Hi all!
Jumped onboard yesterday as a result of some prompting from a member who got in touch with me on the Temple of Blues site which doesn't appear to have a lot of activity. I was thinking at the time there's gotta be some sort of active blues forum around, hence here I am. I'm 57 years of age and come from Montreal originally where at the age of 15 I started learning to play guitar and became interested in the blues thanks to the likes of Eric Clapton, John Mayall, Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Eric Burden, The Rolling Stones of course who I saw at the Montreal Forum in 1965 and again 40 years later here in Ottawa last summer, BB King, John Lee Hooker, Elmore James and so many others during my youth. I love the genre. I love the blues men and women who shared their music and culture. I love my guitar/music teachers over the past 42 years of playing the blues and all those who pioneered the blues and continue to promote and develop it. All have been real and genuine people who I admire and respect without exception for their music and contribution to the world.
Being without natural talent or ability has made me work very hard at my playing. I'm not technically proficient, not fast, not showy, but when I play and I have" the feeling" I can make myself cry as I go off into my own little place.
Recently, I discovered Joe Bonamassa who performed here in Ottawa last year at the Ottawa Bluesfest where he blew everyone away! I now own all his CDs and monitor his career as I believe that he is a wonderful talent. The smaller stages at Bluesfest seem to be a breeding ground for little known artists who are very gifted.
Personally, I am retired and spend much of my time playing my guitar, taking lessons, studying at university, training for marathons and triathlons and hitting the weight room all of which keeps me young in body and mind and definitely in spirit.
Gotta go play some tunes on my babies now (Gibson ES-335 and Gibson Les Paul Special) as it's snowing hard here right now (had 12 inches with another foot to come today) and I want to get out cross country skiing later today after my guitar lesson. Be happy to talk guitars/amps/playing anytime too...beware I still suck at playing even after 40+ years!
Keep livin' the blues folks and thanks for having an Ottawa hoser here...eh! ;-))
Best regards,
Craig
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Jumped onboard yesterday as a result of some prompting from a member who got in touch with me on the Temple of Blues site which doesn't appear to have a lot of activity. I was thinking at the time there's gotta be some sort of active blues forum around, hence here I am. I'm 57 years of age and come from Montreal originally where at the age of 15 I started learning to play guitar and became interested in the blues thanks to the likes of Eric Clapton, John Mayall, Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Eric Burden, The Rolling Stones of course who I saw at the Montreal Forum in 1965 and again 40 years later here in Ottawa last summer, BB King, John Lee Hooker, Elmore James and so many others during my youth. I love the genre. I love the blues men and women who shared their music and culture. I love my guitar/music teachers over the past 42 years of playing the blues and all those who pioneered the blues and continue to promote and develop it. All have been real and genuine people who I admire and respect without exception for their music and contribution to the world.
Being without natural talent or ability has made me work very hard at my playing. I'm not technically proficient, not fast, not showy, but when I play and I have" the feeling" I can make myself cry as I go off into my own little place.
Recently, I discovered Joe Bonamassa who performed here in Ottawa last year at the Ottawa Bluesfest where he blew everyone away! I now own all his CDs and monitor his career as I believe that he is a wonderful talent. The smaller stages at Bluesfest seem to be a breeding ground for little known artists who are very gifted.
Personally, I am retired and spend much of my time playing my guitar, taking lessons, studying at university, training for marathons and triathlons and hitting the weight room all of which keeps me young in body and mind and definitely in spirit.
Gotta go play some tunes on my babies now (Gibson ES-335 and Gibson Les Paul Special) as it's snowing hard here right now (had 12 inches with another foot to come today) and I want to get out cross country skiing later today after my guitar lesson. Be happy to talk guitars/amps/playing anytime too...beware I still suck at playing even after 40+ years!
Keep livin' the blues folks and thanks for having an Ottawa hoser here...eh! ;-))
Best regards,
Craig
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
