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irocku / March 2, 2018

Volunteer Jam XX: A Tribute to Charlie Daniels

This year's Volunteer Jam on Wednesday, March 7th, 2018 / Bridgestone Arena, Nashville TN is a tribute to music legend Charlie Daniels. Since 1974, Volunteer Jam has brought together some of music’s greatest performers. Now, 43 years later, friends, fans, and an extraordinary lineup of musicians will come together for a very special night honoring music legend Charlie Daniels. Included in the lineup are two IROCKU musicians- ours truly Chuck Leavell and Peter Keys, keyboardist with the Lynyrd Skynryd band. This unforgettable concert event will feature performances by Charlie Daniels and The Charlie Daniels Band, ALABAMA, Alison Krauss, Billy F Gibbons of ZZ Top, Blackberry Smoke, Bobby Bare, Chris Janson, Chris Young, Chuck Leavell, Eddie Montgomery of Montgomery Gentry, Jamey Johnson, …

irocku / February 16, 2018

IROCKU Featured Piano Lesson- “Jessica” by the Allman Brothers

The irocku featured piano lesson is "Jessica" by The Allman Brothers. "Jessica" Piano Lesson If you check out the videos of "Jessica" live you'll see that during the solo Chuck comps using the A and D chords in his left hand. The irocku lesson uses a left hand baseline similar to what the bass is playing so the lesson is actually more difficult to play. If you want to simplify the solo, you can play chords in the left hand similar to how Chuck is playing it. Click here to check out the Jessica videos in the sidebar. In our ongoing survey of Top Rock piano Songs and Performances, “Jessica” is currently ranked number two after “Great Balls of Fire” by Jerry Lee Lewis. Given that so many of the irocku members are also Chuck’s fans we’re sure that there is some bias in our poll. But …

rocknthe88s / February 7, 2018

The Rolling Stones won the Grammy for ‘Best Traditional Blues Album’, “Blue & Lonesome”

The Rolling Stones won the Grammy for ‘Best Traditional Blues Album’, for “Blue & Lonesome” at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards. This is only the fourth Grammy for the Stones and is only their second Grammy for a piece of musical work. Their other three Grammys are for ‘Best Music Video’- “Love is Strong” 1995, 'Best Rock Album'-"Voodoo Lounge" 1994, and the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ 1986. “Blue & Lonesome” is an awesome blues album but for the rock band that spent 50 years creating some of the most iconic rocks songs ever it’s hard to believe that this is their second real Grammy. It is fitting though, that the Stones received the Grammy for the album that brings them back to their roots as a blues band. If you were on the Grammy committee which Stones album or song would have …

irocku / January 18, 2018

Rolling Stones’ pianist, Ian Stewart, is inducted into Scottish hall of fame.

Stewart, who was born in Pittenweem, Fife, and died aged 47 of a heart attack in 1985, joined the group in 1962, before either Jagger or Richards. He was removed from the official line-up the following year, but remained with the band as a session musician and tour manager until his death. Jagger said: “The thing about him was that I don’t think the Rolling Stones would ever have got going if it hadn’t been for him. He was a great player.” Richards said: “The Rolling Stones are only here because of Ian Stewart. He hooked up with Brian Jones and then Mick and I sort of waltzed in and then suddenly it became the Rolling Stones. His love of music, his choice of the guys to play with, was legendary.” Stewart is currently 10th on our list of top rock piano players. Who is your favorite …

rocknthe88s / January 11, 2018

Jools Holland & Doctor John as the “Boogie Woogie Twins”

During the 1930s and 40s pianists Pete Johnson and Albert Ammons would dress in identical clothing and play boogie woogie duets. In this video, circa 1988, Dr John and Jools Holland have recreated that long lost boogie woogie duet. Two pianos, twice the fun!! Who is your favorite rock piano player and what is your favorite keyboard song? Click here for the current list. Dr John is currently ranked 15th on our list of greatest rock piano players of all time with his signature keyboard songs "Such a Night" and "Right Place, Wrong Time". Jools Holland is ranked 48th on the list with his top songs "Pulling Mussels from the Shell" by Squeeze and "Uncertain Smile" by "The The". Learn how to play rock and blues piano from one of rock’s greatest. Chuck Leavell, legendary keyboardist for …

irocku / January 2, 2018

Muddy Waters & The Rolling Stones – Baby Please Don’t Go

12 Bar Blues Guitar Lesson Here's a treat for the New Year. A magical session in 1981 where the Stones stumbled (literally!!!) into a Muddy Waters gig at the Checkerboard Lounge in Chicago and joined Muddy on stage. It takes awhile to lure Mick on stage but once there both bluesmen shine in the glory or the moment. Baby Please Don't Go" is a standard 12 bar blues. Learn how to play rock and blues piano from one of rock’s greatest. Chuck Leavell, legendary keyboardist for The Rolling Stones, The Allman Bros, Eric Clapton, John Mayer, and more. Join Now and SAVE!!! …

irocku / December 21, 2017

Rock Essentials Series – Acoustic Blues Guitar Lessons

Here's a Christmas treat from Chuck's close friend and fellow musician, Jimmy Dillon. Jimmy has produced a 6-part acoustic blues guitar series exclusively for IROCKU. The Acoustic Blues Rock Essentials series covers the fundamentals needed to master the 12-Bar Blues on acoustic guitar. This series begins with an overview of the 12- bar blues chord progression and teaches how to count and feel a blues shuffle rhythm. The series then moves on to finger style techniques and blues licks and then ties it together with the connective tissue between the chords. The last two lessons of the series cover blues turn-arounds and improvising over the blues. Acoustic Blues Guitar Series Jimmy Dillon is one of rock’s top session and stage musicians. Jimmy has played with Bob Dylan, …

irocku / November 21, 2017

Black Friday Special – Online Piano Lessons

Want to learn rock piano? Here's a 35% discount off an Annual Membership to our online rock piano lessons. Use coupon code "BlackFriday2017". Start Rockin! Learn how to play rock and blues piano from one of rock’s greatest. Chuck Leavell, legendary keyboardist for The Rolling Stones, The Allman Bros, Eric Clapton, John Mayer, and more. Join Now and SAVE!!! …

irocku / November 10, 2017

Ray Manzarek – Tells the story behind Doors song “Riders on the Storm”

Here’s a great video for Doors fans, particularly if you are a Ray Manzarek fan. Ray tells the story behind the writing of “Riders on the Storm”. With it’s haunting bass line and rain effects, “Riders on the Storm” was inspired by a cowboy song, “Riders in the Sky” written by Stan Jones in 1948. “Riders in the Sky” was covered by a variety of musicians, ranging from Elvis Presley to Johnny Cash to Deborah Harry, but it was Vaughn Monroe’s version that initially caught Door’s guitarist Robby Krieger’s ear. It is clear that in, “Riders on the Storm” Jim Morrison tried to mimic Vaughn Monroe’s haunting singing style. Very cool how The Doors took a cowboy song, moved it to E minor, spun in some jazz and turned it into one of their signature masterpieces. Ray Manzarek is currently ranked …

irocku / October 26, 2017

Fats Domino – dead at 89 – Rest in Peace

Fats Domino was one of the true architects of rock ’n’ roll and an absolute pioneer of rock piano. His swung triplet rhythms have become cornerstones for rock piano players. Paul McCartney’s “Lady Madonna” was written to pay homage to Fats Domino’s signature style in his song “Blue Monday”. Elvis Presley considered Fats Domino to be “the real king of rock’n’roll”. Borne Antoine Domino Jr. the son of a violinist, Domino taught himself ragtime, blues, and boogie boogie. He went on to sell 65 million singles, and recorded 23 gold records. Fats Domino is currently ranked 20th in our poll of The Greatest Rock Piano Players. Who is your favorite keyboard player? Favorite song? The following Fats Domino songs are all ranking in our Top Keyboard Performances poll: Blueberry Hill Blue …

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