Reference

From the pages of Keyboard magazine, Keyboard Presents Synth Gods spotlights artists who did much more than just play synthesizers: they changed the course of music history and inspired generations. Featuring in-depth profiles of leading synthesists such as Jan Hammer, Wendy Carlos, Rick Wakeman, and Stevie Wonder, this book delves into how these new, untested boxes of circuitry captured the imagination of these legendary artists. Read about the design of some of the most famous synthesizers ever made, models from masterminds such as Dr. Robert Moog, Dave Smith, and Ray Kurzweil. Get the details on what made them sound unique, what timeless music was created on them, and how you can re-create some of these sounds using synths you already have!

Author Mary Lou Sullivan sat with Johnny Winter for hours of exclusive, no-holds-barred interviews, covering the guitar slinger's entire career. From toughing it out in Texas to his appearance at Woodstock, his affair with Janis Joplin, his stadium-filling tours, and washing out on drugs and the temptations of the road before finally fulfilling his dream of becoming a 100-percent pure bluesman, resurrecting the career of Muddy Waters, and winning a Grammy Award for his effort, this is a raucous roller coaster of story. Rolling Stone magazine has called Johnny Winter one of the greatest guitar players of all time. Ripped off and beaten down by unscrupulous managers, strung out, living the extreme highs and extreme lows of an uncompromising musician, Johnny is a true rock 'n' roll survivor. Signing with Columbia in 1969 for the largest advance ever paid a musician (which led to his appearance at Woodstock, recently reissued in the deluxe Woodstock Experience box set) he has jammed with guitar heavies Hendrix, Clapton, and the Allman Brothers. He is a legend and an icon, paving the way for fellow Texas superstars Stevie Ray Vaughan and ZZ Top. Along the way he has gone from boom to bust and back again, but has never lost his lust for his own brand of blues. Still on the road, playing hundreds of gigs a year to his devoted, adoring fans, Johnny, like this book, is the real deal.

The definitive history of the world's most famous 12-string electric guitar. When the Byrds recorded their hit version of Dylan's Mr. Tambourine Man, they popularized a new sound in pop music: the electric 12-string guitar. Rickenbacker is the guitar maker that brought the electric 12-string to market and has since been almost single-handedly responsible for establishing what such a guitar should do. The California company gave one of its earliest 12-strings to George Harrison of the Beatles on the group's first tour of the United States in 1964. He immediately used it live and in the studio and showed off the sound of electric jangle to the rest of the world. This book tells the story of those heady days in the '60s, of the competitors who tried and failed to match the sound, and of the instrument's continuing production by Rickenbacker and use by many modern guitarists. Complete with high-quality photos and exclusive interviews with many of the 12-string's leading players, this is the best guide yet to the history of the sound of jingle-jangle.

It is no easy feat to capture the enormous spirit of Stevie Ray Vaughan, a man whose presence in the world was like an untamable fire, shooting flames of raw talent, passion, and innovation. That bright light wrestled with a dark side, an addiction and sadness that threatened to put out the fire forever. His unmatched guitar playing, buttery vocals, and unforgettable songs made him a triple threat. Vaughan is arguably the greatest guitar god who has ever lived - a re-inventor of guitar and the blues. Twenty years after his death, he lives on in the hearts of millions of people around the world. In a day-by-day format, Craig Hopkins presents an unprecedented celebration of this wonderful artist. This book is the first installment of a two-volume account of Vaughan's life. With this work, Hopkins delivers one of the most detailed biographies of any musician. This edition covers the complete history of Vaughan's roots, from his childhood to just before his first major release. Filled with testimonials from those who knew him best and from fans everywhere, along with facts about tour dates and recordings, stories about his bands and life on the road, rare artistic and historic photographs, and more, this lavishly illustrated book is the ultimate collector's item for any Stevie Ray Vaughan fan.

First-ever look at the intertwining, outrageous lives of three rock legends. When Lou Reed and Iggy Pop first met David Bowie in the fall of 1971, Bowie was just another English musician passing through New York City. Lou was still recovering from the collapse of the Velvet Underground, and Iggy had already been branded a loser... Yet within two years they completely changed the face of popular music with a decadent glamour and street-level vibe. With Bowie producing, Reed's Transformer album was a worldwide hit, spinning off the sleazy street anthem Walk on the Wild Side. Iggy's Raw Power, mixed by Bowie, provided the mean-spirited, high-octane blueprint for Punk. Bowie boosted elements from both Iggy and Reed to create his gender-bending rock idol Ziggy Stardust. Your Pretty Face Is Going to Hell is the story of this friendship and the incredible productivity and debauchery that emerged from it. Presented here for the very first time are their stories interwoven in a triple helix of sexuality, glam rock, and drugs - as seen through the eyes of the people who made it happen.

Brave New Bass offers an in-depth look at 30 visionary players in styles ranging from pop and rock to world music and experimental jazz. Each chapter includes revealing interviews by Chris Jisi and other top bass writers, as well as private lessons in standard notation and tablature, and up-to-date gear lists and discographies. Packed with insights and opinions from bassdom's standout stars and behind-the-scenes heroes, Brave New Bass deepens your knowledge of your instrument and its history. Covers bass players such as Marcus Miller, Flea, Will Lee, Tony Levin, Jeff Berlin, Les Claypool, Christian McBride, Doug Wimbish, Darryl Jones, Me'Shell NdegOcello, Jonathan Maron and many others!

This book offers first-person recollections from a new generation of artists who applied the musical and life lessons of the fathers of the blues, stoking the 1960s blues revival that continues today. It focuses on 49 current musicians who preserve traditional blues forms while infusing them with fresh voices and lessons. Artists covered include: Rory Block Taj Mahal Robert Cray Junior Watson Charlie Musselwhite Stevie Ray Vaughan Marcia Ball Duke Robillard Bob Margolin Tommy Shannon Keb' Mo' and many more.

A hands-on history and tutorial on one of the greatest keyboards ever. Professional session player Steve Lodder's Classic Hammond Organ explores the history of this enduringly popular instrument and examines some of the best performers to get their hands on the twin manuals. The book features: Analysis of the styles of Jimmy Smith, Rick Wakeman, Jon Lord, and Keith Emerson among others. Expert instruction on a variety of Hammond exercises designed to get you playing in the style of the greats. An accompanying CD that provides support audio for these exercises.