Category: Blues

ABOUT BLUES GUITARIST HENRY CARVAJAL

(Editor’s note: Life has been so jammed packed that time has been at a premium for Jackaboutguitars…My sincerest thanks to Henry Carvajal and apologies for taking so long to get this interview out there to his public.  Thanks for you’re patience and understanding, Henry!            –    Jack

Photos by Ed Huerta unless otherwise noted.)

HENRY “THE HAMMER” CARVAJAL…(NICKNAME PENDING) by ED HUERTA

Let me just tell you people, Henry Carvajal has his act together.  I am not sure how much interaction you all have with musicians. but punctuality isn’t usually high on most musician’s list of things to deal with.

Dig.  Henry and I set up an interview appointment at 3 o’clock-ish at the World Famous DiPiazza’s Restaurant in Long Beach, California on a Monday, and no sooner did I show up, when Hammerin’ Henry strolls through the door.  I wasn’t even set up yet!  He has got to be the most prompt musician I have ever met.

Henry made a great first impression, Peeps, and if I was an employer, I would have given him the job right on the spot along with a company car (just for being a musician showing up on time)!  This is how impressive of a feat this is, Ladies and Gents.

Needless to say, I blame the Hammer (I learned Henry doesn’t have a nickname so I made this up, maybe it will catch on) for my mistake in missing the first part of our interview!

Just kidding, but I didn’t want to call Henry and try to recreate the magic that we encountered on our encounter or to check on what kind of condition our condition was in either, so relax, put the problems of the day behind you and take a trip with Henry Carvajal and his life in the blues…

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SCOTT ABEYTA: LAYING THE TRACK THAT MOTOR-VATES THE BLUES EXPRESS by ED HUERTA

 

First off, it’s great to be back here on Jackaboutguitars.com.  This post will reside in the “Art N Soul” Section of the blog.  This is where I will be uncovering the lesser known personalities out there plying their craft.  It’s not about Eric Clapton or Jeff Beck(the guys who became successful long ago), though I will listen if their people want to set up an interview.

 

This column will try to get some talented people out there to you, the guitar fan, that will hopefully appreciate these collective talents. Enough yakkin’ and on to the story…

SCOTT ABEYTA: LAYING THE TRACK THAT MOTOR-VATES THE BLUES EXPRESS by ED HUERTA

SCOTT ABEYTA – GUITARIST FOR WHITEBOY JAMES AND THE BLUES EXPRESS

 

 

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GUITAR SHORTY: TEXAS BLUES LEGEND by ED HUERTA

 A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE AUTHOR

World renowned artist and writer  Ed Huerta, “The Prince of Primitive”, was born in Los Angeles and currently resides in Long Beach, California.  A longtime musician, Ed has played in several L.A./O.C. bands, including The Jack Brewer Band, The Lazy Cowgirls, The Final Tourguides, Moist and Meaty, Mind Over 4, The Silly Millions, & Eddie & The Trays.  Huerta started painting in 2007 as a way to relieve stress and to forget about everyday problems.

Many of his paintings involve fictional situations comprised of famous iconic people i.e. Elvis Presley, John F. Kennedy, Paul Lynde, Groucho Marx, Brian Wilson, & the likes of Charles Manson.  Several musicians, from jazz and blues icons/legends, to hard-working local musicians, are highlighted in his paintings.  Many of these paintings hang in the homes of famous artists and musicians and local Long Beach and Orange County establishments have Huerta’s work hanging on their walls and garden areas.

“Someone once told me that it looks like I’m grasping at that line between bad taste and achieving utter genius.  Many of my paintings reflect the battle of Good vs. Evil, or the battle within oneself.  My upbringing seems to permeate a lot of my work…the heaven and the hell along with the humor that one has to have to deal with every day life, whether it’s the fire one has to endure or brings upon himself, or the goodness one strives to accomplish.”

“I started painting with acrylic on canvas, hardboard and wood surfaces.  I like to recreate on round wood tabletops, old 78 rpm record labels.  I like the look that old 78 labels had.”  Ed has more recently experimented with oils in a lot of his portrait of jazz icon series work.  “The oils are warmer, breathe better…have a more life-like feel to them…but an obvious disadvantage for a left-hander!” Ed continues to play music (currently drumming in Lord Ransom and his Ranch Hands) and paint while his wife and two English Bulldogs and 3 cats lounge around and cheer him on.  The following article on Texas Blues Legend Guitar Shorty is Ed’s first contribution to Jackaboutguitars.  Enjoy.   – Jack

GUITAR SHORTY:  TEXAS BLUES LEGEND

Guitar Shorty is not your common household variety name, though he should be, and deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as guitarists Stevie Ray Vaughn and Jimi Hendrix. He is known to have influenced both Buddy Guy and Jimi Hendrix.

 

In the world of blues guitarists, Guitar Shorty’s name rings as true as Muhammad Ali’s does to the sport of boxing. Surprisingly enough, Guitar Shorty was not born into this world with this moniker. He was born David William Kearney on September 8, 1939 in Houston, Texas.

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