|
Well, I've finally gone and done it! After years of thinking about it, I've recorded my lesson on the songs and guitar styles of my mentor, Brownie McGhee. This is certainly not the definitive lesson on his style - I only cover the keys of E and A, but I think it shows the bulk of what made Brownie's playing so special.
Anyone who has heard me play or has studied from my books or audio/video lessons knows the debt I owe Brownie McGhee for my guitar style. I have based a lot of my blues fingerpicking on his music and on the lessons he taught me when he was my guitar teacher back in the fifties. His way of approaching blues guitar is the basis for much of the first of my new DVD lessons, " Easy Steps to Acoustic Blues Guitar. " I put this series together partly because of the very enthusiastic response we’ve gotten to my basic fingerpicking course, " Easy Steps to Guitar Fingerpicking. " Both are specifically for novice players who want to get started in a methodical, comprehensive way. The course starts out at a very basic level in the key of E, but moves ahead so that by the end of the second DVD you are a fairly accomplished player. If we get enough requests, I’ll continue this later in the year with techniques in other good blues keys.
I guess it wouldn’t hurt to recount how I met Brownie, and how his playing influenced me.
In 1957, while a college student at NYU, I made a phone call that would have a profound impact on my life. On a whim, I had decided to call up the legendary blues guitarist Brownie McGhee and ask him to give me guitar lessons.
I had just about worn out my 10" Folkways LP called “Brownie McGhee Blues,” with such wonderful songs as Sportin' Life Blues, Betty and Dupree, Pawn Shop Blues and Blood Red River, and was captivated both by his warm, honey-tinged voice and his rock solid, clear-toned fingerpicking guitar technique. When I found his name in the New York City telephone directory I nervously decided to take a chance, dialed the number, and was rewarded by an invitation to come to his apartment in East Harlem.
 For the next three years I made many trips to East 125th Street for a series of free-wheeling, informal sessions that often consisted of dinner with the family, informal jams with Brownie's partner (the harmonica virtuoso Sonny Terry), and visits with his brother, guitarist "Stick" McGhee. Mostly though, Brownie's teaching method consisted of playing songs and guitar solos over and over while I picked along behind him, trying to keep up, making mistakes, playing hour after hour and finally developing a solidity and understanding of the blues that I never would have achieved through a more conventional system. Brownie was always patient and accommodating to this young white college student from the Bronx, and our friendship at that time resulted in a book we co-authored, “Brownie McGhee Blues Guitar.” His example has remained with me for nearly forty years.
Recently, while going through some old tapes that had been gathering dust for many years, I made an amazing discovery. Back in the late fifties I had recorded several hours of Brownie teaching guitar, singing, playing and talking about his life and ideas – and had totally forgotten about it! I immediately transferred them to CDs, and the quality is amazingly good for such old and inexpensive tape. Brownie was a lively and interesting conversationalist as well as a powerful musician, and these recordings are an unexpected treasure. Listening to them recently brought back wonderful memories of my earliest days of learning blues guitar, and I hope some day to find a way to bring these recordings out to people interested in Brownie McGhee’s life and music. Meanwhile, I have tried to pass on the techniques he taught me in these new beginner’s DVDs, as well as in my other instructional products.
- Happy Traum
Four years ago, my brother Artie Traum was diagnosed with a rare ocular melanoma, and he had been undergoing regular treatments for it. In May, however, it was discovered that the cancer had spread to his liver, and it was incurable. Like everything else in his life, Artie handled his diagnosis with dignity, strength and acceptance and even a little of his irreverent humor. He died peacefully, at home on Sunday, July 20, with his devoted and loving wife of 28 years, Beverly, at his side.
Artie was a man of many talents: He was an exceptionally fine guitarist, a creative composer, songwriter and arranger, a dynamic and engaging performer, a record producer, and a wonderful guitar teacher/clinician. He also had enormous skills as a prose writer and documentary video producer, and had an incisive, inquiring mind and a quick wit.
Artie has been an important part of Homespun since its inception. Aside from his excellent instructional DVDs, he also produced many of our early audio lessons as well as DVDs by some of our important artists. Until very recently, has was also helping in post-production, editing and adding his musical expertise and ideas to many of our projects. Above all, he has been supportive and encouraging in all aspects of our business. We have received an enormous number of emails praising his enthusiastic teaching style and, of course, his enormous musical skills.
Artie was extremely appreciative of his many fans, and you all returned the sentiment, which was hugely gratifying to him. If you have ever approached him after a concert or workshop appearance you'll have been a recipient of his warmth, generosity and sincere willingness to help aspiring players at any level. He was a bright, funny, vibrant person who had countless friends throughout the US and around the globe. The outpouring of grief and concern has been very gratifying to us throughout his illness and now during this period of mourning. We are very grateful.
There is a remembrance page on Artie's website, so if you feel so inclined you can add your thoughts and comments there. I will also start a thread on our Homespun Forum in the next day or two.
My best to you all,
Happy Traum for
The Traum Family
|