366Art | Roger McGuinn

Today is the birthday of Roger McGuinn, an American musician and singer-songwriter, founder of the influential rock band The Byrds. The edit above  and his portrait on the following reference works / birthday calendars with 366 important Dutch people, are made by me, Frieke.

Roger McGuinn, born James Joseph McGuinn III on July 13, 1942, in Chicago, Illinois, is an American musician and singer-songwriter, best known as the founder of the influential rock band The Byrds. McGuinn is known for his distinctive 12-string guitar sound and voice, which have had a lasting impact on the development of folk rock and country rock. Roger McGuinn began his musical career in the early 1960s as a backing musician for folk artists such as Judy Collins and Bobby Darin.

In 1964, McGuinn, along with Gene Clark and David Crosby, founded The Byrds. The band was a pioneer in the field of folk rock, combining influences from traditional American folk with emerging rock music. They scored major hits with songs like Mr. Tambourine Man - Turn! Turn! Turn! - Fifth Dimension  en Eight Miles High. McGuinn's distinctive 12-string Rickenbacker guitar sound became a trademark of the band.

After The Byrds disbanded in the early 1970s, McGuinn began a successful solo career. He released several solo albums, including Roger McGuinn (1973) Peace on You (1974) Cardiff Rose (1976) en Back from Rio (1991). His solo work encompasses a wide range of musical styles, from folk and rock to country and electronic, and he is known for his clear singing style and guitar skills.

McGuinn's influence on music is enormous. His innovative guitar playing and recording techniques have inspired countless musicians. He was a pioneer in the use of the 12-string guitar in rock music, and his work with The Byrds helped pave the way for the folk rock movement of the 1960s and 1970s. Roger McGuinn is married to Camilla McGuinn, and together they work on various musical projects. McGuinn is also known for his interest in technology and has played an active role in the development of online music distribution. He initiated the Folk Den Project  in 1995. The project aims to preserve, share, and make traditional folk music accessible to a wide audience via the internet. Roger McGuinn began recording traditional folk songs in 1995 and posting them on his website, which was one of the first musical websites on the internet at the time. In this way, he wanted to keep the rich tradition of folk songs alive by recording a new traditional song each year.

Roger McGuinn is an important figure in music history, having had a lasting influence on the development of rock music. His contributions to the folk rock genre and his innovative guitar work have given him a prominent position in the music world.