Inspiration struck February 2021, in the depths of the pandemic.
“A friend posted a story on Facebook about one of his first, most beloved guitars, and I was captivated by it,” said author of “Heartstrings – First Guitars,” Sean Barrette, a singer-songwriter and communications consultant from Sudbury.
“I thought, hey, I have that story too! All guitar players do. I wonder if anyone has written a book about this.”
He was happy to learn it was a unique concept.
With this seed of an idea, Barrette started by asking friends with whom he had shared a stage or studio if they wanted to contribute. Then he reached out to people and artists he’d met over the course of his radio career, and guitar players he met on social media. Then it exploded.
“Not every player in this book is famous,” he said. “It does include many of the biggest, most legendary music names in Canada and the United States, but while writing it I discovered that some of the most interesting and heartfelt stories come from players who haven’t achieved fame, or ever tried. They play for the love of playing and love their guitars just as much.”
“Heartstrings – First Guitars” is approximately 275 short stories told by guitar players about the first guitar that, in Barrette’s words, made them say, “Yep, this is it. This is my thing now.”
The pieces are connected by a narrative told from the point of view of Barrette’s own life spent immersed in music, from growing up with a musician dad, to his radio career, and becoming a singer-songwriter later in life.
The players in the book represent a broad cross section of artists and styles.
But from Gordon Lightfoot to members of the Tragically Hip, Serena Ryder to classical guitar legend Liona Boyd, Barrette says no matter who the guitar player is, they all have a first guitar story and love to tell it.
“This book will give any music fan insight into what motivated some of their favourite artists to make music their career - or perhaps into their loved one’s addiction to playing guitar,” he jokes. “It might even encourage someone to pick up a guitar and start their own story.”
The self-published book is currently available for pre-order through a successful Kickstarter campaign online here, and will be for sale on Amazon in August.
People can also follow the Heartstrings – First Guitars Facebook page.
