The George Barnes Sextet - Lover Come Back to Me

[trxx]

I'm just digging through some of the early jazz and jazz influenced guitarists, and found this guy. Great style and playing.



For those of us who are ignorant of such things, if you like that style, other guitar players of possible interest:

Eddie Lang and Lonnie Johnson
Django Rheinhardt
Les Paul
Junior Barnard (Bob Wills Band)
Eldon Shamblin (Bob Wills Band)
Charlie Christian

It seems that Eddie Lang was the best known guitar player for taking guitar from blues into jazz. A recording from 1928:



For comparison, Django Rheinhardt recordings from 1928:

 

[BigDaddyLH]

George Barnes claimed to be the first person to record electric guitar.

 

[trxx]

George Barnes claimed to be the first person to record electric guitar.

Interesting. Do you know what recording that would be?

I'm seeing other mentions that this was the first, but who knows. Earliest recorded lap steel? 1933.



On that note, Hawaiian music is something that I haven't explored before, and I don't know what influences it might have developed from and passed on to others. 1935.



1910! Sure sounds alot like that 'gypsy jazz' to me. Recorded before real microphones existed. How's that for limitations?


1915.

 

[Thinline casket]

I'm guessing none of these are on the "Greatest American Guitarist" thread. Guessing because I'll not be viewing that thread.

Thanks.

"If you don't choose a side, you chose the loudest side."
Me

 

[BigDaddyLH]

Interesting. Do you know what recording that would be?

I'm seeing other mentions that this was the first, but who knows. Earliest recorded lap steel? 1933.

He may be making a distinction from lap steel:



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Barnes_(musician):

Barnes was born in South Chicago Heights, Illinois in 1921. His father was a guitarist and taught Barnes acoustic guitar at the age of nine. A year later, in 1931, Barnes's brother made a pickup and amplifier for him. Barnes said he was the first person to play electric guitar. From 1935–1937, he led a band that performed in the Midwest.[1]

On March 1, 1938, he recorded the songs "Sweetheart Land" and "It's a Lowdown Dirty Shame" with blues guitarist Big Bill Broonzy. In doing so, it has been claimed that he became the first person to make a record on electric guitar, fifteen days before Eddie Durham recorded on electric guitar with the Kansas City Five, though the claim has been contested.[2] In 1938, when he was seventeen, Barnes was hired as staff guitarist for the NBC Orchestra. He was also staff guitarist and arranger for Decca and recorded with Blind John Davis, Jazz Gillum, Merline Johnson, Curtis Jones, and Washboard Sam.[1]​

 

[Engine Swap]

Home Slice...

 

[tubegeek]

For a '30's guy, he sure got in the swing of things with this one. A longtime fave.

 

[trxx]

He may be making a distinction from lap steel:



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Barnes_(musician):

Barnes was born in South Chicago Heights, Illinois in 1921. His father was a guitarist and taught Barnes acoustic guitar at the age of nine. A year later, in 1931, Barnes's brother made a pickup and amplifier for him. Barnes said he was the first person to play electric guitar. From 1935–1937, he led a band that performed in the Midwest.[1]

On March 1, 1938, he recorded the songs "Sweetheart Land" and "It's a Lowdown Dirty Shame" with blues guitarist Big Bill Broonzy. In doing so, it has been claimed that he became the first person to make a record on electric guitar, fifteen days before Eddie Durham recorded on electric guitar with the Kansas City Five, though the claim has been contested.[2] In 1938, when he was seventeen, Barnes was hired as staff guitarist for the NBC Orchestra. He was also staff guitarist and arranger for Decca and recorded with Blind John Davis, Jazz Gillum, Merline Johnson, Curtis Jones, and Washboard Sam.[1]​

Nice!

 

[trxx]

For a '30's guy, he sure got in the swing of things with this one. A longtime fave.

I just listened to that one earlier. It made me think of this.

 

[chezdeluxe]

George is my all time favourite guitar player.

He really attacks the melody with what I call a "masculine'' attitude.

There is a lot of humour in his music as well

 

[trxx]

He may be making a distinction from lap steel:

That one has been removed. What a sad state things are in to do with music rights.