George Van Eps was born on this date.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

[Zambero]

1. He was the Spinal Tap of his era

But unlike those quasi-rockers, he possessed a great gift for music. As Spinal Tap was not content having amps with volumes that did not reach "11", Van Eps pushed the potential for jazz guitar a step further, by utilizing a guitar with an extra added string (7 all total). To me, his playing suggests what the legendary Django Reinhardt might have been capable of with five functional left-hand fingers instead of two.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

2. He was a groundbreaker that's for sure.

I define that as someone doing what hasn't been done before...…….