Robben Ford Discussion

[Lawson]

Hey Everyone,

As requested here's my story. I started playing guitar when I was about 9yrs. This was back in the late '70s when all the huge rock bands of the day where at their zenith, and I begged my Mum and Dad to get me a guitar. So that’s what they did … a nylon classical guitar and lessons from a teacher that had me practicing songs like finiculi finicula, and scores from the Sound of Music *sigh* Amazingly enough I kept up playing for around 3 years, until finally (around 1980) I’d had enough and smashed my old gut string on my bedroom wall vowing never to put finger to fret ever again; and never did: until …

One night one of my friends Dave asked me to come to a nightclub in Brisbane (Aust) to see some joker named Robben play guitar. I remember the first thing I asked him was “Is she good lookin’?” ha ha! I had no idea who Robben Ford was, or really cared for that matter, as guitar playing was a distance memory for me.

I believe the year was 1991 or 92, and we arrived to the club a little late. As I walked into the place I heard music the likes of which I never knew existed: it was the BLUES! And the man on stage was Robben Ford, and my love for guitar was instantly renewed. I’d never have thought that the instrument I’d hated as a child could create such emotion, and that two hands could develop sounds and instill feelings inside me like this person on stage could. I stood in silent awe for the complete performance, and at the end of the set Dave said, “Bet you’d love to be able to play like that”, and the “if onlys” flashed through my head about all the wasted years I’d forsaken the instrument I’d just heard on stage … I think a few members could probably empathize with me there.

Then the show was over, and most of the people left, but I stayed behind and just stood staring at the empty stage, reminiscing on what I’d just seen and heard. The stage techie came out and started packing up the gear (not sure if it was Daved) and he noticed me just standing there. He walked over, bent down and grab something off the floor and handed it to me saying “there ya go”. It was one of Robben’s picks that he’d been using that night and it had his signature embossed onto it. I stared at it, and then the techie and struggled to mutter a thank-you to him. I know he couldn’t have understood, but he’d just played a part in a very pivotal part in my life: my love of guitar playing being reborn after 12 years.

The every next day I visited 5 or so music stores before I found a CD of “Talk To Your Daughter”, and even to this day I enjoy listening to it, and playing along with it (with Robben Pick still taped inside the front cover ). And this time I did it right, finding the guitar that was right for me, and amp that was right and most importantly a teacher with the same passions in musical taste as me!

Anyways, I’ve rambled on long enough … sorry about that guys.
_________________
Lawson
“Sure you can play a lot of notes, and the audience will probably enjoy the performance, then they’ll go home and forget about you; or you can play fewer notes, with feeling, and you’ll touch their souls forever” ~ Dave Moon

[AndyR]

Hey, I loved "The Sound of Music" and played "Finiculi Finicula" on the clarinet when i was a kid.

And check out this neat info I found:

The history of the name of the song Finiculi Finicula originates from
the Isle of Capri off the coast of Sorrento. In the early 1950's in the
main port of Capri the Italian Government built a Tram that climbed the
hill to the city of Capri. It was for passengers and supplies. It is not
a tram in the classical sense. It operates on the ground and climbs the
hill. It is a bit bumpy but not bad at all to ride. However the Italian
population would not ride it as they were afraid of it. Therefore it sat
idle most of the time. So the local government hired a advertising
company to promote the use of the tram. They tried many approaches and none seemed to work. They then had the song written [Finiculi Finicula] that became world famous. The experiment was successful and today the tram is used by everyone.



Andy

[JohnnyZ]

Welcome, Lawson.

Yes, I'm one of those members who empathizes with you about giving up guitar and regretting the lost years. In my case, I hadn't played in almost 30 years! And, similarly, it was Robben who had something to do with getting me to play again. Not as direct an influence was he to me as he was with you, but it was listening to Mystic Mile that got me hooked on modern Blues and its guitar sounds which got me listening to more of Robben Ford, and voila- the guitar was back in my hands. Still can't play for shit compared to a lot of the forum members, but hey, I still have fun...

Enjoy this forum. I know you will...

[Daved]