturday July 23, 2011 at her London home at the tender age of 27. It’s always a sad thing when a talented musician has their life cut tragically short. It’s a stark contrast writing this memoriam compared to a musician who had a full, rich life like Clarence Clemons.  

   If ever there was a musician who had their addictions and failures chronicled in the press it was Amy Winehouse. Reading about her slide into addiction and subsequent stints in rehab has been sad for anyone that is aware of her talent as a singer and a songwriter. I’m sure nobody will be surprised if the cause of death is found to be an overdose of drugs, alcohol or both.

   Amy was blessed with a unique voice and enough talent to write some decent songs. She also created a very unique look with her beehive hairdo and retro-sailor tattoos. Her live performances could be very strong when she was in full possession of her skills and not hindered by alcohol or other substances. Amy Winehouse was a musician and performer with a lot of potential.

   As with any artist who’s life ends at a tragically young age the question will always remain “how good could she have been?” With a case like Amy’s it’s even harder for fans and scholars of music because we don’t know how much of her talent and skill that we got to see was hindered by drugs and alcohol. The question becomes “how good could she have been had she cleaned up?” as well as “how good could she have become if she had lived?”.

   I’ve heard the argument that the drugs and alcohol helped to fuel her creative drive. In my experience as a musician for the past 30-years I have never seen anyone who wasn’t held back by drugs and alcohol when it came to creative artistry. Even something as basic as playing your guitar becomes more difficult when slowed by drugs and alcohol. I agree that Amy created good subject material for her songs because of her substance abuse as witnessed by her hit “Rehab” but I just do not believe that the substance abuse helped her in realizing the full potential of her talent.

   I’m sure Amy Winehouse will be somewhat deified a-la-Curt Cobain for the small body of work she left behind. As for me, I will always feel sad that a musician with so much potential was never able and now never will be able to reach her full abilities. May you rest in peace Amy Winehouse.

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In Memoriam – Amy Winehouse September 14, 1983 – July 24, 2011

Clarence Clemons and Bruce Springsteen Performe Live

   One of the best saxophone players in rock-n-roll passed away on June 18, 2011 from complications related to the stroke he suffered the week before. Clarence Clemons was 69 years old and spent 40 of those years playing alongside Bruce Springsteen in the E Street Band. Clarence brought the soul to the live performances and recordings of the E Street Band and he made them one of the most exciting live bands of the past four decades.  

   Clarence Clemons had a tone on the saxophone that was unique and instantly recognizable. His solo’s on songs like “Jungleland” and “Born To Run” are perfect examples of his tone, timing and phrasing. His tone had a bright, cutting sound that was just perfect for rock music. Clarence started playing the alto saxophone as a youngster and later played baritone saxophone in his school jazz band. When he made the switch to tenor saxophone Clarence finally found his voice on the instrument. His skill with the tenor saxophone was in evidence throughout his career.

   I have always enjoyed Clarence’s singing voice and his duet with Jackson Browne on the 1985 hit “You’re A Friend Of Mine” is a great example of his singing. His voice was like his saxophone being bright, big and full of tone. Here’s a great clip of Clarence singing “You’re A Friend Of Mine” with Billy Preston in the Ringo Starr All-Starr Band:

   Clarence will be sorely missed in the music world and his contributions will live on and on through his various recordings and videos made over the years. Known as the Big Man by Bruce and all of his fans throughout the years his legacy will be as big as his stature. Bruce Springsteen was quoted as saying “Clarence lived a wonderful life. He carried within him a love of people that made them love him. He created a wondrous and extended family. He loved the saxophone, loved our fans and gave everything he had every night he stepped on stage. His loss is immeasurable and we are honored and thankful to have known him and had the opportunity to stand beside him for nearly forty years. He was my great friend, my partner and with Clarence at my side, my band and I were able to tell a story far deeper than those simply contained in our music. His life, his memory, and his love will live on in that story and in our band.”

   Rest in peace Clarence, you will be missed and always loved.

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In Memoriam – Clarence Clemons January 11, 1942 – June 18, 2011

Heidi Nedreberg, Matt Rushton and Tom Nedreberg in Highway 6

   I play in multiple live bands as well as record with these bands in the studio. One band I’m involved with is named Highway 6 and is headed up by my good friends Tom and Heidi Nedreberg. They are a Father-Daughter team who write and perform their own original music. I’ve been playing with Tom in various bands for the past 20 years or so. This past year they’ve recorded their debut album, Love Songs To The Desert.   

   I was fortunate enough to be asked to contribute all the lead guitar to the album and it was a real pleasure to be involved in this project with Tom and Heidi. The songs they’ve written are excellent and I was given a lot of creative license to contribute any guitar that I felt would work with the songs. I had a lot of fun working on Love Songs To The Desert with the Nedrebergs. The resulting album has been extremely well received locally and we’re starting to play more live shows in support of the album.

   I played my Fender American Deluxe Ash Stratocaster through my Fender Cyber-Twin SE amplifier on almost every track of this album. If you like my custom programmed Cyber-Twin SE preset patches then you’ll enjoy hearing them used all over Love Songs To The Desert. I did play a nylon string spanish guitar on the track My Water which fits perfectly with that song. But everything else is my Stratocaster through my Cyber-Twin SE.

   Live Musician Central is proud to announce that Highway 6 - Love Songs To The Desert is now available for direct digital download on iTunes. You can download your very own copy and check out some excellent tunes and my unique guitar tones on the album.

Just click the album link below to check out the new Highway 6 album.

Dowload Highway 6 - Love Songs To The Desert

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Highway 6 Releases Love Songs To The Desert On iTunes

   I do believe that Les Paul deserved about four times as much time for a tribute than he got on the Grammy’s. I don’t think the recording industry would be what it is today without Les Paul’s amazing innovations in recording technology as well as guitar craft. I hope you enjoy watching this performance as much as I did.  

Jeff Beck with Imelda May – How High The Moon (Les Paul Tribute)

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Jeff Beck – Les Paul Tribute 2010 Grammy Awards Video

   What I like about this interview is that the Mr. Feniak lets Stevie really be himself  while he’s interviewing him. It’s interesting to watch the interviewer relax and enjoy chatting with Stevie as the interview goes on. I’m sure part of it is Stevie’s gentle way of speaking and communicating in general. Stevie is very personable and the interviewer gets totally taken in by Stevie’s playing. Stevie plays some very excellent music during the interview and I’m sure all you guitarists and Stevie Ray Vaughan fans out there are going to love this video.  

Stevie Ray Vaughan 1985 Lifetime TV Interview

Fender Artist Series Stevie Ray Vaughan Stratocaster Electric Guitar 3-Tone SunburstThe Fender Stevie Ray Vaughan Stratocaster Electric Guitar is made for Texas Blues – Stevie style – with the same features as Stevie’s number one Strat. Unique features include a special oval neck, pao ferro fingerboard with 21 jumbo frets, three Texas Special single-coil pickups, gold-plated vintage hardware with Stevie’s unique left-handed synchronized tremolo, and special engraved pickguard. Pay tribute to a master with every note you play.

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Excellent Stevie Ray Vaughan Interview 1985

   In this video, Neal Schon is demonstrating his parts  on “Lights” while playing a Fender Stratocaster. It looks like he’s using an early 90′s Strat Plus with Lace Sensor pickups and a Floyd Rose double locking tremelo. What’s doubly cool in this video is the fact that he’s looping his rhythm part and playing lead over it. I don’t know if he does that live or not but it sure sounds cool here.   

Neal Schon Plays “Lights” On Fender Stratocaster

  

So what do you think? Is Neal commiting sacrelige against his beloved Gibson Les Paul or is he simply playing the right guitar, for the right tone, for the right song? Leave a comment below…

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Neal Schon Plays Journey’s Lights On A Fender Stratocaster

From

Live Musician Central

   It’s Christmas time again for 2009 and I’d like to wish everyone who’s been reading Live Musician Central a very merry Christmas. To celebrate, I’m posting the video to one of my favorite Christmas songs, titled “Do They Know It’s Christmas?”. This song was released in 1984 and was written by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure. The song featured many of the top Irish and British musicians of the decade and was released to raise money to help provide relief to those ravaged by the famine in Ethiopia.  

   The song is an amazing collection of talent and is a testament to putting differences aside and completing a very important project. The song features many singers and musicians, most notably Sting, Bono, Boy George, Paul Young and Phil Collins. I hope you enjoy seeing the video and I hope you all remember those that are in need at this Christmastime.

Band Aid – Do They Know It’s Chrismas?

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Band Aid – Do They Know It’s Christmas? (Video)

   It’s really a good listen and fun to watch Phil doing what he does best, live performance.

Phil Collins – Take Me Home (Live)

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Phil Collins – Take Me Home (Live)

   As you listen to this song you’ll hear Chet Atkins playing the guitar in the left speaker with Les Paul chiming in with the guitar in the right speaker. This is a YouTube video but it just shows a still picture of a young Chet Atkins. The music is superb so I hope you enjoy this song as much as I do.

Chet Atkins and Les Paul peform “Caravan”

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Les Paul and Chet Atkins Perform “Caravan”

Elvis Presley – Heartbreak Hotel Live 1950′s Television Performance

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Elvis Presley – Heartbreak Hotel Live 1950′s Television Performance