This Day In Music

January 21st gave rise to some great talent!  Here are just a few:

Birthday

1938, Born on this day, DJ Wolfman Jack. Master of ceremonies for the rock ‘n’ roll generation of the ’60s on radio, and later on television during the ’70s.

1941, Born on this day, Richie Havens, folk singer, (1971 US No.16 single with his version of George Harrison’s ‘Here Comes The Sun’, appeared at Woodstock, Newport, and Isle Of Wight festivals).

1950, Born on this day, Billy Ocean, singer, (1988 US No.1 & UK No.3 single ‘Get Out Of My Dreams Get Into My Car’).

1980, Born on this day, Benjamin Moody, guitar, Evanescence, (2003 UK No.1 & US No.5 single ‘Bring Me To Life’, 2003 UK No.1 & US No.3 album ‘Fallen’)

 

A Look Back with Zakk Wylde and Ozzy Osbourne

zakk-ozzyIn the pantheon of Ozzy Osbourne solo albums, 1988’s No Rest for the Wicked. is neither trailblazing like the Randy Rhoads–assisted Blizzard of Ozz and Diary of a Madman nor a high-water mark like the four-times-Platinum-selling No More Tears.

It hasn’t even stood the test of time all that well: although No Rest for the Wicked. moved more than a million copies in its first six months of release and was Osbourne’s second-highest charting solo effort up to that point, its songs—including hit singles like “Crazy Babies” and “Miracle Man”—are rarely, if ever, played live by the man today (though in recent years he has resurrected the power ballad “Fire in the Sky” at select shows).

But No Rest for the Wicked. will forever stand as an essential entry in the Ozzy Osbourne catalog for one very significant reason: it presented to the metal world the debut of a young guitar phenom by the name of Zakk Wylde.

Just 21 years old at the time of the album’s release, Wylde would go on to serve as Osbourne’s right-hand man for many years to come and grow into one of the most dynamic, influential and respected guitar players in modern hard rock and metal.

“He’s a fucking absolutely amazing guitar player,” Osbourne says of Wylde today, speaking to Guitar World from his home in Los Angeles. “And from the word go, he was great. He don’t fuck around. He hits it right in the fucking gut.”

And yet, back in 1987, Wylde—or, make that, Jeffrey Wielandt—was merely one among thousands of big-haired, big-riffing metal guitarists honing their craft in small-town bars and clubs across the U.S. At the time, the New Jersey native spent his days pumping gas at a service station and giving guitar lessons, and his nights playing in a local act named Zyris that had built up a strong area following. Wylde was also, as he has attested often over the years, a huge Ozzy and Black Sabbath fan.

“I loved Sabbath, loved Randy, and I thought Jake [E. Lee] was great, too,” the guitarist, now 46, recalls. “And I remember around that time [in 1987] hearing Ozz on The Howard Stern Show. Jake was gone and he was looking for a new guy. And Barb [Wylde’s then-girlfriend, and now wife, Barbaranne] said to me, ‘If you could just get a tape to him…’ And it was like, ‘Yeah, sure. How am I gonna do that?’

To read more, click HERE.

 

This Day in Music

September 1st gave rise to many talented musicians!  Here are just a few:

Birthday

1927,  Tommy Evans, The Drifters, (1960 US No.1 & UK No.2 single ‘Save The Last Dance For Me’).

1933, Conway Twitty (born Harold Lloyd Jenkins). Twitty held the record for the most No.1 singles of any act with 55 No.1 Billboard country hits until George Strait broke the record in 2006.

1946, Barry Gibb, singer, songwriter, producer, The Bee Gees, (1967 UK No.1 single ‘Massachusetts’, 1978 UK & US No.1 single ‘Night Fever’, plus over 30 other UK Top 40 singles & 9 US No.1’s over 4 decades). In 1994, he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame with his brothers.

1984,  Joseph Mark Trohman, guitarist, Fall Out Boy, (2007 US No.1 album ‘Infinity on High’).

For more September 1st birthdays, click HERE.

BCG Had A Great First Day At The Orlando Guitar Expo

BCG had a great first day at the Orlando Guitar Expo. From a bit of a late start on Friday the BCG team pulled together to smoothly and effectively assemble the show set for an eager awaiting public on Saturday morning. The setup included new guitar hangers that safely and tastefully displayed the instruments, as well as a few minor changes to the floor plan to improve the flow. We made tons of wonderful new contacts and friends as well a nice surprise visit from my parents! All in all a big day, prepping for a bigger day Sunday.

Hope to see you at the show!

Brooks

Orlando International Guitar and Music Expo

Happy New Years to all of you players, collectors and appreciators of fine hand built instruments! Here a bcg we are off running into 2014 with a new acoustic model in the works as well as being weeks away from the official launch of “Clone 2″ a new electric single cutaway model. To top it all off bcg will be making a strong showing at the international guitar expo in Orlando Florida on the 18, 19th of this month (January). Make sure to come see the new electric archtops that represent the top of the line product I offer as a luthier, and enjoy the intimate setting of the sound booth where you can test drive the goods through some of my choice tube amps. We are making some small adjustments and improvements to the production so we expect to be in top form by the end of next week. We will see you all in Orlando where the weather just might be a bit warmer than it is around here. See you at the show!
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Brooks Cobb Rolling Out New Guitars

Another busy week at BCG and its only Tuesday! Three guitars rolled into the finish booth this week with two more just days away. New models are also going from drawing to prototype with a single cutaway electric as well as my first acoustic model based off of an 18th century French parlor guitar. New wood suppliers should keep the shelves stocked with fresh supplies of hard curly maple neck stock and some choice swamp ash body blanks. All in all it’s just another week in paradise!

BEE-3 Vintage Carolina Guitar Show

Brooks Cobb Guitars took to the road this past weekend attending the Carolina Guitar Show in Charlotte, North Carolina. A new isolation booth by vocalbooth.com was unveiled to the delight of many eager customers looking for the chance to play a hand built Brooks Cobb Guitar and enjoy the superior playability and craftsmanship in the comfort of a private, isolated environment. Over the weekend many talented guitar players experienced first hand what makes Brooks’ guitars unique, from the one of a kind nitro laquer finishes enhancing hand selected figured maple tops to the original designs and intricate woodworking techniques that define the high level of experience and passion that Brooks brings to his profession. The weekend was highlighted by the welcoming of two new members to the Brooks Cobb Guitars Player family. Overall a wonderful experience shared by friends and family, old and new, and defined by a tremendous effort by all the members of the Brooks Cobb Guitar Team. Many thanks to all who participated in making the show such a success.

Brooks Cobb On Custom Guitars

Brooks Cobb Guitars is an idea that a musician should and can be inspired by his or her instrument every time he or she interacts with it. To view a beautiful palate of uniquely grown woods from around the world. To hear the tones and timbres of those special woods married together through old world luthier techniques and wood glue. To experience the breath of the instrument as the musician plays it and brings the true meaning to the guitar. It is just that, a guitar and its meant to be played. From day one I design and build each guitar with the end goal of superior playability in the forefront of my mind and intent.

Each Handbuilt custom guitar wants to feel an extension of it’s player. To connect, to serve best the needs and comforts of its owner, to act and react appropriately for any situation its player may experience. They need and call for your attention with stunning select figured maple tops finished in translucent deeply lustered nitrocellulose lacquer finishes. They regularly come dressed for the party with three binding packages of traditional black and white plastic, but wooden bindings can take it to a whole other level. Your choice of construction materials and type of body construction will create a unique custom Brooks Cobb Guitar for you, and will create a musical partnership between you and your new guitar for life.

Contact me to take a musical adventure in my world of wood and wire. To view currently available guitars please check in at the SHOP.

I look forward to helping you realize your fullest musical potential by building you your guitar of your dreams.

Cheers,

Brooks Cobb

luthier/owner.