lyrics by Johnnie Bailes
recorded by Hank Williams


https://youtu.be/aq3jQStr4ms

Now and then I am asked to play a gospel number at the funeral service of a family member of a close friend of the family. This is especially important to me if the person, who has passed on, is an old musician. I always think that a musician ought to be sent off with a piece of live music from some...

written by Chilton Price, Pee Wee King & Redd Stewart
recorded by Jason Wade


https://youtu.be/nGr_QMpxxbE

I have often spoke of how paying close attention to the lyrics and the story of a song have made me very fond of certain songs. Sometimes, however, the opposite can be true as well. A friend of mine asked me if I would sing a tune, he was fond of, at his anniversary. The...

written and recorded by Bob Dylan


https://youtu.be/2dJn9LmcCVI

Here's a short but bluesy gospel piece written and recorded by Bob Dylan. I think that this is a great number to learn because it's short and simple and yet it has a rock-a-billy swing to it and a few extra accidentals to add a little spice.

It's lyrics are relatively easy to learn and you simple to ad-lib to...

written by Carl Belew & Van Givens
recorded by Charlie Walker


https://youtu.be/FepCOl3HzvA

My Uncle Charlie was the only brother in my father's family who did not sing or play an instrument. He was a real cowboy like figure. A loner and always separate from the rest in certain ways. He once told me that his out-right favorite Country song was 'Don't Squeeze My Sharmon'. He laughed...

written & recorded by Elizabeth Cotton


https://youtu.be/CpbPk55rnBM

I remember this tune from when I was young, It was always a tune folks wanted to be able to pick and so it was with me. Unlike Elizabeth Cotten, I'm unable to finger-pick so the way it comes out in this cover is radically different then you hear from her but then I'm no great guitar player. Still, I think This tune...