hey hey my my...

playing guitar is many things to many people.
a bit of fun .
a party piece.
a hit record.
the first real lead guitarist on record was Lonnie Johnson.
played with louis Armstrong on Jimmie Rodgers sessions
and other jazz stuff.
faded from the scene in the forties
discovered driving an elevator in Montreal.
when offered a tour and records he jumped at it.
cut to the chase
from the urgent subtle stomps of Charlie Patton and that gang the music took off.
it is no accident that Robert Johnson  chose that name.
see above.
30's and 40's America anyone could buy a guitar for two dollars mail order and give  it a crack.
many did crack it in that era of independent radio and recorded music.
the results were truly astounding in retrospect.
the folkways compilation is only a taster.
was never struck on all Bob Dylans choices for the Radio Theme hour but just reading the tracklist is a job in itself.
where did they all come from and how did they become accomplished because you only get slick when you doing it professionally. 
no tv but church and school and the radio made singing a priority for fun and a chance at the big time.