San Francisco, Ken Griffin imitation

Here's "the other" San Francisco song. I've done this one as the famous 1950s Hammond artist, Ken Griffin might have played it. Long before the Jazz greats such as Jimmy McGriff, Lonnie Smith and Joey DeFrancesco made the B3 a significant instrument for jazz, Ken Griffin became the most popular instrumental musician in the USA by playing songs of his time on the Hammond Organ. His playing style was deceptively simple, free of fancy embellishments or exotic harmony. He played mostly in the keys of C, F, and G, never used a Leslie speaker, but if ever anybody was at the right place at the right time, musically he was that person; some of his Columbia records selling millions of copies. So I have played this song as he might have styled it, using a similar vintage Hammond, copying his registrations, harmonies and even the repeat echo ambience that he used in many of his recordings. Let me know in the comments if you'd like me to do more songs as Ken Griffin imitations, The HAMMOND Guy.

[@helio85384]

Congratulation!!! Beautiful!!👏👏👏👏

[@user-mw2go5en4s]

Fantastic, I want more!!!

[@michaelbogdanowicz5059]

Excellent I love the sound

[@luisgarbizuteclados]

Perfect, in the simple and naive style of Ken Griffin 👏👏👏👏

[@HAMMONDGuy-B3X66]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed it. Interestingly enough, Ken Griffin's simple playing style is not as easy to copy as it might seem, but I'll be doing more from time to time. I am surprised that today he no longer gets the recognition that he deserves as being one of the Hammond pioneers who did much to popularize this instrument in its earlier days.

[@peterlarsen1000]

Very enjoyable. Mrs. Rosa Larsen

[@HAMMONDGuy-B3X66]

Thank you for watching, I am glad you liked it ~The Hamond Guy ~

[@trainroomgary]

♫ Hi Hammond Guy - Gary here! A front room pianist from Michigan - Cool tune 👍

[@HAMMONDGuy-B3X66]

Yes indeed, it is a neat tune. My wife asked me to play "San Francisco," and I thought she was referring to "I Left my Heart in San Francisco," The one that Tony Bennett made famous. When I played in clubs, that one was guaranteed to fill the dance floor in 30 seconds or less, but this other "San Francisco" is as you say a cool tune in its own right.

[@onceashadetree8833]

Im seeing how doing the youtube thing was a very good idea. Thumbs up Eric 👍

[@HAMMONDGuy-B3X66]

Thanks! Yes, I am always the optimist regarding various ventures and so far it's been a very interesting journey. On the plus side, it's making me do a lot more practicing and playing, and through that effort, I'm gradually improving. As I have probably mentioned before, playing a keyboard instrument where you must also play pedals makes a person do all kinds of various moves and maneuvers that can be somewhat unnatural, since basic hand/feet coordination is determined through our efforts to learn to crawl and then walk as young children. But the playing of different things with both hands and feet and dealing with complex rhythm patterns makes you do stuff that creates a lot of separation or independence of movement and breaks up the usual eye/hand/feet coordination that we learn as little kids. Whether that has any positive other benefits I have no idea, but it makes playing a challenge as well as a fun adventure. Every new song is like a new roadmap to at least a slightly different place.

[@onceashadetree8833]

@@HAMMONDGuy-B3X66 I like that, an adventure to an unknown corner of the world.

[@michaelbogdanowicz5059]

More ken griffin

[@HAMMONDGuy-B3X66]

Thanks much! Yes indeed, I will do some more Ken Griffin style videos. There is still interest in his music, and I believe there is a person in England who sells CDs made from his original records. But since Griffin died in 1956, obviously, there won't ever be any more Griffin recordings... or will there? If I copy his style, and use a similar instrument, and use some of his musical idioms, and use a subtle repeat echo and also an original Hammond fluid column reverb unit, then I could play a lot of songs that he might have played if he had lived longer, and still do it in his exact style. I did this first video just as an experiment to see if anybody would still be interested. Obviously there is still interest, so I'll do some other songs in his style, songs that were either written after he died, or songs that he did not, as far as I can determine, ever play. This should be interesting. I'm busy this week, so won't get time to make any videos for a few days, but I will after the 4th. The Hammond Guy