James Roger McGuinn (born James Joseph McGuinn III on July 13, 1942) known professionally as Roger McGuinn and previously as Jim McGuinn, is an American musician. He is best known for being the lead singer and lead guitarist on many of The Byrds’ records. He is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for his work with The Byrds. He was also part of an author/musician band “Rock Bottom Remainders”, a group of published writers doubling as musicians to raise proceeds for literacy charities. In July 2013, McGuinn co-authored an interactive ebook, Hard Listening, with the rest of the group. (More from Wikipedia)
When the Byrds were formed in 1964, its front man was called Jim McGuinn; in 1967, he changed his name to Roger McGuinn (his birth name is James Roger McGuinn). Jim McGuinn often wore frail-looking wire-rimmed glasses with tiny rectangular tinted lenses. Back in the day, I thought that this style of glasses was about the coolest fashion statement to come out of the 1960’s – still do in fact. I used to have a pair, and I need to get another one if I can ever find them again.
(August 2013)
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So you want to be a rock ’n’ roll star
Then listen now to what I say
Just get an electric guitar
And take some time and learn how to play
And when your hair’s combed right and your pants fit tight
It’s gonna be all right
So said the Byrds – specifically songwriters Jim McGuinn and Chris Hillman – back in 1967, and the formula still works pretty well to this day.
(April 2014)
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I am a big fan of “Eight Miles High”; besides the original by the Byrds (the song was written by bandmembers Gene Clark, Jim McGuinn and David Crosby), Golden Earring recorded a side-long extended treatment of “Eight Miles High” that I simply love, and past UARB Index covered “Eight Miles High” on their first album.
According to Wikipedia: “John Einarson has noted that the influence of [John Coltrane]’s saxophone playing and, in particular, his song ‘India’ from the Impressions album, can be clearly heard in ‘Eight Miles High’ — most noticeably in [Jim] McGuinn’s recurring twelve-string guitar solo. In addition to this striking guitar motif, the song is also highlighted by Chris Hillman’s driving and hypnotic bass line, [David] Crosby’s chunky rhythm guitar playing, and the band’s ethereal harmonies.”
Another important influence is the sitar music of Ravi Shankar, “particularly in the droning quality of the song’s vocal melody and in [Jim] McGuinn’s guitar playing” (as noted in Wikipedia). The Byrds even brought a sitar with them to a press conference that was used to promote “Eight Miles High”, even though a sitar was not used in the recording.
(July 2015)
