Independence Day: The Fourth of July

As little kids, we never really knew what we were celebrating on the Fourth of July. We went to the parade hoping for the good candy to be thrown our direction. We waved sparklers the minute it turned dark, and if we were lucky enough, we watched fireworks that lasted fifteen minutes. But, if you think about it, the picnics with your family, the watermelon seed-spitting contests, and the three-legged races with your cousins was really like a mid-summer day off of your usual summer doldrums. I was probably nine before I recall having a vague understanding of why we wore red, white, and blue and waved American flags on the Fourth of July.

America actually declared independence from Great Britain on July 2, 1776. But, it wasn’t until July 4, 1776 that the document justifying this action was ready for publication. It appears that the document supersedes the act in terms of which we celebrate. However, declaring independence and actually having it were two different things. It took six more years of fighting, 25,000 Revolutionary soldier’s deaths, and 25,000 wounds before Great Britain finally agreed to let America be independent. And, it wasn’t until 1788 that the actual US Constitution was adopted and the new independent government was formed.

Coincidentally, two of the founding fathers died on July 4, 1826 – 40 years after the Declaration of Independence was completed. Thomas Jefferson, our third president and the one given credit for authoring the Declaration, died within a few hours of our second president, John Adams. James Monroe, another signer of the Declaration and our fifth president also died on July 4, 1831.

As flags wave on the Independence Day this year, I will think about what our forefathers risked by declaring independence from Great Britain and, be thankful that I was Born in America.

What's in a Name? A Guitar Name, That Is...

There are plenty of famous guitars out there that have names… Well, actually - the people are famous and they have named their guitars.

Neil Giraldo (Spyder), married to Pat Benetar, has “Pain” - his current favorite guitar. Willie Nelson’s guitar, “Trigger” is a road-worn acoustic Martin guitar that has holes in in from Willie’s picking. How cool is that? Eric Clapton has a black Stratocaster, named (quite appropriately), “Blackie”.  Blackie was made from three other guitars, part of a lot of six that he purchased from a store in Nashville.  The story goes that he gave the three others to his friends – Steve Winwood, George Harrison, and Pete Townsend.

The Dreamer’s Brigade is no different. We have a history, a story. The first guitar ever purchased became Anabelle. She’s a custom neck, 12 string acoustic beauty and sings like an angel. The story behind the name has been lost with the years, but Anabelle started a string of names for subsequent guitars. 

Next there was Analee. She is a six string Yamaha. Her sound is clean and used daily for practice and recording. Anabelle and Analee are the go-to acoustics for the Dreamer’s Brigade. The electric guitar, a black Stratocaster, is used regularly for solos and any kind of electric guitar work. Her name is Anarex because of her thinness. Other assorted guitars are part of the collection as well, but for some reason, they do not have names. Maybe someday, they will graduate to naming status. Only time will tell.

If you want to read more about famous guitars, their owners and the stories behind the names, click here.