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- Story Listed as: Fiction For Adults
- Theme: Inspirational
- Subject: Personal Growth / Achievement
- Published: 09/01/2023
Angela.
Born 1951, M, from Wilmington NC, United States.jpeg)
This story is based on the incredible guitar playing of a woman named Tina S. My story is Fiction...her's is not.
*****
“Doggone it, how are we going to play without a Lead?”
The Bass player shrugged. The Drummer threw his sticks into his kit. Rhythm guitar coughed gently.
“What Rick? Spit it out!”
“Eh..er…my friend Sherry says her little sister is the best guitar player she ever heard.”
“So?”
“Well, I could call her. They only live a few blocks from here.”
Steve (the Lead Singer) stared at his friend since sixth grade. He and Rick had been in seven different bands until they formed their own just three months earlier. Their Lead Guitar could shred…if he was sober. Now, well, he skipped out on their first real gig. Everyone needed the money. Steve wouldn’t let their former Lead Guitarist back in the band after this latest stunt. He knew Rick was trying to help. But a girl? On Lead?
“How old is this girl?”
“Fifteen.”
Everyone in the band just stared at Rick. Steve spoke up first.
“Have you heard her play?”
“No. But my girlfriend has…and I trust her. I mean for crying out loud, she teaches Classical Music at the Conservatory of Music. She should be able to tell if someone could play Lead.”
“We don’t play Classical Music.”
“Yeah, but we play Classics. She should be able to pick up the Chord Progressions.”
Everyone stared at Steve…it was his call.
He sighed heavily.
“Call her. We have an hour to rehearse before the show tonight. If it doesn’t go well, Rick, you play Lead…and I will take over rhythm.”
“You know I can’t play Lead.”
Steve gave him a steel glance.
“Yeah, and I can’t do much more than play six chords…but we are all we have.”
Rick called.
*****
“Hey Rick.”
“Hey Angela…this is the band. Steve’s our Lead Singer, DeWayne is on bass, Trigger is on drums, Bret is on Keys, and I play rhythm. You will be Lead Guitar.”
“You got an album?”
Steve stared at her.
“An Album? Yeah, but why?”
Angela shrugged.
“Well, if I hear your sound…I can figure out how to play with you. After I listen, we can do a quick jam for me to get your “feel” live…and we should be okay.”
Steve had to admire her confidence. She had a quiet soft confidence that he liked. He laughed out loud.
“So, you listen to our album…once…and you can play our music?”
She shrugged again.
“I play guitar…it is what I do.”
They gave her their playlist. She plugged in her headphones, closed her eyes…and listened. Forty five minutes later she took off the headphones.
“Got it.”
Everyone stared at her.
Steve spoke first:
“You mean what?”
Angela looked up with a shy smile.
“I got your sound. I memorized all the chords. I can play any of those songs now…and I know where to shred for a solo.”
The silence was long. Heavy. Deep.
Steve looked around.
“Okay, everyone. Will start with: “Lost love.” Everyone in E. “
Five minutes later the band…erupted. Angela not only played, but she brought them all together. Lost Love had never sounded like that before. And when Angela Shredded for the Solo…grown men stood with their jaws hanging open.
Steve was the first to recover.
“Angela…I never heard such music before. You’re a genius." (The whole band clapped with glee)
Angela gave another soft shy smile.
“I play guitar. That’s all.”
“Yeah, we noticed that.”
The Band laughed together.
Forty years later, when Steve and the Band were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Rolling Stone asked Steve what was the key to their success and longevity.
He answered with one word:
“Angela.”
Angela.(Kevin Hughes)
This story is based on the incredible guitar playing of a woman named Tina S. My story is Fiction...her's is not.
*****
“Doggone it, how are we going to play without a Lead?”
The Bass player shrugged. The Drummer threw his sticks into his kit. Rhythm guitar coughed gently.
“What Rick? Spit it out!”
“Eh..er…my friend Sherry says her little sister is the best guitar player she ever heard.”
“So?”
“Well, I could call her. They only live a few blocks from here.”
Steve (the Lead Singer) stared at his friend since sixth grade. He and Rick had been in seven different bands until they formed their own just three months earlier. Their Lead Guitar could shred…if he was sober. Now, well, he skipped out on their first real gig. Everyone needed the money. Steve wouldn’t let their former Lead Guitarist back in the band after this latest stunt. He knew Rick was trying to help. But a girl? On Lead?
“How old is this girl?”
“Fifteen.”
Everyone in the band just stared at Rick. Steve spoke up first.
“Have you heard her play?”
“No. But my girlfriend has…and I trust her. I mean for crying out loud, she teaches Classical Music at the Conservatory of Music. She should be able to tell if someone could play Lead.”
“We don’t play Classical Music.”
“Yeah, but we play Classics. She should be able to pick up the Chord Progressions.”
Everyone stared at Steve…it was his call.
He sighed heavily.
“Call her. We have an hour to rehearse before the show tonight. If it doesn’t go well, Rick, you play Lead…and I will take over rhythm.”
“You know I can’t play Lead.”
Steve gave him a steel glance.
“Yeah, and I can’t do much more than play six chords…but we are all we have.”
Rick called.
*****
“Hey Rick.”
“Hey Angela…this is the band. Steve’s our Lead Singer, DeWayne is on bass, Trigger is on drums, Bret is on Keys, and I play rhythm. You will be Lead Guitar.”
“You got an album?”
Steve stared at her.
“An Album? Yeah, but why?”
Angela shrugged.
“Well, if I hear your sound…I can figure out how to play with you. After I listen, we can do a quick jam for me to get your “feel” live…and we should be okay.”
Steve had to admire her confidence. She had a quiet soft confidence that he liked. He laughed out loud.
“So, you listen to our album…once…and you can play our music?”
She shrugged again.
“I play guitar…it is what I do.”
They gave her their playlist. She plugged in her headphones, closed her eyes…and listened. Forty five minutes later she took off the headphones.
“Got it.”
Everyone stared at her.
Steve spoke first:
“You mean what?”
Angela looked up with a shy smile.
“I got your sound. I memorized all the chords. I can play any of those songs now…and I know where to shred for a solo.”
The silence was long. Heavy. Deep.
Steve looked around.
“Okay, everyone. Will start with: “Lost love.” Everyone in E. “
Five minutes later the band…erupted. Angela not only played, but she brought them all together. Lost Love had never sounded like that before. And when Angela Shredded for the Solo…grown men stood with their jaws hanging open.
Steve was the first to recover.
“Angela…I never heard such music before. You’re a genius." (The whole band clapped with glee)
Angela gave another soft shy smile.
“I play guitar. That’s all.”
“Yeah, we noticed that.”
The Band laughed together.
Forty years later, when Steve and the Band were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Rolling Stone asked Steve what was the key to their success and longevity.
He answered with one word:
“Angela.”
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Shirley Smothers
10/08/2023As usuall a great story. Enjoy your story telling. Steve and Angela remind me of lots of people.
ReplyHelp Us Understand What's Happening
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Mike
10/08/2023Belief in one's ability is important. That shy smile, i felt that too. Great peice of writing overall. Enjoyed it.
ReplyHelp Us Understand What's Happening
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Ed DeRousse
10/08/2023Steve took a chance. Angela and her quiet confidence took them to the Hall of Fame. What a great story.
ReplyHelp Us Understand What's Happening
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Kevin Hughes
10/08/2023Thanks Ed,
This story is based on some of the wicked shredding female guitarists I have heard. And a lot of the good Musicians I know...well, they just want to make music!
Thanks for the kind words...and quoting an Author's own words back at him...that is like Next Level complimentary stuff!
Smiles, Kevin
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Kevin Hughes
10/08/2023Hey GR,
I still love so much of the Music from my past. I just heard a song from a young group called: Is it any Wonder, by Durand Jones and the Indications. And man, that brought back summer days and cruising with my girl!
Smiles, Kevin
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Christopher Long
10/08/2023nice work kevin, reading your stories is always a delight! congratulations on story star of the day
ReplyHelp Us Understand What's Happening
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Kevin Hughes
10/08/2023Thanks so much for the kind words and constant support Christopher.
Smiles, Kevin
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CPlatt
09/04/2023Great story, Kevin. Angela in your story reminded me of Suzy Quatro and Joan Jett.
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Kevin Hughes
10/08/2023Hey CPlatt,
Yeah, I think those two don't get anywhere near the recognition (except by fans and most other Musicians). Although Joan is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame!
Smiles, Kevin
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Kevin Hughes
10/08/2023Thanks so much JD for granting me yet another Award. These Awards are humbling, and the nice comments sure make my day.
Smiles, Kevin
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Kevin Hughes
09/03/2023Thanks JD, you always take the time to make me feel good about my writing. I cannot thank you enough. Smiles, Kevin
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Martha Huett
09/02/2023Love it! I get to book young talent for museum concerts now, and their music genius, like Angela's, is just ashtonishing to see. Kevin, this was indeed an inspirational story. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyHelp Us Understand What's Happening
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Kevin Hughes
09/02/2023What a fun job that must be! Music is a wonderful universal language.
Smiles, Kevin
COMMENTS (9)