I like most acoustic music with a folk or country feel, but as you can see from the Favourites below, I've always liked female vocals. This love goes back into the 60’s with Marianne Faithful and “Girl on a Motorcycle”, but that’s another story.

The seventies were spent at college studying Ceramics. I lived in a flat with five other students, three of whom played guitar. No money and lots of free time meant many hours of practice. Musical loves then were Pentangle and Fairport Convention (where I first heard Sandy Denny) and the local Stafford folk club where I played.

On into the Eighties with a sound track of West Coast American soft rock. Songs by The Eagles, Jackson Browne, Linda Ronstadt and Neil Young were always on the record player and on cassette in the car.

A bit more up to date and I've developed a taste for Irish and country music from Mary Black. Marie Brennen, Enya, Lene Marlin and Allison Krausse continuing the female singer theme. So much for influences and likes. Now a bit on guitar playing.

Just like riding a bicycle you would think, but it’s not. I bought my first guitar when I was 14, a six string EKO. I still have it but it's been through the wars. I sat at home with Burt Wheedon's book, "Play in a Day" and found out that he lied. Over the years the guitar was always knocking around and I would pick it up when the mood suited.

In November 06 my son, expressed an interest in learning to play. His grandad bought him a very nice Left handed Vintage six string for Christmas. Not to be out done, I sold a 1970 Honda 400/4 motorcycle project that was sitting in the garage and bought my Crafter GAE6. A few months of trying to get the fingers to remember what years of not playing had told then to forget reminded me just how hard a guitar is to play.

Then we come up to date and this is the way all good stories start. I was in the pub with Richard, a Colleague from work and I was going on about music. Richard says that his fiancée (Clare) sings and the rest, as they say, is history.

Favourite singers include Sandy Denny, Kate Rusby, Mary Black, Nancy Griffiths, Allison Krause and of course Clare.

This website is designed and maintained by Howard Bell. All the content is the property of Francis-Bell and may only be reproduced with permission from Clare or myself.