While My Guitar Gently Weeps...
My 1st post in awhile. My new M. O. M. (Moment of Meaning)
This post will be focused on a very good friend of mine - The late Byron Walker. He passed in 2009. Byron was a great friend, mentor and guide. He played guitar (awesome blues guitar) sang and wrote music. He wrote Make it Hurt which was featured on the 1987 KOZZ Homegrown album in Reno NV. I played tenor sax.
I met Byron at Harrah's Reno back in 1983 or 84. We started a cover band called Situation. We played around town and in the California area. Through this collaboration, he taught me more about music than my 2 years at Oklahoma State. Byron could hear a new song a couple of times and be able to play it!!! It was amazing. He taught me how to set up and tear down sound equipment. Taught me how to record my own songs. From that I was able to help run sound for the Reno Jazz Fest a couple of years. He mentored me on writing my own songs. We had some FUN!!! I still miss him. I am glad I still have a number of recordings with Byron and I playing together.
So, why this post. I think of Byron very often. But I always stop and say thanks for what he meant to me EVERY time I hear WHILE MY GUITAR GENTLY WEEPS. I never heard him play the song but the song has become my link to him always. I have numerous versions of the song on my playlists. Original, covers and live versions.
My M. O. M. today is: While My Guitar Gently Weeps by George Harrison.
This is my recent favorite by Santana with YoYo Ma on Cello. And India Arie on vocals
While My Guitar Gently Weeps
And here is a song that our band Situation recorded one night during a practice session. Byron just started playing a blues progression and we all just jumped in. I am on tenor sax. Byron has the 2nd guitar solo at 3:27 into the song. Bryan Grimm had the 1st guitar solo. Bill Lapham was on bass and Tracy Gallaway on drums. Byron opens up the tune with his killer guitar.
Byron and Keenan Blues Instrumental:
