Author Archives: spinhead

Business Lessons from Rock: Guest Post by John O’Leary

Posted on 19 March 2012 by spinhead

This here O’Leary chap is a character, with a capital K. He can tell you about his bid for President of these here United States, or share his rock and roll stories from the road. For now, here’s one of his insightful, inevitable-but-not-obvious business lessons from rock: (continued)

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Love Music: Guest Post by Terry Wilson

Posted on 17 March 2012 by spinhead

My musical history with Terry “Pegleg” Wilson goes back years. We finally started writing music together a few years ago. He and his wife are like family. Terry’s intense love of music is one obvious reason we’re great friends.

Music is a beautiful thing! Right now my wife is in the kitchen making dinner. She grabs something or other and starts clapping two things together, pounding out a beat. Music is such a part of us that I really don’t know a single person that does not like music on some level. From the brilliant musician right down to the guy listening to the radio in the car, we all enjoy music.

Let me take you on a journey though. What if there was no music? No CDs, no tapes, no musical instruments. Nothing at all. What if no one had ever put 2 notes together?

(continued)

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An Eclectic Texan Without Salamander Pie: Guest Post by Ron Luther

Posted on 16 March 2012 by spinhead

Members of evolt.org meet geeks of all shapes from all over the world. One of them has a famous ability to turn any conversation into a chat about music within seconds. And it’s not even me.

Pretty easy to see why Ron Luther and I became friends.

I saw your other note a while back on guest writing about music … and I thought about it for a bit. My first inclination was to try to write something up about a hidden gem like Jay Leonhart’s “Salamander Pie” album. If you don’t have it – go order it on Amazon, now!

Then, naturally, I started to over think things. (continued)

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300 in 10

Posted on 12 March 2012 by spinhead

X is one of the few letters which has never started one of these posts—until now.

X always stands for mystery; the unknown. On pirate maps, X marks the spot not because it’s so obvious, but because it is a mystery, an unknown, a private stash you weren’t supposed to find.

So, for this 300th post on the 10th anniversary, instead of writing about what I’ve done, I’m going to write about what I haven’t. (continued)

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Never Mind the Groceries, Leonard: Guest Post by Caitlyn James

Posted on 8 March 2012 by spinhead

You might assume things upon hearing that Caitlyn James is a teacher. Most of them would be way wrong. For instance, I was prompted to ask her to write a little something because of her latest exercise regimen: burlesque dancing.

Everything else she does is mad, too. (continued)

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What Count Basie Taught Me About Intolerance: Guest Post by Rick Wilson

Posted on 7 March 2012 by spinhead

Another lifelong friendship sprouted in Seth Godin’s online network—who could resist a guy with a medical degree who loves WWII aircraft despite his abhorrence of war, and who writes like this about music and musicians? Meet Rick Wilson:

When I was 13 years old, Count Basie chatted with me during an entire break between sets at one of his gigs. Me, just a kid at the time, when he could have spent that time in any way he wanted to! And as if that wasn’t enough, his 2nd alto sax man at the time, Curt Pegler, talked shop with me (an alto player myself) all during the next break!

(continued)

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Marty’s Violin: Guest Post by Tom Bentley

Posted on 6 March 2012 by spinhead

In the years since we met in Seth Godin’s online network, I’ve met Tom Bentley in that ethereal thing called real life more than once—too few times and each too short. Twice I’ve managed to whine him into writing song lyrics for me, despite his persistent insistence that he’s not a songwriter. We’ll address that later. For now, feel free to form an opinion on whether or not he’s a storyteller: (continued)

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Music at the Point of Inception: Guest Post by Charlie Cheney

Posted on 5 March 2012 by spinhead

Songwriter comes first in Charlie Cheney‘s bio (the one in my head,) though I know he’s a devoted husband and loving father, a software geek, and an adventurer extraordinaire. I decided to share his abortive attempt just as he sent it to me, because Charlie appreciates my sense of humour. Most of the time. (continued)

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Musical Thoughts from My Musical Friends

Posted on 5 March 2012 by spinhead

Very possibly you’d like to hear some other voices, so I’ve asked a handful of musical friends to share some thoughts about music. No rules, just as music should be. Watch for them between now and The Big One Zero.

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Catching Up with the Grammys

Posted on 5 March 2012 by spinhead

Congrats to Adele not only for all those Grammys, but for becoming the second artist ever to win all four general categories: Record, Album, and Song of the Year, and Best New Artist. (Remember who did it first, over 30 years ago?)

I was delighted to discover that the record for most Grammys overall goes, not to a rapper, rocker, or ranter, but a conductor. (continued)

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Radiolab: Classical Music is a Riot

Posted on 3 March 2012 by spinhead

Radiolab is a science show which comes at some fundamental questions from an unusual perspective. From their website: (continued)

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Rachel Flowers: Emerson, No Lake, Little Palmer

Posted on 29 February 2012 by spinhead

Guitarist Jim Earp sent a link to this video of Rachel Flowers performing Emerson, Lake, & Palmer’s Karn Evil 9: 1st Impression on a Hammond C3 organ.

Ten minutes in my head exploded. (It’s 14 minutes long.) (continued)

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