the Reluctant Beatle page 3 by ric gustafson
One day in 1956, George bought a record called ' Rock Island Line'. The singer was a jazz banjo player named Lonnie Donegan. The music he played was called skiffle. The song went right up to the top of the British chart. It even reached the US top ten. Skiffle had a big effect on George. Skiffle offered images of America to George. Images such as freight trains, chain gangs and New Orleans. The guitar was key to skiffle instruments. A skiffle songbook was a simple three chords of 12 bar blues.
George wanted a guitar. His sister Louise got him a Spanish style model. He played it all the time. He took lessons from a friend named Len Houghton. George was taught basic chords C, D and G7. George bought a guitar manual written by Bert Weedon.
George's first girlfriend was Iris Caldwell. She was 12. George was 14. Iris's brother Alan was in a skiffle group called the Raving Texans. George's guitar from his sister was not enough for a skiffle group.
George needed a bigger and better guitar. His parents bought him a Hofner guitar.
research help: ' George Harrison the Reluctant Beatle' by Philip Norman
Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric
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