Norman’s Not Done Yet

Brace yourself for Norman Blake.

He’s a legend to some, but not just because he plays guitar, sings, and has a new album out titled “Brushwood.”  Here’s what Jack Silverman recently* wrote —

He fingerpicks an elegant intro to the opening track, “The Countess Lola Montez,” and at the 13-second mark, he effortlessly slurs and sweeps through the sort of split-second flurry of notes that makes aspiring guitarists hit rewind countless times, and leaves transcribers scratching their heads as they struggle to notate it.

It’s a beautiful musical embellishment by any measure, but what’s most astounding about it—and the album as a whole—is that Blake was 78 years old when he recorded it. He turned 79 on March 10.

— But wait, there’s more! —

Blake has recorded 29 new songs that he wrote or cowrote with his wife and longtime collaborator Nancy Blake.

This is all material he wrote after suffering a transient ischemic attack (often referred to as a mini-stroke) in 2012 at age 74.

In fact, Blake credits that medical emergency with lighting a fire under him and providing a sense of creative urgency.

— But hold on! There’s still more! —

Blake has never shown much interest in slowing down.

— And to think that you and I might have been known to say that this hurts, or that didn’t go like we’d hoped, or I woulda caught that ball but the sun was in my eyes Coach.

Listen to some of what Scripture says about aging:

Norman Blake’s not done yet. Why should we think we are?

See you back here tomorrow.

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*https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/25480-norman-blake-still-keepin-it-real