Browsing: Elmore James

As a kid, Elmore James taught himself to play guitar by stringing up a broom wire on the side of his house. Fitting, that a broom wire would be the origin of what some say is the most recognizable lick in the blues…

Duane Allman’s favorite tuning was pioneered by none other than Robert Johnson and Son House. Discover “Cross-Spanish” and it’s huge significance to the blues in this week’s column!

Although early slide guitar players used knives and bones as slides, blues guitarists soon broke the necks off of bottles for slides. Read all about the guitar slide and it’s incredible place in history!!

“I believe I’ll dust my broom”, as both a phrase and a song, has been a blues staple for 75 years. Versions of the song’s melody and phrase “I believe I’ll” have been around even longer. Learn about the iconic tune!

Trumpet records began it’s existence in Jackson, Mississippi in 1951 because of a forgotten pile of records. It lasted only five years, but it’s brief time made a enduring impact on musical history.