Heartstrings – First Guitars, is a collection of memories from a variety of musicians, famous, semi-famous, up and coming, anonymous, or otherwise, about the guitar they learned on, the first guitar they bought with their own money, the first “good” guitar they owned, or the beloved first-line guitar that accompanied them on first songs, first shows, first tours, or first recordings.
These short, narrative pieces, tied together with first-time author Sean Barrette’s memories of a life and career spent immersed in music, tell a story that demonstrates that, no matter the guitar player, they all have this first guitar story and love to tell it. It’s the thread that ties all guitar players together, but these stories also provide insight into the very beginnings of many of the musical artists we love. It may even provide insight into the guitar player who lives with you. Or encourage someone to pick up a guitar and get playing themselves.
With first guitar stories by: Gordon Lightfoot, Bruce Cockburn, David Knopfler, Colin Linden (Blackie & the Rodeo Kings), Johnny Hickman (Cracker), Rob Baker (Tragically Hip), Paul Langlois (Tragically Hip), Gord Sinclair (Tragically Hip), Tom Wilson (Blackie & the Rodeo Kings), Kevn Kinney (Drivin & Cryin), Liona Boyd, Leeroy Stagger, Moe Berg and Kris Abbott (The Pursuit of Happiness), Blair Packham (The Jitters), Rik Emmett (Triumph), Finny McConnell (The Mahones), Ron Hawkins (Lowest of the Low), Dave Genn (54-40), Skye Wallace, Alun Piggins, Mark Stuart, Stacey Earle, Chris and Eleanor Masterson (The Mastersons), Preston and Alan Glass, Barney Bentall, Sean Kelly (Crash Kelly), Mr. Zero (The Kings), Jaimee Harris, Andrew Hyatt, Terry Draper (Klaatu), Dan “Chewy” Mongrain (Voi Vod), Sal Costa (My Darkest Days, Bonds of Mara), Michael Mckenzie (Lowest of the Low), François Lamoureux, Jordon Zadorozny (Blinker the Star), Ed Ringwald (Gordon Lightfoot), Joel Plaskett, Neil Osborne (54-40), Carl Harvey (Toots & the Maytals), Don Ross, Mike Turner (Our Lady Peace), Darrell Scott, Stephen Fearing (Blackie & the Rodeo Kings), Ethan Ives (Car Seat Headrest), Jeffrey Trott (Sheryl Crow), Julian Taylor, David Pulkingham, Brian Howes (DDT), Gary Lee Connor (Screaming Trees), Johnette Napolitano (Concrete Blonde), Pete Yorn, Gordie Johnson (Big Sugar), David Baerwald, Pete Droge and Elaine Summers (The Sinners), Serena Ryder, Myles Zuniga (Fastball), Jim Cuddy (Blue Rodeo), Hayes Carll, Stuart Cameron (Crash Test Dummies), Myles Goodwin (April Wine), Brian and Bruce Good (The Good Brothers), Adrian Eccleston (Drake, The Weeknd), and many more.
Heartstrings – First Guitars is a feel-good read that will draw people in, whether guitar players, other musicians, or music fans, and allow them to feel the enthusiasm and gratitude towards music shared by this international cast of individuals, some legendary, others just regular people who love to play, and every kind of guitar player in between.
