Where does your music come from?

[tjmangum]

It was fun to hear all the great music played at LTG Arlington 2010 and it made me think about how in a room of many people, from many places there were so many songs that we seemed to have in common. Certainly being of a certain age, lends itself to a commonality of some music, but still I'd be curious to hear what influenced the music you play and enjoy.

For me, from about the age of 8, which would have been 1962, I was glued to the popular radio stations in Chicago that my older siblings listened to. Needless to say, I was primed for when the Beatles hit. A few years later, when my brother came back from college with Dylan, Peter, Paul & Mary, Simon & Garfunkel and Judy Collins records I think the hook was set. Then when I hit college in 72 it was just few more steps over to Prine, Buffett, Harry Chapin and other singer songwriters.
How about you?
tj

 

[West R Lee]

It was fun to hear all the great music played at LTG Arlington 2010 and it made me think about how in a room of many people, from many places there were so many songs that we seemed to have in common. Certainly being of a certain age, lends itself to a commonality of some music, but still I'd be curious to hear what influenced the music you play and enjoy.

For me, from about the age of 8, which would have been 1962, I was glued to the popular radio stations in Chicago that my older siblings listened to. Needless to say, I was primed for when the Beatles hit. A few years later, when my brother came back from college with Dylan, Peter, Paul & Mary, Simon & Garfunkel and Judy Collins records I think the hook was set. Then when I hit college in 72 it was just few more steps over to Prine, Buffett, Harry Chapin and other singer songwriters.
How about you?
tj

Well Terry, if you noticed in Arlington, most of the stuff I played was of music I listened to in high school and very shorly thereafter. Mostly Buffett, some Neil Young, and I always loved Don Williams, my friends didn't listen to him, but how I loved that down home Texas country voice....throw in a little Charlie Daniels and Marshall Tucker, and that's about all I played....just stuff I grew up with.

I sure enjoyed you guys, and it was a very pleasant surprise to see you there and finally get to sit down with you.

West

 

[killdeer43]

Living almost 67 years and loving all kinds of music along the way, I found a long time ago that I collected songs that caught my ear. I enjoy good instrumentals but my favorites are songs that tell stories....I'm just a lyrics freak! :wink:
The sources/genres of the music I enjoy hearing and playing are as varied and wide ranging as the songs themselves. The folk period really brought a lot into focus for me when I started hearing all the great stories accompanied by simple yet beautifully-played stringed instruments.

The first song I ever sang in public was Barbara Allen. I was in the 5th grade at the time, and I still do it now and then. It tells a great story.

I could go on, but.....

Joe

 

[mellowgerman]

I'd say my main musical influences to this day have been Jefferson Airplane (more than anyone else), Wilco, Neil Young, VietNam, and Bob Marley/The Wailers. Those are some fairly unrelated bands... I grew up on Neil Young and Bob Marley (thanks mom and dad!)... found Wilco, VietNam, and Jefferson Airplane on my own accord more or less.
I have given much thought to my Airplane obsession and I think that comes down to the tone of each respective part of the group -- so much personality and soul on those levels and when it all comes together it is everything I could ever have wanted from a band. Jack's bass, Paul's 12string rhythm guitar, Jorma's finger-picked electric leads, the amazing vocal parts (especially Marty's), and Spencer's great jazz-based beats and fills. Pure music heaven!

 

[fronobulax]

In addition to classical music, which was always around (which I performed, but never on bass) my musical tastes were formed by FM radio when it really was an alternative medium, and what my friends were listening to. My best friend's older brother played in a band and I know that is why I listened to Buffalo Springfield and Jefferson Airplane and at least explored what the successor bands were up to. There was definitely a desire to listen to and like things that were not mainstream, hence Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention.

However, as a bassist there is a lot that I listen to that I cannot play, mostly because getting something that sounds close to right is often beyond my skill level. So what I tend to play is whatever is on a sheet of music or chord sheet that is in front of me or whatever the guitarist picks.

 

[MojoTooth]

My influence to learn to play guitar came from living in South America and listening to all the great Latin rock, Salsa and traditional music there. It just really inspired me to learn the music I had grown to love. My favorite group of all is a Mexican rock group called Mana' and they put out an MTV unplugged album and it was the sweetest music I had ever heard, of course they were playing Guilds! From there I was inspired to learn all those songs and all the other songs I listened to daily.

From there I fell back on my first musical love which was the blues. I was going through some difficult times and the blues really started to come out in my playing because of that, it was just what felt natural due to my situation. That's when I started to focus primarily on learning blues rhythms, scales, progressions and solos. I find that my early study of Latin music has really helped me with my blues and adding flavor to it because I learned how to play real solid rhythm from Latin music and how to really get in the pocket and stay on time.

Influences: Mana', Sergio Vallin, Lonnie Johnson, Skip James, Son House, Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy, Otis Rush, Joe Bonamassa

 

[Thunderface]

My music mostly comes from Target, or Best Buy, the occasional foray to Cheapo Records or the Electric Fetus.

 

[dreadnut]

the 60's!

And my dad had every Jim Reeves record ever made I think.

 

[killdeer43]

My music mostly comes from Target, or Best Buy, the occasional foray to Cheapo Records or the Electric Fetus.

:lol: :lol: :lol:
Never thought of that!

Joe

 

[dapmdave]

This is a great idea for a thread. (thanks tj)

I am all over the place, as far as music goes. I like (almost) everything.

Guitar-wise, I think I am influenced by Ian Anderson (Tull) in style. I hardly pay any Tull, but find myself doing that style. I learned to play guitar on Simon and Garfunkel songs, but the earlier stuff is a bit too "folky" for me now. There's some Clapton, definitely some George Harrison, and even some Neil Young, somewhere in there. But I also like country music and especially bluegrass.

Dave

 

[tjmangum]

Great responses, keep them coming!
I need to add that I had a bit of a second musical education in my 20's when I spent 4 years working in radio. I was at small market stations in Kentucky and Tennessee and played everything from Big Bands and Gospel to Country and Pop. Gave me an appreciation for good music of all kinds, especially country. (West, I'm a big fan of Don Williams too) About this time, I took a 4 session songwriting class taught by Tom T. Hall at MTSU, which gave me a great appreciation of the craft of writing.
tj

 

[Graham]

For me it's all covers of the stuff I loved in the 70's. The Eagles, Dylan, Neil Young or local stuff like Blue Rodeo, Dallas Green.

I really admire folks like cjd-player, Scratch, Bobby McGee, West R Lee, GuildMark and I'm sorry those here that I have not mentioned, that make their own music.

For me it's just about wanting to play for my own enjoyment, as that's about the size of crowd I can generate anyway. :lol: :shock: :lol:

 

[killdeer43]

I took a 4 session songwriting class taught by Tom T. Hall at MTSU, which gave me a great appreciation of the craft of writing.
tj

Wow!
Tom T. is one of my favorites and I can only imagine how enjoyable that class might have been.
Pamela Brown is a long-time favorite to play and sing!

Joe

 

[tjmangum]

I took a 4 session songwriting class taught by Tom T. Hall at MTSU, which gave me a great appreciation of the craft of writing.
tj

Wow!
Tom T. is one of my favorites and I can only imagine how enjoyable that class might have been.
Pamela Brown is a long-time favorite to play and sing!

Joe

Joe, Pamela Brown is one of my favorites too, although I like the Leo Kottke version a bit more than Tom's.
tj

 

[Thunderface]

For my musical influences, it's the usual classic rock fare and lately heavier doses of punk rock. But the more I play, the I tend to appreciate the blues.

 

[Ross]

I got into folk music in the 60s (I’m in my 60s now). As well as the usual influences like Lightfoot, Tyson, Dylan, Cohen etc there were traditional east-coast (most of these are originally from the UK) and French-Canadian songs.

A 10-year stint as bassist in a recreational rock band taught me a lot about rhythm & timing (the drummer was first-rate).

Open stages are wonderful things. I enjoy watching the players and I learn a lot from them – what works and what doesn’t.

I treat everything as a learning experience. If I play with other people, work out something new on my own, or even listen to a recorded piece, I absorb something from it, no matter how small. (Retaining it is another story ). Now that I’m writing more (or trying to, at least), I find myself listening even more intently to what other songwriters do.

 

[Taylor Martin Guild]

My biggest influence in what music I play and the Guitar that I play it on, was John Denver.
He was the reason that I learned to play acoustic guitar.
He also introduced me to Guild Guitars.

I also learned a lot from Gordon Lightfoot. His songbooks gave me new chords to play.
PP&M, Kingston Trio and other Folk musicians also influenced me.
As my ability to play grew, so did my taste in music.
Later in life, I branched out into the world of Bluegrass and Old Time Gospel music.

Others that influenced me were,
Dan Fogalburg, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Bill Staines, Nanci Griffith,
Niel Young, Merl Haggard, and CS&N.

 

[Scratch]

Neil Young, CSNY, Dylan, Tom Rush, James Taylor, John Denver, Simon & Garfunkle, Eagles, John Prine, Willie Nelson, George Strait, Dave Mason, Gordon Lightfoot & Cheech & Chong...

 

[spiderman]

When I started guitar in the early "60s it was the folk songs that I learned as a kid in the '50s and quickly added topical (Ochs, Dylan) material, Sing Out was and still is an important source. As playing faded because of grad school, job, family (though I played for the kids) it was pretty much the same material. Then I retired three years ago, and had time to get back. Unfortunately tendinitis and continuing hearing loss have not helped, no more finger picing, though maybe with time I'll do a little. Major influence was YouTube - Nanci Griffith (though most of her songs are difficult for me to sing well), Emmylou Harris of whom I jokingly say I let her choose my songs, Tracy Grammer and others. Big aha moment was watching Emmylou on YouTube at Red Rock playing "Leaving Louisiana in the Broad Daylight" and realizing she was strumming essentially a G progression capoed on the fifth fret, and it worked for me :wink: I have shifted into Americana, singer/songwriter and non-pop country, most of which I would have scorned when i started out, "I was so much older then, I'm younger than that now"

Harmony H-173 bought in 1960 (retired), Alvarez AC60S 2008, Eastman AC320ce 2008 "Hybrid", Guild GAD-JF30E(blonde) 2008, Guild JF55 1997, Guild D25M 1974, Martin Grand J35E 2009, Martin D12-20 1970
"I'm glad there are a lot of guitar players pursuing technique as diligently as they possibly can, because it leaves this whole other area open to people like me."
Richard Thompson

 

[avagadro]

see what Will Ferrell has to say about musical influences as he lampoons Neil Diamond.
http://www.milkandcookies.com/link/31749/detail/