Guitar

Part (3) of Rock Historian Ed Ward's series on the instruments of rock 'n roll. Today he tells us about the guitar.

Memphis based musician Sid Selvidge. He's a guitarist whose music synthesizes classic blues styles and Appalachian traditions. Selvidge has been part of the Memphis music scene for 30 years, learning from such Delta blues legends as Bukka White, and Mississippi Fred McDowell. Selvidge is also senior producer of the new public radio blues show, "Beale Street Caravan" which premieres on October 1.

He's known as the King of the Blues. King was born on a cotton plantation in Mississippi before moving to Memphis where he began his career. Since then, among numerous other awards, he's received seven Grammies, an MTV award, and a Presidential Medal of the Arts. He is also a member of the Rock-and-Roll Hall of Fame. In his biography, entitled "Blues All Around Me" he recounts his life from his early days in Mississippi, to breaking into the music business in Memphis, to his career today. He has over 74 albums to his credit.

Part 2 of Terry's interview with the influential blues guitarists and singers. In this segment, he talks about making it to Memphis, a city that expanded his musical horizons.

Part three of Ed Ward's series on the history of the blues. He talks about how the realities of post-war life changed the trajectory of the genre.

Critic Milo Miles on experimental acoustic guitarist John Fahey. Fahey's latest album is "City of Refuge."

Guitarist Link Wray. He's credited with inventing the "power chord" in the 1950s. His first big recording hit was "Rumble" an instrumental piece that he wrote. When he went to record it in the studio he wasn't happy with the sound on the amp, so he pierced holes in the speaker cone to create additional distortion. Later guitarists like Pete Townshend and John Lennon were influenced by his work. Wray's other hits include "Rawhide" and the Batman Theme. Rhino records released "Rumble: the Best of Link Wray" in 1993.

Moore, who died Tuesday at the age of 84, booked gigs for Presley during the early part of the musician's career. He later penned the memoir, That's Alright, Elvis. He inspired a generation of guitarists. Originally broadcast in 1997.

Guitarist and record producer Scotty Moore, was Elvis Presley's first guitarist and manager and one of the early influences of the rock guitar sound. He has co-written an account of his work with the King of Rock'n'Roll, entitled "That's Alright, Elvis." (Schirmer Books) He also has a new CD out of collaborations he and drummer DJ Fontana did with various musicians including Keith Richards, Tracy Nelson and Cheap Trick, among others. The CD is entitled "All the King's Men." (RCA)

Jazz singer and guitarist John Pizzarelli. He's put out seven albums in the past two years, playing guitar in his drumless trio, which features his brother Martin on bass. His latest CD, "Our Love is Here to Stay" (RCA) features re-workings of songs by Johnny Mercer to the Gershwins to the Beatles, and this time Pizzarelli interprets these standards along with a 17-piece orchestra. John is the son of jazz guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli.

Guitarist Mickey Baker. The 74 year old musician is about to receive a pioneer award from the Rhythm and Blues Foundation for his work as a sideman on hundreds of recordings of R&B and rock & roll records from the 50's and 60's. He recorded with Ray Charles, Dinah Washington, Screamin' Jay Hawkins, Ruth Brown, and many more. The Awards banquet takes place in L.A. February 25th. (The Rhythm and Blues Foundation is located in Washington D.C.)

Rhythm and blues singer, songwriter, and Guitarist Barbara Lynn. The left-handed guitarist was one of the first female practioners of the instrument. Her signature song is the 1962 hit Youll Lose a Good Thing. The Rolling Stones recorded her song Oh Baby (We Got a Good Thing Going) in 1964. After a lengthy hiatus to raise a family, Lynn made a come back in 1986. Her new album is Hot Night Tonight (Antone Records).

Guitarist, singer, songwriter Wayne Kramer. In the late 1960s he founded the MC5, a Detroit band considered to be the prototype for punk rock. By 1972 the band had burned out. In between then and now, Kramer did time in jail for drugs, teamed up with Don and David Was to found the group Was (Not Was), and began a solo career. His new solo album is Adult World.

Rock Critic Ken Tucker reviews the music of The Vines, Spoon, and Apples in Stereo.

Kevin Whitehead reviews a recently released CD box set of Charlie Christian's music.

Ed Ward profiles guitar prodigy Link Wray.

John is the son of jazz guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli. John's albums include Live At Birdland, The Rare Delights of You and Kisses in the Rain. This interview first aired October 23, 1997.

He died of cancer Saturday, Sept. 27. He was best known for his groundbreaking 1950s work in the Rock 'n' Roll Trio and recorded many rockabilly classics including: Tear It Up, Honey Hush, Lonesome Train (On a Lonesome Track) and The Train Kept A-Rollin'.

Musician Lenny Kaye is perhaps best known as Patti Smith's guitarist. But he's also a music writer, whose work has appeared in Rolling Stone, The Village Voice and Creem. His new book, You Call it Madness: The Sensuous Song of the Croon, chronicles the male singers of the 1930s known for their suave, sophisticated and romantic interpretations of song: Bing Crosby, Rudy Vallee and Russ Columbo.

Hetfield is one of the founding members of the metal band Metallica. The new documentary Metallica: Some Kind of Monster catches the band at a time of crisis, when their bass player quits and the group hires a "therapist and performance-enhancement coach" to help them sort things out. Also during the filming, Hetfield storms out and enters rehab.