Posts filed under ‘Nokie Edwards’
Pickin’ Wings
“Pickin’ Wings” is an original instrumental intended to be similar to the style of the Ventures’ country-influenced material, which typically featured the great Nokie Edwards playing lead.
Summertime
This is my instrumental version of “Summertime“, which was composed in 1934 by George Gershwin for the 1935 opera Porgy and Bess. The song soon became a popular and much recorded jazz standard.
The Ventures included a cover on their 1962 album, “Mashed Potatoes and Gravy”, with Nokie Edwards playing the lead.
Too Young
“Too Young” was written by Sidney Lippman, with lyrics by Sylvia Dee. It was published in 1951. The best-known version of the song was recorded and released by Nat King Cole that same year. It was a million-selling record and reached the #1 position on the Billboard chart, staying at #1 for 5 weeks and altogether on the Best Seller chart for 29 weeks.
In 1972, a 14-year-old Donny Osmond had an international hit with the song; it peaked at #13 in the USA that year.
I was inspired to arrange the song after hearing a beautiful 1974 rendition by guitar great Nokie Edwards. My version does not attempt to recreate his, but is more in a Duane Eddy style.
Nokie Shuffle
“Nokie Shuffle” is an original composition.
Last weekend I had the pleasure of attending and performing at the 10th annual Ventures Fan Fest. The theme this year was “A Tribute to Nokie Edwards”.
Nokie was an incredible guitarist whose skills took the Ventures to another level in the early 60s. At the fan fest many played his numerous “signature” tunes. I resolved to develop a better understanding of his style, which has never come easily to me.
I usually do better going for the “spirit” of a style than trying to directly imitate things note for note. “Nokie Shuffle” is an attempt to do that.
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