Tele Tribute
IN THE SE DAYS OF COUNTLESS instructional YouTube videos, the idea of having to buy or borrow a cassette or videotape to learn a particular guitar style might seem quaint. But back in the day, for a young player like Johnny Hiland, who lived in the remote reaches of Maine with limited access to music teachers or schools, those resources were a godsend. Arlen Roth produced some of the earliest examples of those instructional cassettes and videotapes for his company, Hot Licks, with Hiland being among the many current guitar heroes to reap the benefits.
Not just an educator, Roth has made his bones as a sideman to the likes of Simon and Garfunkel, Bob Dylan, John Prine, Janis Ian and enough others to assure him a place of high regard in the guitar world. His reputation helps him attract the cream of the crop when he sets out to create. We talked to him about that record at the time and recently reconvened to discuss his recent follow-up, (Aquinnah Records).
