Roger McGuinn
Roger McGuinn
James Roger McGuinn /məˈɡwɪn/ known professionally as Roger McGuinn and previously as Jim McGuinn, is an American musician. He is best known for being the lead singer and lead guitarist on many of the Byrds' records, and is a very influential pioneer guitarist. He is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for his work with the Byrds...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionGuitarist
Date of Birth13 July 1942
CityChicago, IL
CountryUnited States of America
folk music school
I went to school for folk music back when I was a teenager and learned hundreds of songs.
art basis byrds considered electric folk music ourselves singers stand strapped timeless
I think what makes the Byrds stand up all these years is the basis in folk music. Folk music, being a timeless art form, is the foundation of the Byrds. We were all from a folk background. We considered ourselves folk singers even when we strapped on electric instruments and dabbled in different things.
folk introduced loved music pull raise sailors sails sang school songs sort talk town work
I've always loved the songs of the sea. I was first introduced to them back in 1957, at the Old Town School of Folk Music. I used to go to Pete Seeger concerts, and he would do songs like 'Ruben Ranzo' and talk about how the sailors sang songs to do their work - to raise the anchors, pull up the sails and that sort of thing.
best exist folk harmonies melodies music
That's one of the things I like best about folk music is the beautiful melodies - and the harmonies - that exist in it. And of course, some of the stories, the story songs.
angels argument endless folk head involved music
You can see it on the Internet: There's an argument going on continually about, 'What is folk music?' And I don't really want to get involved in that. It's an endless argument, a 'How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?' kind of argument.
breaks easiest guitars lead learned learning playing time
I started playing guitar back in '56. I was a teenager, and guitars had just come in, and I had a thing for it and got one. Started learning lead breaks from songs, because that was the easiest thing to do at the time. I had the guitar for two years before I learned any chords. Really.
buy concerts feels good level people songs sort wonderful
The wonderful thing about having your songs on the radio is that people are going to go out to your concerts and buy your merchandise and that sort of thing, and it feels good to get that level of name recognition.
came catholic christian communion eight god life looking mass morning places raised restricted roman wear wild
I was raised a Roman Catholic and had to go to the eight o'clock Mass every morning and have communion and wear a tie, kind of like a restricted life style. Then in the '60s, we got wild and let it go and started looking in other places to see where God really was, and I came back to the Christian thing.
byrds country cowboy music trying
When The Byrds started country-rock, we had no idea there would be such a thing. We were just trying to honor the music. We started listening to country radio. We went to Nudie's and got cowboy clothes.
influenced music people
People have told me that other artists have been influenced by my music, and it's flattering. It's a wonderful thing.
home huge levels playing studio
I'm a huge fan of home recording. I think it levels the playing field. You don't need $100,000 to record a studio CD.
love travel
I love being a troubadour. I travel around the world with my wife and play little theaters. We have a ball.
dragging money oldies
I don't want to be an oldies act, kind of dragging around on the road just for the money.
considered guitars played strapped though
I've always considered myself a folk singer, even though we strapped on Rickenbacker guitars and played pretty loud.