Update! Wednesday August 20th!

We have a winner! Okay, so it was kind of an easy contest. An aweful lot of you knew that Jerry Wexler, when asked what he's like on his tombstone said "Two words; 'More Bass'."

Cool.

The winner was little Marky Siever from Lexington Kentucky, who not only got the first Email to me, but called me and yelled "More Bass!" when I said "Hello".

Enjoy the book, Mark. Look for more contests with more fabulous prizes as I clean out my jun...I mean "sort through the vaults".

New Contest! Posted Monday, August 18th.

Last Friday, August 15th, Jerry Wexler died at home at the age of 91. To call Jerry Wexler a ‘Record Producer’ would be like calling Michael Phelps ‘a swimmer’. During his time at Atlantic Records he was in charge of recordings by Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Solomon Burke, Clyde McPhatter, LaVern Baker, Big Joe Turner, Wilson Pickett, and many, many more. He would also go on to produce Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan, Carlos Santana, and Dire Straights.

In 1949, as an editor at Billboard Magazine, he convinced them to change the name of the “Race Records” charts to “Rhythm and Blues”. He was elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.

All of this brings us to our Trivia Question about Jerry Wexler; in a 2000 documentary about him, called “Immaculate Funk”, Wexler was asked what he wanted written on his tombstone. "Two words…"

What were those two words?

Today’s prize has almost nothing to do with Jerry Wexler, but could be considered ‘era-correct’, and also concerns people who ply their trade, so to speak, in the music business, but not necessarily as musicians.

The first to answer the question correctly will receive a hardcover copy of “Rebel Heart, An American Rock and Roll Journey” by Bebe Buell, written with Victor Bockris. You might know Bebe; super-hot teenage model at the dawn of the 70’s, easily found her way into the world of rock and roll. Mother of Liv Tyler (she always told Liv that Todd Rundgren was her father, until Liv asked her why does she “look like Steven Tyler and why does he cry whenever he sees me?”), also had relationships with Elvis Costello, Stiv Bators…if it rocked in that decade, she probably slept with it. In this 372 page book, she tells all, complete with photos, the majority of she’s actually wearing clothes. She was a self proclaimed muse and talent scout, but as says over, and over, and over again, she was not a groupie. Groupies were of a lower class of women that slept with Rock Stars. Remember; muse and talent scout. Muse and Talent Scout.

What a prize! I checked the index in Rebel Heart, but there’s no mention of Jerry Wexler. Dang, that would have been perfect.

If this book sounds like the kind of thing you could lay out on the beach with, just come up with Jerry Wexler’s two word epitaph, and it’s all yours! Signed or unsigned...by me. What the hell, just a little note to memorialize the event. You know..."Thanks for playing..."

Send entries to:
kennaneshaw@comcast.net

August 18th, 2008

You found my Garage Sale! I've got a few basses I really like, and then there is a few I like, but don't play. Somebody somewhere wants to play them. Check these out; maybe there's one for you here. And remember to check back from time to time. You never know when something new will get added.

Feel free to make me an offer, none of these prices are carved in stone! Let's keep these local; no out-of-country cashier's check "oh my cousin is the imprisoned King of Scammaland" deals. You know; play nice.

HEY! ANY ONE OF THESE CRAZY BASSES CAN BE HAD FOR A GOOD SET OF JAZZ BASS PICKUPS!
All trade offers considered! Drop me a line!

Coming Soon! Kennan Shaw's Road Tested Blues Bass Book!
Watch this space for details.

Drop me a line with any questions, offers, or insults you might have.

kennaneshaw@comcast.net

Or, for faster service, call me at (510) 761-7547.