This is a tribute to the dearest friend I have ever had. I began practicing when I was 13 years old on my sisters Sears Robuck $30.OO guitar. This was back in the 1960s when every kid in the country learned to play guitar.. Some became famous and others not so. On my 16th birthday my father bought me a professional guitar after realizng my practice songs were as good as the ones on radio. I recall when I first saw it in its guitar case. It was beautiful. brilliant and wonderful. It was a Yamaha FG 180 it is 55 years old today and in perfect condition and perfectly tuned and priceless. When I was 16 I wrote my first song to who became my first wife. It was entitled “Lonely Day Blues.” Here are the lyrics.
“I walk into town, face all the sneers and the frowns. Someone askes me “what’s with you ” I tell them I got the lonely day blues, oh, lonely day blues.
The wind is sweeping the streets blowing cold round my feet, and there ain’t no news , guess I got the lonely day blues, oh lonely day blues. Girl you look so fine your bending my mind. Now I’m walking with you to chase away my lonely day blues, oh lonely day blues.”
Hey, it was my first teenage song so pardon the teenage emotions. It worked well she loved it.
A week after my 19th birthday I asked my father to drop me off on the top of Rte 1 in Maine, I had my suitcase and guitar case in my hands as I hitchhiked 600 miles from northern Maine to Harford Ct. It took only three rides of remarkable people who I thank to this day. My third and final ride was a college student returning to classes. He shared a grinder with me and drove me 100 miles to the front of the building my girlfriend later wife lived in. My guitar is sacred to me. The wonderful music it has played to many audiences and the pleasure it has given me for over 50 years. Her name is sacred never to be revealed as she will acompany me through eternity.
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