Music box

You can buy your own cigar-box-style resonator guitar, with part of the body made from a Route 66 license plate. Back Porch Mojo sells it, with prices for cigar-box guitars ranging from $175 to $250, depending on the number of strings. Back Porch specializes in cigar-box guitars, with including parts and kits. Here's a demonstration … Continue reading Music box

Getting a lift from music

Among the many people who hitched a "Lift to the Rocker" fundraiser Saturday at the Fanning 66 Outpost near Cuba, Mo., was the bluegrass musical group The Lonesome Hill Gang. Jane Reed has the details about the group's little performance on the World's Largest Rocker: The family group showed up offering to play, and owners … Continue reading Getting a lift from music

Notes from the road

--- The bad news in Oklahoma is that the state's turnpike authority will raise toll-road prices an average of 16 percent. The good news is that this probably means more traffic on old Route 66 in the Sooner State. --- On Monday we briefly visited with Dawn Welch, owner of the Rock Cafe in Stroud, … Continue reading Notes from the road

Early heartbreaking

Here's an early clip of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers performing Bobby Troup's most famous song. This 1977 video predates the band's breakout "Damn the Torpedos" album.

Notes from the road

The historic railroad depot at Braidwood, Ill., was moved a couple of weeks ago. A local grocery store wanted the land near Route 66 for parking. The grocery donated the depot to the city as long as it was moved. The Morris Daily Herald has a story about the move, and the Braidwood Area Historical … Continue reading Notes from the road

“Coyotes”

This is cowboy singer Don Edwards, performing his song "Coyotes." The tune gained considerable attention when it was used in the Werner Herzog film "Grizzly Man." I found "Coyotes" to be an appropriate soundtrack to the desert Southwest of Route 66 country.