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John Prine began his professional career as a mailman in Illinois. He went on to become one of America’s most beloved singers and songwriters. If you are a fan of Folk and Country Music, then you know John Prine. His music was a blend of humorous lyrics about love, life, current events, and songs recounting melancholy tales from his life. Prine was active as a composer, recording artist, live performer, and occasional actor from the early 1970s until his death in 2020 from complications of COVID-19. “I Remember Everything” was the last song John wrote. Published posthumously, it’s a simple yet moving song looking back on a life well-lived. The artist may have had a premonition that his life was coming to an end. If that is the case, then “I Remember Everything” is John’s epitaph, which he characteristically wrote himself. Here’s my cover. #success #acousticguitar #memories #happiness #sorrow #JohnPrine #Joy #performers #reflections #songs #singers #peace #vocals #love #guitarist #folkguitar #acousticcover #songwriting #singing

“Day Is Done” is a simple song about a clandestine relationship. Since very little has been written about the song, it is difficult to pinpoint its exact meaning. It could be about two married adults having an illicit affair. The lyrics and tone, however, indicate a relationship between two adolescents forbidden by parents or society. The drawings on the album cover of “Lost Dogs and Mixed Blessings,” where the song is one of the tracks, tend to support the theory of a prohibited young love. In “Day is Done,” Prine has written a charming little song with universal implications. Many of his songs deal with the intricacies of human relationships and are laced with Prine’s subtle sense of humor. "Lost Dogs and Mixed Blessings" was John’s fourteenth album. Released in 1995, it is another example of the artist’s exploration of the human condition. From humble beginnings, John Prine came a long way in his fifty-year career. He won Grammy Awards and was posthumously inducted into the Country and Folk Music Hall of Fame. What struck me, however, is this early recollection of his career. It is taken directly from Prine’s official website: “Prine still remembers the first three songs he performed on any stage: Sam Stone, Hello in There, and Paradise. With humility, he recalls, “I sang those three songs and people just sat there and looked at me. I thought, ‘Wow, those are really bad.’ They wouldn’t even applaud.” Things changed dramatically when a young journalist named Roger Ebert dropped into a Chicago folk club for a beer while John was on stage. Ebert wrote a glowing review of Prine’s performance in the Chicago Sun-Times which essentially launched John’s career. Here’s my cover of “Day Is Done.” #musiccareers #acousticguitar #couples #happiness #MartinGuitars #Joy #relationships #guitarpicking #reflections #loveaffair #lovesongs #artists #peace #love #stageperformer #onstage #acousticcover #songwriter #sundowns #folkclubs #sologuitar

This John Prine song has been lauded as, “One of the best breakup songs ever written.” Here’s my cover of “All The Best.” #songwriters #acousticguitar #artistprofiles #happiness #MartinGuitars #solos #Joy #folkclub #pickingstyle #relationships #guitarsolo #artists #vocals #love #guitarist #breakingup #acousticcover #musicbusiness #recordingartists

If you’ve been following this blog, then you know I’m a huge fan of Cat Stevens. He produced some of the most iconic and unique music of the 1960s and ’70s. Shortly thereafter, Stevens’ sincere spiritual search led to his conversion to Islam, a surprise to many, including myself. For several decades after his transformation, Stevens, now known as Jusuf Islam, remained musically inert. During his most productive years, Stevens gave over his immense musical talent to the study and preaching of Islam. Although Stevens says, in his own words, “I’m only trying to help,” I can’t help thinking that the world lost out on a treasure trove of inspiring, educational, and entertaining music To be fair, I guess I’m just expressing my sour grapes. Everyone has the right to do whatever he or she wants with their life. Stevens believes his conversion to Islam “was meant to be.” It may very well be because Stevens has done a lot for the Arabic world. And he has stayed with his persuasion for almost fifty years. Kudos to Cat…er…Yusuf. “Hard Headed Woman” celebrates an empowering and life-affirming love. The artist envisions an enriching and fulfilling relationship in which each partner contributes to the other’s growth and happiness. The song reminds us of the importance of finding someone who complements and strengthens us rather than a companion who fits a pre-determined, superficial mold. Here’s my cover. #acousticguitar #happiness #Joy #personalgrowth #spirituality #popmusic #relationships #psychology #reflections #peace #vocals #love #spiritualsearch #guitarcover #vocalcover #songwriter

Kate Wolf’s music conveys Love, Beauty, and a full range of human emotions. “See Here She Says” is a remarkable song because it speaks to children and adults alike with a reminder that the dreams of the Heart are one of the most valuable commodities we own. “The time that’s left is yours to keep” is a phrase at the end of the chorus of Kate’s song “See Here She Says.” The phrase impacts me powerfully because it is sweet advice to use our time wisely. This is especially true for children, but it is also important for people of all ages to keep in mind. Each moment that is given to us is precious. Why waste it on foolish pursuits that bear no useful results? Yes, recreation, relaxation, and pleasure are important too, but they are best employed as a balance for the attainment of meaningful goals. And if the motivation to achieve these goals comes from the heart, then the process of manifesting them will surely, for the most part, be enjoyable. In a truncated life of only forty-four years, Kate Wolf embodied the words of this song. She used her time to create over two hundred songs, performing mostly at venues in her native state of California. Kate’s work has warmed and gladdened the hearts of millions of people around the world. Here’s my cover of “See Here She Said.” #parenting #mentor #musicians #acousticguitar #mentoring #folkmusic #happiness #creativity #Joy #beauty #relationships #artists #peace #vocals #love #innerpeace #songwriter #emotions #inspiration #sologuitar

Even if you aren’t a fan of seventies music, you’ve probably heard Don McLean’s hit song, “And I Love You So.” What you may not know is the song was widely covered by other recording artists, most notably Elvis Presley and Perry Como. Yes, I said Perry Como. In a career that spanned decades, Don McLean wrote and recorded twenty-two studio albums, four live albums, and 16 singles. He is best known for his song and album of the same name, “American Pie.” I’m constantly amazed at the way major recording artists create unique compositions to express their music. “And I Love You So” features an original picking method combined with interesting chord shapes. Learning to play a song the way the artist does is a great way to expand your musical scope and technique. Here is my cover of McLean’s hit. I’ve re-recorded it one fret lower. Take the next step that’s in your wheelhouse. This is the path to your success. #beautiful #DonMclean #seventiesmusic #folkmusic #artistprofiles #happiness #guitartechnique #solos #loverelationships #Joy #hitsongs #guitarpicking #vocals #love #inspiration #singing #sologuitar #profiles

Issac Templeton Available Now on Amazon Worldwide Issac Templeton is a successful attorney with a thriving law practice in downtown Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Aside from a few recurring nightmares, Issac is happy where he is in life, although he knows there is always room for improvement. Issac’s relationship with his headstrong artist girlfriend is challenging, but he understands that all good things take time and must be earned. Yes, Issac has built a successful career and a fulfilling personal life, one brick at a time. It is said, however, that a human life can change dramatically in an instant. Issac’s comfortable life is about to take a sharp turn into dark and unpredictable realms that are more horrifying than even his worst nightmares. #singlemaltwhiskey #timemachine #whiskey #model #happiness #painter #timetravel #Lawyer #Joy #architecture #Scotland #Scotch #beauty #relationships #BocaRaton #reflections #law #FortLauderdale #artist #peace #love #southflorida #thriller #vogue #interiordesign #romance #suspense #nightclubs

A telephone call changed the life of Julie Gold. Although she had solid management, steady gigs, and a powerful repertoire, she failed to progress as a singer/songwriter until becoming involved with the Greenwich Village singer/songwriter scene. Performing at open mikes, Gold was befriended by Christine Lavin , who became her mentor. When Julie’s parents sent her a piano she played while growing up, the first song she wrote on it was titled “From a Distance.” Lavin sent a tape of the song to a rising star on the country/folk music scene. While working as a secretary for HBO in New York, Gold received her life-changing phone call from Nanci Griffith . Nanci wanted permission to record “From a Distance” on her cross-over album, Lone Star State of Mind. The album and the song went on to become big hits. “From a Distance” became even more popular and won a Grammy Award for Song of the Year when Bette Midler recorded it in 1990. Here is my cover of the song accompanied by an original guitar composition. This blog post is dedicated to Toby Aurora Bentley. Toby was taken from us too soon. May she rest in peace and love until we can welcome her back. #song #writer #folkmusic #happiness #consciousness #prosperity #NanciGriffith #Joy #wellbeing #popmusic #reflections #crossovermusic #peace #love #innerpeace #singer #songwriter #worldpeace #BetteMidler #inspiration

Jefferson Airplane was one of the premiere psychedelic rock bands of the nineteen-sixties. The Airplane epitomized the subversive love and drug culture that emerged from psycho-active drugs like LSD, Marijuana, Mescaline, and Peyote. The band came to prominence in San Francisco in 1965. The original group of six, featuring lead singer Grace Slick, had a seven-year run. Later incarnations of the group lasted until 1990, but the original group spawned the songs that mattered. “Comin’ Back to Me” is one of those hits. The piece appeared on the band’s second album, Surrealistic Pillow . The story behind “Comin’ Back to Me” goes like this. While sharing a joint of righteous Marijuana with blues guitarist and harpist Paul Butterfield , Marty Balin wrote the song in five minutes. “It just popped out,” Balin said in an interview. He immediately went to the studio to record the song with any available musicians there. Jerry Garcia happened to be one of them. In addition to being one of the Airplane’s greatest hits, the song was covered by major recording artists like Richie Havens, and versions of it appear as background music in several Hollywood feature films. Here’s my cover of the song. #GraceSlick #Marijuana #sixtiesmusic #memories #rockbands #longing #solos #Hippies #magicmushrooms #relationships #musicalpoems #reflections #poetry #Mescaline #vocals #love #Pot #singer #drugculture #LSDhallucinations #songwriter #poems #images #psychedelic #lostlove #LSD

I’ve always wanted to learn Kate Wolf’s guitar-picking style. Granted, she plays every song she’s written differently, but I just wanted a glimpse. Since Kate has mostly been an under-the-radar, brilliant singer/songwriter, no one has taken the time to create an accurate tutorial of her guitar method. That is until now. My go-to-teacher, Jerry Lamberth, best known for his unequaled guitar tutorial site (Jerry’s Guitar Bar) has finally posted the first of what I hope will be many lessons of Kate Wolf’s songs. I’ve recorded Kate Wolf’s remarkable story and several of her songs on previous blogs. To learn more about this courageous and uniquely talented person, go to: “An Unfinished Life” “Gentle Love” “Feeling the Heart” and “Through Her Music” . We lost Kate almost forty years ago to Leukemia, but her music has endured across the barrier of time. Coincidentally, the song is about memories of times past. Not surprisingly, “Across the Great Divide” is one of Wolf’s most popular songs. Without Jerry’s help, I would never have figured out how to play the song Kate’s way. She uses a simple and at the same time complex alternating base method the likes of which I’ve never seen. Kate wrote “Across The Great Divide” specifically for Robbie Osman’s folk-oriented show of the same name on KPFA radio, San Francisco. Robbie and Kate were friends who shared similar experiences. This exercise might be a case of “careful what you wish for.” I busted my ass and fingers to learn this. Here’s my cover of the song. If you love life with abandon, everything you want will come to you quickly and freely. #legacy #harmony #lookingback #guitarstyle #memories #guitartechnique #longing #KateWolf #beauty #guitarpicking #friends #peace #vocals #love #singer #solovocal #songwriter #beautifulmusic #musings #greatsongs #sologuitar #lostlove

Photo by Nick Fang Hi everyone. The voice I’m referring to here is not mine. It belongs to Kate Wolf (1942-1986). She wrote and performed (mostly in her native California) over 200 songs. Her music comes directly from the heart and tends to be bittersweet. In 1980, Kate released her fourth album on her own label, Owl Records. The album is titled “Close to You.” Many of the songs on the album have become fan favorites, including some I have posted on this blog: Across the Great Divide , An Unfinished Life , Here in California , and Stone in the Water . A recording of Kate playing a song by Tom Paxon called “Hold On to Me Babe” drew me to Wolf’s music again. Her voice is transcendent as it is in most of her recordings. I haven’t been listening to Kate’s music lately, and her version of Paxon’s song reminded me of the beautiful realms she takes me to. Another song on the album reminded me of the precious few people I have been close to in this life. Here is my cover of “Friend of Mine” with an original accompaniment. #California #lookingback #guitarstyle #reminisce #acousticguitar #connect #folkmusic #memories #happiness #lovejoy #transcendent #KateWolf #beauty #bestfriend #relationships #guitarpicking #reflections #friends #songwriting #peace #vocals #TomPaxon #songwriter #connection #musings #remembering #concerts

Cat Stevens rose to prominence as a folk and pop artist in the 1970’s. I’ve always enjoyed the thread of childlike innocence and spontaneity that runs through his music . After a near-death experience, Stevens began a serious search for a deeper meaning in life. In 1977, he left his rock and roll lifestyle and converted to Islam adopting the name Yusuf Islam. Stevens wrote “The Wind” five years before his conversion. The song has always been one of my favorites. It’s a simple song that speaks volumes. In a 2022 Rolling Stone interview, Stevens (Yusuf) shared these thoughts about The Wind: “I’m talking to somebody; I think it’s the divine, but I’m not quite sure, and because I’m not sure, it’s universal. My goal was to be able to detach myself from my physical surroundings and material things. I was very earnestly searching. I would visit esoteric bookshops whenever I could, and pick up whatever new pathway to the truth I could find.” Here’s my cover of the song played in Yusuf Islam’s unique guitar style. #stories #acousticguitar #folkmusic #happiness #searching #guitartechnique #Islam #consciousness #theheart #CatStevens #yearning #heartfelt #Joy #sontaneous #beauty #popmusic #peace #vocals #love #story #innerpeace #guitar #songwriter #quest #truth #greatsongs #sologuitar