Twin Cities Guitar Observatory: a nexus for the guitar-centric universe in St.Paul & Minneapolis
Celebrating Roberta Joan Mitchell, CC (née Anderson; born November 7, 1943), professionally known as Joni Mitchell, a Canadian singer-songwriter. Drawing from folk, pop, rock, and jazz, Mitchell’s open-tuned guitar compositions are harmonically and rhythmically complex.
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 Misha Mansoor (born October 31, 1984), guitarist for the progressive metal band Periphery. He is one of the forerunners of the djent movement and contributed to the Halo 2 Anniversary Original Soundtrack. Mansoor is Mauritian by descent but was born Bethesda, MD.
Celebrating Peter Green (born Peter Allen Greenbaum; October 29, 1946 – July 25, 2020) an English blues rock guitarist born in Bethnal Green, London. As the founder of Fleetwood Mac, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998 and was a major figure in the British blues movement.
Celebrating Howard Duane Allman (November 20, 1946 – October 29, 1971) an American guitarist and co-founder of the Allman Brothers Band until his death following a motorcycle crash at the age of 24.
Celebrating Brad Douglas Paisley (October 28, 1972), an American country music guitarist born in Glen Dale, West Virginia. He has sold over 11 million albums, has won three Grammy Awards, and is also a member of the Grand Ole Opry.
Celebrating Eddie Lang (born Salvatore Massaro, October 25, 1902 – March 26, 1933) known as the father of jazz guitar. During the 1920s, Lang was one of the first single-string soloist while adding occasional chords.
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 Steven Lee “Steve” Cropper (born October 21, 1941), the guitarist of the Stax Records house band, Booker T. & the M.G.’s, which backed artists such as Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, Carla Thomas, Rufus Thomas and Johnnie Taylor.
Celebrating Peter Tosh, OM (born Winston Hubert McIntosh; October 19, 1944 – September 11, 1987), a Jamaican reggae musician. Along with Bob Marley and Bunny Wailer, he was one of the core members of the band the Wailers.
