My mother has always been into folk music and by osmosis I suppose so have I. Almost without knowing I absorbed the songs and the tales crooned by the great folk singers, not just from Liverpool but from across the world.
I might not have known who they were but I knew their music - Pete Seegar is one of them.
In the 1950s, Pete was in Liverpool and whilst here had two distinctive 12-sting baritone guitars built and designed by G. Stanley Francis.
Pete said that Stan's guitars were 'the best in the world' and Stan went onto make guitars for such luminaries as Keith Richards from the Rolling Stones and Lonnie Donegan.
Stan is still alive today and despite Martin making 'Pete Seegar Signature' models based on Stans designs he has never sought the acclaim.
Here is a lovely video from Pete Seegars Rainbow Quest with June Carter and Johnny Cash.
I'm sure i'll meet Pete one day... down by the riverside.
Welcome back after a long hot summer break. Well... sort of hot. I've spent the summer working on some exciting projects will should bear fruit shortly. In the meantime back to blogging.
Yep, you've read the title right. Music from a Saw. By rubbing a bow along the side of bog-standard carpenters saw the most unusual and amazing sounds can be achieved. And there was no greater proponent of it during the 1920s and 30s than Liverpool based Jack Robinson.
Jack Robinson, from the NML collection
Jack was born in Blackpool in the late 1800s. In the 1920s he moved to Liverpool and set up a barbers shop in Lodge Lane. He had always been musical playing ukulele, banjo and double bass but his expertise was in the Musical Saw.
The saw was popularised in America in the early 1900s. It's not certain when the saw came to Britain but Jack is widely considered to be the first 'professional' saw player in the country. I think we can claim that as another Liverpool first!
Jack's Saw and Bow are now in possession of the National Museums Liverpool. Visit their page for more info.
Now, I bet you're wondering what the saw sounds like? Think of a large tuba, ok... well it sounds nothing like that. It actually has a sort of ethereal otherworldly sound - like a modern Theremin.
Sadly no known recordings of Jack Robinson exist although during his time he played alongside great orchestras and in a solo performance on the RMS Duchess of York.
Here is Austin Blackburn (not a scouser) considered to be a modern Musical Saw maestro.
Bonus question: There was a famous Hollywood diva, a mega-star of the silver screen who was herself an accomplished Musical Saw player. Who was she?
Following on from my previous (here and here) posts it has been announced today that controversial Liverpool City Council policy to charge buskers to pay and regulate when and where they can play has been thrown out.
Although they don't admit it i'm pretty sure this has quite a bit to do with the KEEP STREETS LIVE campaign which achieved over 5000 signatures to support it.
Councillor Steve Munby admitted: “The policy wasn't thought through properly and we ought to have realised at the time. “Many of the regulations as they stood, were unenforceable. We had no team in place, no officers to go around checking people. I hold my hands up and admit that on this occasion, we got it wrong.”
But he refused to admit defeat: "I haven't seen a busking community behind it, just one or two very loud voices." I don't think it has occurred to Cllr Munby that one or two voices can speak for many. Saying that, it's hard to believe that any politician thinks that they speak for anybody but themselves. See their report from this years Wash Out Mathew Street Festival.
Ok, technically not "Beneath the Beat" as it was a charting pop-song but I think in the context of last weeks revelations I can be excused.
Written by Liverpool artist Ian Prowse of the band Amsterdam. It riffs off ideas and images that anyone from Liverpool can easily recognise. It is a song that is just so 'Liverpool' a complex celtic tapestry of history, emotion and place.
It is not quite a celebratory song and indeed the last verse is particularly harrowing.
Can't concieve what those children done Guess theres a meaness in the soul of man Yorkshire policemen chat with folded arms While people try and save their fellow fans
Have you noticed the recent revival in ukulele music? Well Liverpool is not left out as we have just sent forth to worthy emissaries over to the Italian Coldogno Music Festival to show them how Scousers do it.
For many years the humble uke has been relegated to the position of a novelty instrument, fit only for people like Tiny Tim and George Formby Tribute acts.
At one time though, the uke was a stalwart of the Liverpool music scene - especially that which takes place under the radar of the mainstream music.
From the pre-war jazz of the music halls to the skiffle boom that led to The Beatles the uke played its part.
Indeed, George Harrison mentioned many times his love for the uke and the proliferation of new ukulele players covering 'Whilst by Guiar Gently Weeps' and 'My Sweet Lord' shows that his passion was not just a one way street.
It seems the time has come around again to produce more Ukulele loving talents; perhaps talents is too mild a word because in the short space of a few months these chaps has gone from playing in pubs and busking at Matthew Street to performing on stage at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall the internationally renowned Caldogno Ukulele Festival in Italy.
Not to mention another festival over in Dublin later in the year.
Ukulele Uff and Lonesome Dave have taken the musical world by storm. Check out their unique musical talent performing on stage at the Phil.
I'm sure we will hear lots more of these chaps in the future.
Liverpool has seen its fair share of exotic characters and transient musos.
It's a little known fact that Freddie Mercury (under his real name, Farrokh Bulsara) made his first on-stage debut with Brian May and Roger Taylor at Liverpool's famous: 'The Sink Club' - now known as The Magnet.
The original membership card to gain entry to the sink club was by a numbered rubber plug on a chain.
Here is a bootleg recording of Freddie with the short-lived Liverpool band Ibex taken at the The Sink Club.
There is another Liverpool link: this one ties the Beatles to Queen.
Rumour has it, that Freddie once lived on Penny Lane. It's a popular story that Freddie once lived in Dovedale Towers - now a pub. If anyone has any images of Freddie in Liverpool i'd love to see them.
