Roger McGuinn of the Byrds will perform in Traverse City at the City Opera House in downtown Traverse City on Thursday, May 21 at 7:30 pm. Read on for a complete description about his background, influences and more. To purchase tickets to the show click here.
Artist
Roger McGuinn
How he got his start
McGuinn became interested in music after hearing Elvis Presley’s “Heartbreak Hotel,” and asked his parents to buy him a guitar. In 1957, he enrolled as a student at Chicago’s Old Town School of Folk Music, where he learned the five-string banjo. He performed solo at coffeehouses before being hired as a sideman by the Limeliters, the Chad Mitchell Trio and Judy Collins. He joined Bobby Darin before moving to Los Angeles, where he met fellow Beatles fan Gene Clark. The two went on to form the Byrds.
Style
Chiming folk rock
Influences and Inspirations
Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Gene Vincent, the Everly Brothers, John Coltrane
Additional Background
With hits like “Turn, Turn, Turn” and “Eight Miles High,” the Byrds became darlings of the psychedelic folk scene, influencing such followers as the Flying Burrito Brothers, the Eagles, and others delving into folk- and country-rock styles. Following the departure of fellow Byrds David Crosby, Chris Hillman and Clark, McGuinn recorded and performed as a solo artist. Various reunions over the years reconnected McGuinn with his fellow Byrds.
Quotes
“After doing it for a while (performing solo), it became just a pure joy to go out there and play for people‚ and I prefer it to playing with a band.” – Roger McGuinn
“Roger was at least 50 percent of the Byrds. He’s a fantastic musician and a really bright guy.” – David Crosby
Venue
City Opera House, 106 E. Front Street, Traverse City
Date & Time
Thursday, May 21, 7:30 p.m.
Ticket information
Tickets start at $18. Go to CityOperaHouse.com or call (231) 941-8082
For more
Thre isn’t a single solo star, or a rock group from those amongst its second, third, even its fourth generations who hasn’t PUBLICLY acknowledged, the latter through at least one of its members and say, since 1963 (when the second generation started to make its way into the rock scene) to have chosen rock music as a way of life because of seeing, or hearing, or just meeting one Elvis Presley.