But in my imagination this whole thing developed and I started mixing up old folk songs with the Beatles beat and taking them down to Greenwich Village and playing them for the people there.

Meaning of the quote

This quote shows how the famous musician Roger McGuinn took old folk songs and combined them with the catchy beat of The Beatles. He would then perform these new, mixed-up songs for people in the lively Greenwich Village neighborhood. McGuinn's imagination allowed him to create something new and exciting by blending different musical styles.

About Roger McGuinn

Roger McGuinn is best known as the frontman and leader of the influential rock band The Byrds. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for his work with the group and is known for his distinctive 12-string Rickenbacker guitar sound. McGuinn has also released 10 solo albums and collaborated with other legendary artists like Bob Dylan and Tom Petty.

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More quotes from Roger McGuinn

Leadbelly’s guitar is in the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame.

Roger McGuinn

American musician

That’s my favorite subject because it really levels the playing field for artists these days. You don’t have to sell out to the record company. You don’t have to get a five hundred thousand dollars, or whatever, and pay them back for the rest of your life to record a record.

Roger McGuinn

American musician

I play a couple basic folks songs and break them down. I did that on a six string. I can’t recall all the songs on it. There’s some finger picking on it.

Roger McGuinn

American musician

Yes, basically, like you said, I’ll work out a chord pattern and work out the lyrics over that.

Roger McGuinn

American musician

The first 12-string guitar I bought was probably around 1957.

Roger McGuinn

American musician

I don’t really collect guitars.

Roger McGuinn

American musician

I always got a kick out of it when they called it the California Sound because it really came out of Liverpool and Greenwich Village.

Roger McGuinn

American musician

Well, I guess that early 12 string. The first Martin I bought. I bought it around 1957 with money I earned as a janitor assistant. I bought brand new. I still have that.

Roger McGuinn

American musician

Now, you can just get a laptop, get some software, put a microphone on it and make a record. You have to know how to do it. It does help if you’ve had 35 or 40 years of experience in the studio. But, it still levels the playing field so artists can record their own stuff.

Roger McGuinn

American musician

But in my imagination this whole thing developed and I started mixing up old folk songs with the Beatles beat and taking them down to Greenwich Village and playing them for the people there.

Roger McGuinn

American musician

Once I’ve written a song, I sometimes refine them.

Roger McGuinn

American musician