It's all about the music !
Editors Corner
with Bruce Maier
What a great job I have!
I get to meet all these artists and constantly discover new music coming to us from all over the world . And what a talented world this is! Recently I was contacted by my friend Tammy, who owns Hunt Talent near Hollywood California. Tammy is representing an incredible young woman named Sonya Kahn. We at DGT were so impressed and moved by Sonya's piano and voice that we contacted Tammy Hunt with a big " WOW " and we quickly decided we would be featuring Sonya here in a complete interview and review of her music next month .
Every once in a while and only a few in a lifetime rise above the rest with musicianship and song crafting abilities along with a powerful " signature " voice. These are the ones who have the staying power to dominate charts and stay on the radio for a thirty-plus year career. The likes of Carole King, Billy Joel, and Sir Elton John would represent this elite class and are some whom I have always respected. In a world which has been driven by beauty and fashion I purposely started tuning in to the Indie world with no regard for trends or what someone else thinks true beauty really is. All I wanted was good music, no matter how old or young you are or what you look like it's got to be about the music first. There have been so many wonderful talents who have joined us and have become part of our extended family here at DGT and they have each been special in their own way, that's how they arrived here. Now, along comes a lady who not only fits the criteria, she absolutely blows me away! She is a musician, composer, vocalist and producer who, by the sounds of her music ( and oh God I love some of her chord progressions ! ) , knows exactly what she wants and where she's going.
Please stay tuned in the days to come as we bring you what I think will be a story of a lady who epitomizes the word " artistry ". If she were only a pianist playing Chopin I am sure you'd agree she's one of the best and most passionate concert pianists you've ever heard. But Sonya Kahn is more than that. Way more. But then she sings like no one you've ever heard and writes great songs in a way that I can only describe her as a musician's musician.
Be watching for our complete interview with Sonya Kahn. Meanwhile, take a little journey over to Sonya's own website HERE
with Bruce Maier
SPECIAL TRIBUTE TO THE BEST GUITAR PLAYER I WILL EVER KNOW
Photo by Carroll Hill
Gary Edmonds with a rare Fender Coronado in the 1970's
"I was always a Fender man"
Photo by Carroll Hill
Gary Edmonds with a rare Fender Coronado in the 1970's
"I was always a Fender man"
When I was a child many of my days were spent at the Academy, learning how to dance, unlike the other boys my age who were all playing baseball and football. Music was then and is still my life but at about the age of fourteen my parents took me to a county Fair where I saw a live Rock band for the first time in my life. There they were - four of the tightest musicians I would ever come to know. They were called The Trends, led by a man named Clayton Watson. With Clayton playing drums and lead vocals, Denny on Bass, Carroll on the Tenor Sax and Gary Edmonds on Guitar, these guys were an incredible group that could play everything and anything with soul and fire. My attention immediately was directed to the Guitarist in the band. He wore Spanish boots, a blazer and turtleneck shirt, was tanned and had great hair. Clutching a Fender electric guitar and playing big fat jazz chords, then ripping solos through a Fender amp and Fender Vibratone Leslie Speaker, with one leg slightly bent at the knee keeping time, this guy was the epitome of cool! I turned to my folks and said, “ that’s who I want to be! “
And so it was. That summer my dad taught my brother and I to play some chords on an old acoustic guitar he bought for us at a pawn shop and we soon discovered our new home away from home – Lohr Brothers Music Store where we, along with all the other kids into music would hang out. And there he was, Gary Edmonds the guitar teacher from planet Cool! That same dynamic lead man in The Trends was there every day and accessible to all who would gather around him. And even if you couldn’t afford or didn’t have the attention span required for one-on-one lessons with Gary, he would show you the latest guitar lick or his “ big fat Jazz chords “ just for the asking. Gary loved to teach and was good at it. Over the years he probably taught hundreds of students and some of those went on to be really great professional musicians. And he would occasionally play solo, just a minimum of gear, but always with his trusty Fender in his hands, Gary could sing the standards and current Pop and Country hits all night long.
I had many interactions over the years with Gary Edmonds and I can honestly say that every single memory I have of the man is a good one. He was witty and sharp, full of great musician jokes and of course, always willing to help out a musician in need.
Gary was a soldier in two wars – WW2 and the Korean War, ending his military career as a US Marine and very proud of what he’d done for his country. At one point he became aquatinted with my father who was also a veteran. They spent some good times talking about having been in the service and being proud of their country. Gary was like family in our house.
Mr. Edmonds was married for many years to a fine lady, Penny, who was always very supportive of his music. They had four daughters who all learned the music of their soul from their way-cool dad! I don’t know a lot of other personal things about Gary but I can tell you that in my whole musical career the one time that I actually got to work on a professional job with him was a highlight of my life. He played Bass Guitar on that occasion because arthritis was preventing him from making a tight grip around a Telecaster neck. Halfway through the gig though we were asked to play some Big Band era standards that were way over my technical head and Gary said “ OK Man , I’ll give it a try ! “ And the guy absolutely tore it up and set the place on fire! I will never forget that moment.
Gary Edmonds, sometimes professionally referred to as “ Dad “ was our iconic hero in our little town where my friends and I grew up. He was always the coolest guy with those slick waves in his hair, the pack of smokes rolled up in his short-sleeved shirt which incidentally left the tattoos on his arms exposed. But the musician that he was transcended the normal levels of technical prowess that most of us could ever hope for in this life. He was simply the best.
The other day, as many of the musicians who loved and admired him were shuffling in, one by one to be at his bedside with family, Gary and I got talking about guitars. He said “ I had a nice Gretch once and it played real well, but I just couldn’t get used to it. I was always a Fender man.” When it was time for us to go and respectfully leave space for his loving family, I stood up and told him something I always wanted to say , that although many of us may have learned to copy his tricks and chops over the years, none of us would ever be cool. Not like him. As I turned for the door I said “ see ya later Daddy-O! “ Gary raised his arm and gave us a silent “thumbs up “. Three nights later with his wife and family at his side, Gary Edmonds began his journey in the afterlife.
And so it was. That summer my dad taught my brother and I to play some chords on an old acoustic guitar he bought for us at a pawn shop and we soon discovered our new home away from home – Lohr Brothers Music Store where we, along with all the other kids into music would hang out. And there he was, Gary Edmonds the guitar teacher from planet Cool! That same dynamic lead man in The Trends was there every day and accessible to all who would gather around him. And even if you couldn’t afford or didn’t have the attention span required for one-on-one lessons with Gary, he would show you the latest guitar lick or his “ big fat Jazz chords “ just for the asking. Gary loved to teach and was good at it. Over the years he probably taught hundreds of students and some of those went on to be really great professional musicians. And he would occasionally play solo, just a minimum of gear, but always with his trusty Fender in his hands, Gary could sing the standards and current Pop and Country hits all night long.
I had many interactions over the years with Gary Edmonds and I can honestly say that every single memory I have of the man is a good one. He was witty and sharp, full of great musician jokes and of course, always willing to help out a musician in need.
Gary was a soldier in two wars – WW2 and the Korean War, ending his military career as a US Marine and very proud of what he’d done for his country. At one point he became aquatinted with my father who was also a veteran. They spent some good times talking about having been in the service and being proud of their country. Gary was like family in our house.
Mr. Edmonds was married for many years to a fine lady, Penny, who was always very supportive of his music. They had four daughters who all learned the music of their soul from their way-cool dad! I don’t know a lot of other personal things about Gary but I can tell you that in my whole musical career the one time that I actually got to work on a professional job with him was a highlight of my life. He played Bass Guitar on that occasion because arthritis was preventing him from making a tight grip around a Telecaster neck. Halfway through the gig though we were asked to play some Big Band era standards that were way over my technical head and Gary said “ OK Man , I’ll give it a try ! “ And the guy absolutely tore it up and set the place on fire! I will never forget that moment.
Gary Edmonds, sometimes professionally referred to as “ Dad “ was our iconic hero in our little town where my friends and I grew up. He was always the coolest guy with those slick waves in his hair, the pack of smokes rolled up in his short-sleeved shirt which incidentally left the tattoos on his arms exposed. But the musician that he was transcended the normal levels of technical prowess that most of us could ever hope for in this life. He was simply the best.
The other day, as many of the musicians who loved and admired him were shuffling in, one by one to be at his bedside with family, Gary and I got talking about guitars. He said “ I had a nice Gretch once and it played real well, but I just couldn’t get used to it. I was always a Fender man.” When it was time for us to go and respectfully leave space for his loving family, I stood up and told him something I always wanted to say , that although many of us may have learned to copy his tricks and chops over the years, none of us would ever be cool. Not like him. As I turned for the door I said “ see ya later Daddy-O! “ Gary raised his arm and gave us a silent “thumbs up “. Three nights later with his wife and family at his side, Gary Edmonds began his journey in the afterlife.
###
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...................................................................................................................
What a great job I have!
I get to meet all these artists and constantly discover new music coming to us from all over the world . And what a talented world this is! Recently I was contacted by my friend Tammy, who owns Hunt Talent near Hollywood California. Tammy is representing an incredible young woman named Sonya Kahn. We at DGT were so impressed and moved by Sonya's piano and voice that we contacted Tammy Hunt with a big " WOW " and we quickly decided we would be featuring Sonya here in a complete interview and review of her music next month .
Every once in a while and only a few in a lifetime rise above the rest with musicianship and song crafting abilities along with a powerful " signature " voice. These are the ones who have the staying power to dominate charts and stay on the radio for a thirty-plus year career. The likes of Carole King, Billy Joel, and Sir Elton John would represent this elite class and are some whom I have always respected. In a world which has been driven by beauty and fashion I purposely started tuning in to the Indie world with no regard for trends or what someone else thinks true beauty really is. All I wanted was good music, no matter how old or young you are or what you look like it's got to be about the music first. There have been so many wonderful talents who have joined us and have become part of our extended family here at DGT and they have each been special in their own way, that's how they arrived here. Now, along comes a lady who not only fits the criteria, she absolutely blows me away! She is a musician, composer, vocalist and producer who, by the sounds of her music ( and oh God I love some of her chord progressions ! ) , knows exactly what she wants and where she's going.
Please stay tuned in the days to come as we bring you what I think will be a story of a lady who epitomizes the word " artistry ". If she were only a pianist playing Chopin I am sure you'd agree she's one of the best and most passionate concert pianists you've ever heard. But Sonya Kahn is more than that. Way more. But then she sings like no one you've ever heard and writes great songs in a way that I can only describe her as a musician's musician.
Be watching for our complete interview with Sonya Kahn. Meanwhile, take a little journey over to Sonya's own website HERE
I would like to bring your attention to something very serious which happens throughout society and certainly in the music industry and that is alcohol, tobacco and drug addiction. By now many of you know that this web magazine is about music, not politics and religion but in this case I feel this topicis relevant to address. I was recently approached by a non-profit organization called HelpNest.org after they had read one of our articles called " Keeping Your Head ". The following transcript will give you an idea of their mission statement. At this page bottom you will find their linked logo.
Thank you.
Bruce J Maier
HelpNest.org is charitable organization dedicated to helping people who are struggling with addiction and are looking for resources to get help. In addition, those who have completed treatment are always in need of resources to help them transition back into the mainstream of life. Our resources range from Treatment and detox centers to transitional housing and from transportation, employment, and education services to legal services, housing, and even transitional therapy. We are always looking to get as many resources as possible so that our visitors have as many options as possible. HelpNest works with individuals on a regular basis from all over the country who are in need of treatment and(or) transitional services.
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