Guitar Workshop

Fingerpicking Melodies: 

         Early Rock and Gospel

Old Town School of Folk Music, Chicago

Saturday July 15, 2017    2pm

Rhythm n' Blues and early Rock were heavily influenced by the gospel music of the 1940’s and 50’s.  These genres were often blended. We’ll learn one example of this with the classic hit “Crying in the Chapel”.  This song, with its beautiful melody, has been covered by dozens of artists, but was a huge hit in 1953 for Sonny Til and the Orioles, and later, for Elvis. We’ll also learn the early 
R n' B classic “You’re No Good”, first done by Dee Dee Warwick in 1963, later by Betty Everett and resurrected by Linda Ronstadt.

Blending melody, rhythm and chords together gives a full instrumental solo sound. We’ll learn a couple of classic songs this way, using fingerstyle techniques.  Blaise will guide you through each song emphasizing techniques and style - hammer-ons and pull offs, slides and slurs; all following tab notation.  If you aren’t a singer, but just want to build your guitar skills and repertoire …this is for you. Fingerpicking and bar chord ability required. 

REGISTER NOW   Price: $25  773-728-6000 or, at oldtownschool.org

Guitar Workshop

Gospel Classics - Fingerstyle Instrumentals

Old Town School of Folk Music, Chicago
Sunday January 26, 2014    2pm

Dorothy Love Coates

Chicago dominated the beginnings of Gospel music in the 1920’s, and Gospel remains vibrant in the city today.  Incorporating elements of spirituals and the blues, the Gospel singing styles of performers such as Sister Rosetta Tharpe and Dorothy Love Coates formed the roots of early Rock ‘n Roll.  

Guitar fingerstyle arrangements really highlight the bluesey feel and strong melodies of classic Gospel songs such as “Milky White Way”, “That’s Enough” and “Mansion Over the Hilltop”.  We’ll learn a couple of instrumentals where we blend the melody, rhythm and chords together to give a full sound.  Blaise will guide you through each song emphasizing technique, style and tips; all following tab notation.  If you aren’t a singer, but just want to build your guitar skills…this is for you.  For intermediate or advanced fingerstyle players.

REGISTER NOW Price: $25  773-728-6000 or, at oldtownschool.org

Guitar Workshop

Milky White Way

Old Town School of Folk Music, Chicago

The great gospel song Milky White Way is usually attributed to Theodore R. Frey (1899-1963), a prominent Chicago gospel singer, choir leader and composer. However, occasionally the song is attributed to others. This may be because its true origin is uncertain and various artists have made their own arrangements by revising some earlier version.

The song was first recorded by the Trumpeteers in 1948. Then by Sister Rosetta Tharpe and Marie Knight in a great bluesy duet in 1951. (unfortunately this has been removed from Youtube). Elvis Presley recorded a beautiful, rolling version on his His Hand in Mine album, 1960. Little Richard also recorded the song in 1963 on his Sings Spirituals album. His album seems to have been recorded in a church with back up by the choir and church organ.