Martin Guitar
"Da-da-da, my baby left me, da-da-da, 'bout the break of day, da-da-da, it's not coming back, da-da-da, no more to say … " This certainly could describe our economy these days, right? Or, a lost relationship? How about a lost job, home, income, wife, spouse, health insurance, etc?
Every human being on the face of the earth has the right to sing the blues. No matter what your station in life, we all go through moments of deep despair. Let me say now that also have times of great happiness, too. However, the human condition is forged with the blues-singing enough material to fill one billion pages.
I've been a blues songwriter, singer and artist for years. I did not look for the blues. It found me. It turns out that after reading an interview with Eric Clapton in the '80s, I realized that the solid rock thread running through all the music I liked was The Blues. Thanks, EC! In that interview, Clapton returned to me Muddy Waters (real name: McKinley Waters), and the undisputed king of the Delta Blues: Robert Johnson.
It is often said that "Blues had a baby and called it 'Rock and Roll". "The Beatles had a strong base of blues like the Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Jefferson Airplane, The Doors (the latter two actually played in my high school in 1968!), The Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Canned Heat, Aretha Franklin, and hundreds of others. That's what my music is everything.
Nothing feels better than singin 'blues. It is a release cathartic deep sentimental character. It feels very spiritual. I am never angry, frustrated and sick of playing the blues when I'm performing them. The fact that I have been able to write, record and perform my own songs with my band, The Buzzard Brothers (Flagstaff, AZ), is nothing short of miraculous. I could never have dreamed it would be so fortunate. And because of this amazing technological age we are all part of, I now have my songs on YouTube and iLike, which is a blessing, and a growing addiction (if you look my name and include iLike YouTube or in a search, you will find me). Please forgive the shameless self-promotion.
They even have the high honor and good fortune of being able to perform at my job working with psychiatric patients in our local regional hospital. A number of these patients are the players themselves. Therefore, we will sit and pass the guitar around in circles impromptu composer. They get much needed relief to our guitar playing of the community. One of the therapeutic tools we have, outside the obvious medical and psychiatric treatment they receive. I also used my guitar continuously as a teaching tool for my 30 year career as an elementary school teacher.
For me, a song worth anything unless someone listens. I guess that validates the song itself. Bring closure. Many writers wardrobe probably not need this kind of gratification. However, I must confess, I do. The older I get, most grateful that I can play guitar and sing and leave everything on the line. There is nothing better. Certainly, never gets old.
And while the songs are as if by magic, I never refuse. If it is there, I write. I feel I am honor-bound and obligated to do so. And now, I can pass it on YouTube very easy. The best investment I ever made, except to buy my gem of a guitar (which is a model 00028EC Martin Eric Clapton acoustic signature) is my Canon Powershot SX10IS and still-shot video camera. What a blast. The kicker is:
if I can do it, you can too!
The moral of the story is: we all have the blues that reside within us somewhere. If the desire to be liberated, let it go and let it happen. You never feel so good about feelin 'bad.
Grant Brad Gerver is an entrepreneur and creative consultant for Filibi, a classified and online coupon advertising site and home business. He’s also a YouTube Channel blues singer-songwriter and guitar player with The Buzzard Brothers. Additionally, Grant writes political humor, thousands of bumper stickers, and humorous movie reviews. He has also worked with various companies as a product-naming specialist. He’s a retired elementary school teacher and published children’s author who works in the health care field.
The Making of Martin Guitars – The Factory
|
|
Vintage Kay guitar acoustic w ol Gibson martin strings $215.00 |
|
|
k169-g Martin Guitars Acoustic Music Neon Light Sign $9.98 |
|
|
Martin M220 Classic Bronze Wound Acoustic Guitar String $11.72 |
|
|
Martin M540 Light Phosphor Bronze Acoust Guitar Strings $11.72 |
|
|
1,Real Genuine Bone Martin Classical Guitar Saddle,6030 $0.99 |
|
|
Martin M530 Phosphor Bronze Extra Light Acoustic Guitar $11.72 |
|
|
MARTIN MSP4050 ACOUSTIC GUITAR STRINGS CUSTOM $8.73 |
|
|
New Martin 533 Geib style OM/000acoustic guitar case $179.00 |
|
|
Martin Thinline 332 acoustic guitar pickup, 12 string $21.71 |
|
|
Martin DC16RGTE AURA Acoustic-Electric Guitar $1,600.00 |
|
|
Martin Marquis 80/20 Bronze Acoustic Guitar Strings Set Martin Marquis 80/20 Bronze Acoustic Guitar Strings Set… |
|
|
Martin 92/8 Phosphor Bronze Standard Acoustic Guitar Strings Set Martin Strings are high quality strings for daily use. Core and wrap wires must meet strict requirements in order to make the grade. Martin Strings are wound to precise specifications. The Phosphor Bronze winding is ideally suited for making strings that have deep, rich basses and clear, bright trebles…. |
|
|
Martin SP Studio Performance 80/20 Acoustic Guitar Strings Set Martin SP Studio/Performance Series strings are ideal live, in the studio, or wherever maximum string life is desired. The creation of these new high performance strings is a result of research done in cooperation with specialty steel producers. Due to the development of an industry leading ultra-high quality steel core, Martin SP strings resist breakage better than average strings. In addition, b… |
|
|
Essential Guitar: 33 Guitar Masterpieces $6.80 This collection features performances of popular works for the guitar by Julian Bream, Alexandre Lagoya, Paco Pena, Andres Segovia, John Williams, and Pepe Romero.No Track Information AvailableMedia Type: CDArtist: ESSENTIAL GUITAR: 34 GTR MASTERPIECESTitle: ESSENTIAL GUITAR: 34 GTR MASTERPIECESStreet Release Date: 08/13/2002… |
|
|
25 Vivaldi Favorites $1.95 … |