Author Archives: baldpomegranatenixon

Celebrating “Mother” Maybelle Carter (born Maybelle Addington; May 10, 1909 – October 23, 1978) an American country guitarist born in  Nickelsville, VA and best known as a member of the historic Carter Family act in the 1920s and 1930s.

Celebrating Robert Leroy Johnson (May 8, 1911 – August 16, 1938), an American blues singer and guitarist born in Hazlehurst, MS. His landmark recordings in 1936 and 1937 display a talent that has influenced generations of musicians.

Celebrating Christina Billotte (born May 4, 1969), an American guitarist with the band Slant 6, known for her involvement in the punk music scene in Washington DC, as a performer and organizer.

Celebrating Richard Anthony Monsour (May 4, 1937 – March 16, 2019), known professionally as Dick Dale, an American rock guitarist, known as “The King of the Surf Guitar.”

Celebrating Narciso Yepes (November 14, 1927 – May 3, 1997) a Spanish guitarist, considered one of the finest virtuoso classical guitarists of the twentieth century.

Celebrating Fred Lincoln “Link” Wray, Jr. (May 2, 1929 – November 5, 2005), a Native American rock and roll guitarist from Dunn, NC who became popular in the late 1950s building on the distorted electric guitar sound of his early records.

Celebrating McKinley Morganfield (April 4, 1913 or 1915 – April 30, 1983), known professionally as Muddy Waters, an American blues musician born in Rolling Fork, Mississippi, who is often cited as the “father of modern Chicago blues”.

Celebrating Leni Stern (born Magdalena Thora on April 28, 1952), an electric guitarist and ngoni player born in Munich, Germany. She has been awarded the Gibson Guitar Female Jazz Guitarist of the Year five consecutive times.

Celebrating Charley Patton (died April 28, 1934), also known as Charlie Patton and born in Hinds County, Mississippi, considered by many to be the “Father of the Delta Blues.” He inspired most Delta blues musicians and the musicologist Robert Palmer considered him one of the most important American musicians of the twentieth century.

Celebrating Duane Eddy (born April 26, 1938), an American guitarist from Corning, New York. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, he had a string of hit records which were noted for their “twangy” sound, including “Rebel Rouser” and “Peter Gunn”. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994.