Do we even realize the vast amount of musician’s that are at our fingertips these days?

If you are a practicing musician or just thinking of picking up a guitar, here is a place to strut your stuff. It’s truly a fresh new Strat stomping ground, with discussions on Stratocaster, Telecasters and an Acoustic Café’ where the coffee could be brewing, the beer could be flowing and the knowledge is being shared.

Creative juices begin to flow when you surround yourself with like minded people. I am a firm believer in having more than one set of eyes looking at something it will get you a totally new outlook on what it is your looking at.

In this case you may want to pull out the ear plugs and listen to some practicing musicians and new musical talent.

There is a place for bass guitarists, but it’s lacking some action, so when you get a moment to set the bass down, why not go on in and share some of your throaty bass sounds.

With talk on the amp thread of the Fender Hot Rod Deluxe vs. The Blues Deluxe Reissue or even just how to stop tube rattle & buzz, you can walk away with tips and tricks from players and pro’s and perhaps find some valuable resources.

Musicians Plaza has also opened up the floor to put your music talent out there, record yourself and sign on up to win a Bad Monkey Overdrive Pedal, a guitar players chance to get some exposure, show off your talents and see if you could be the lucky winner of a free pedal. Take a moment to register and introduce your self over at Musicians Plaza and see for yourself the talent that we are fortunate enough to see now through the digital highway.

Garage Band Gangs can now connect through that digital byway of the World Wide Web, it’s like an afternoon with your buddies, but they can be time zones away and with a completely different musical background and culture. It’s all about expanding your musical repertoire and musical network!

Owner of Musicians Plaza – Brandon Roy started out strumming some acoustic songs by Edwin McCain. His world changed when he discovered Stevie Ray Vaughan’s performance at Montreux Jazz Festival which prompted him to go out and get an electric guitar. Feeling the blues down to his toes, he knew that’s what he wanted to focus on. As in any musician, fan or blue’s lover, once Stevie touches you, there is no turning back,you will investigate the late great’s that influenced his playing. With a line up such as, Howlin’ Wolf, BB King, Albert King, Albert Collins, Jimmie Vaughan or Lonnie Mack the chain of influences is made of solid blue’s steel.

Many great artists come before those that redefine the genre of music, Brandon’s intermixes the style’s of Stevie & Larry Chaney creating Musician’s Plaza is a place where his vision is a new generation of players that can come together and continuing to Rock our World!

Thank you Cutter for sending the following message - your friendship has enlightened my world….

To all of Stevie’s family (Fans). We all still miss Stevie in so many ways. I think I tried to share some of my memories in my book. Note from Susie: Well worth the money

I still say that Stevie was such a Comet that passed our way. I don’t really believe his light is out. I believe that because of his music here on this planet he lives on. Stevie continues to influence yougins and that is such a great testament to him. He always wanted to reach people with his music.

I know he continues to do that and I feel he knows that. Stevie was a very special and spiritual man. Some wish they knew him personally. I understand that and still say that by listening with your heart to his Music you do know the man. I was so lucky to be a part of Stevie, Tommy and Chris (Whipper) . I hoped I helped them. I always wanted to do only that.

As time moves on I see and hear the joy for Stevie each year at the Next SRV Ride & Concert. I meet so many old friends and meet so many new ones. I listen still today to the radio and hear Jimi Hendrix & Stevie like they will never be truly gone.And they are not. Those that can make plans to someday come to the SRV Ride. It’s easy. It is always celebrated on the 1st Sunday in October. I

t was Gov. Ann Richards who proclaimed October 3rd as Stevie Ray Vaughan Day in Texas. We chose to celebrate that day with the SRV Ride on eash 1st Sunday. Sometimes it does fall on his birthday, But no matter again Stevie lives on and will. I see the many great thangs being done each year in his name with the support of the Music Scholarship Program. I just wish all could know how proud he would be of what is being done in his name each & every year.

Bless all and May the Music always fill your Hearts & Soul, Mr.Cee, Cutter & Stevie.

The Stevie Ray Vaughan Memorial Scholarship Fund - Contributions can be sent to the address below:

Remember to designate the SRV Memorial Scholarship Fund on memo area of your check.

The Communities Foundation of Texas
The Stevie Ray Vaughan Memorial Scholarship Fund
5500 Caruth Haven Lane
Dallas, TX 75225

Remembering the man and the music - October 3rd would have been Stevie Ray Vaughan’s 54th Birthday.  I was not one of the lucky one’s to have known Stevie nor did I ever see him play live.  My husband had and said as soon as he hit his first note - the crowd was silenced.

In the past year, I have been lucky enough to have become friends with someone that grew up with Stevie and he has shared with me his feelings and thoughts.

I did this pencil sketch for Cutter - this sketch is no longer in existence.  In place of it, lie’s a scar on Cutter’s hand and a story he was terrified to share with me, it took him a week to finally call me and explain what had happened.

Why things happen is anyone’s guess - why this sketch did not get to hang on Cutter’s wall is still a mystery to me, but within that mystery a friendship was born.

The loss of Stevie in the music industry was huge, but from the stories that Cutter has shared with me, it doesn’t come close to those that knew him personally.

I can not explain the connection I feel to Stevie through his music, or the passion that drives the drawings of Stevie - I sit with empty paper and his music resonates throughout my soul and when I look down, he has come to life on paper before me.

My heart warms because I feel I have come yet another step closer to knowing the man that Stevie truly was inside.  His kindness & compassion for others can be seen within his eyes and within his hands, watching his hands wrap around the neck of his guitars as he played with power & dedication because he wanted to share his talent and share his love of music.

He gave to us that did not know him,  a gift through song, he will continue to inspire me as time moves along.  I send a silent thought up to the heavens, for him to hear how even after all these years, he has continued to bring people together.

I hope I have educated many on some of our Greatest Session Players that were intertwined in the life of  Al Kooper, this is the final piece of my recycled end table that will hopefully find a home.

Touching Other’s Lives is one reason we are all here…

Those that are intertwined in our lives can be great influences on many of our decisions.  As bloggers,  we open ourselves up to new opportunities and new relationships on a daily basis.  Intertwining with people of similar interests or those that we can help with the littlest bit of advice, we have Touched Other’s Lives.

I have been blogging for over a year now, and continue to be amazed at the amount of people that come in and leave comments, those that answer the questions that I have pondered.  I am sure I am not alone when it comes to having run into some of the “ego’s” or less than helpful folks out there.  It amazes me that some of these jokers will not take the time of day to Touch Other’s Lives, the big dog’s on the porch so to speak.

The power that comes from helping someone achieve something is over whelming - and in all honesty can we take our knowledge with us when all is said and done? Leaving a mark on someone when you influence them is all part of the learning process.  Learning to communicate, leaving comments on others blogs, sending a small thank you note when someone has helped you, it’s a cyber cycle of touching others lives.

Go forward today and comment on someone’s blog that you usually wouldn’t, keep the circle going.

“To me, there’s nothing freer than a bird, you know, just flying wherever he wants to go. And, I don’t know, that’s what this country is all about, being free. I think everyone wants to be a free bird.”  Ronnie Van Zant

Van Zant wanted to be a boxer, a baseball player or stock car driver, it was not until hearing the Rolling Stones that his career path took on new dimensions.

Capricorn Records was based in Georgia, Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Manager was the younger brother to Phil Walden, big wig at Capricorn, wasn’t interested in Skynyrd.  Al Kooper took a shot, created his own label which was bankrolled by MCA Records.  Skynyrd ended up on Al’s doorstep.  With a late night phone call from Ronnie Van Zant to Al Kooper, after their equipment was stolen, Al lent them 5,000.00 dollars.

Saying of Van Zant, he was a man of his word, he ruled that band with an iron fist, and God help any band member who crossed him.  Not always agreeing with Kooper’s ideas as their producer, Van Zant would listen to his ideas, because perhaps 1 out of 20 of those idea’s would be a good one.

In today’s society, we are often times afraid of ideas, putting them out there and seeing if they stick can bring us some of our greatest moments.  I may at one time post one of my original paintings, I look at this painting now, one that I was so proud of, and go.. OH MY GOD. I can look back now and see how far my skills as an artist have come.   I do laugh though, when I think how proud I was of this particular piece, which I had painted on a jean jacket, and proudly walked around with it on my back.

I am sure others must have chuckled at me.. my point is, if it is something you are sure about, as Kooper was this Southern Rock Band - go for it..