Search Results

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

Cat Stevens’ song “The Boy With A Moon And Star On His Head” is a poetic and mystical tale that expresses themes of love, destiny, and the unknown and unexpected.  The song’s lyrics are replete with metaphors and symbolism, for example, the “holy magnolia” and “naked earth,” which elicit a sense of purity and connection to the universe. Cat Stevens, known for his introspective and spiritual songwriting, uses this narrative to convey a deeper message about the power of love and the unpredictable ways in which destiny unfolds. It is a beautiful story in song, rendered in Stevens’ unique style.  #Acousticguitar #songwriter #vocals #folkmusic #popmusic #CatStevens #guitarist #acousticcovers #songcovers #vocals #spiritual #spirituality #love #consciousness #spiritualteacher #fantasy

In a ten-year career tragically cut short by Leukemia, Kate Wolf wrote and performed over 200 songs. Her music is poignant, straightforward, honest, and beautiful. She performed at venues throughout her native state of California. Since her passing in 1986 at the age of 44, Kate’s audience has grown steadily as people like me discover her music. “ September Song ” (recorded on Kate’s 1979 album “Safe at Anchor”) is one of my favorites. The song is replete with images. I particularly like the image conjured in the second verse illustrated below: “The ghost of a frontier lady walks through the tall rooms/Of an old Ontario farmhouse under the full moon.” Here’s my cover of “September Song.” #mentor #teacher #acousticguitar #mentoring #folkmusic #memories #happiness #guitartechnique #imagery #solos #Joy #beauty #relationships #guitarpicking #reflections #poetry #vocals #love #guitarmethod #folksong #inspiration #images #remembering

“Song for a Winter’s Night” is one of Gordon Lightfoot’s earliest love songs. It is also one of his biggest hits. As folk music became commercially viable in the late sixties, clubs blossomed featuring promising folk musicians. Gordon Lightfoot landed a job in one of them in downtown Toronto. He stood apart from the crowd because he performed many of his own songs in a characteristically pure voice. After he developed a following, a club owner invited Lightfoot to perform at his club across the street at twice the salary. Lightfoot gratefully accepted the invitation to perform at the Riverboat, Toronto’s premier folk music club. With his beautiful voice and prolific outpouring of quality music, it was only a matter of time before Warner/Reprise records rewarded Lightfoot with a one million dollar recording contract, an unheard-of number for a Canadian singer. Lightfoot recorded “Song for a Winter’s Night in 1967 on his album, “The Way I feel.” Many recording artists covered it, including Sarah McLachlan in the soundtrack for the film “Miracle on 34th Street.” Gordon wrote the song on a hot summer night while performing in Cleveland. He missed his wife at the time, Brita Olaisson, and his thoughts turned to winter. Here’s my cover. #acousticguitar #happiness #lovesong #solos #photography #Joy #beauty #relationships #reflections #artists #peace #vocals #love #singer #songwriter #originalmusic #inspiration #recordingartists #photos