Class a lesson in music history

The late, immodest comedian Steve Allen may be turning in his grave.

In one of his sure-fire laugh-getters, Allen would offer a professorial recitation of the Rolling Stones' "Satisfaction."

Last week, Jim McIntosh had those same lyrics on the overhead projection of his rock history class at UNLV. After he played the song, McIntosh informed the class that the 1965 hit was "the first rock tune that featured the fuzz box."

Hi-ho Steverino!

Boomers still are safe in the knowledge that the Stones command a $450 ticket when they play the Strip. But they're history, literally, in this large lecture hall. Granted, History of Rock Music (MUS125) is one of the university's most popular electives. McIntosh can't even teach all eight sections of it himself.

After all, not many college courses let you snicker at the "I got high" lyric in "Itchycoo Park." Still, on a warm afternoon, heads can nod or attention spans drift to wireless Internet. McIntosh says he gets his best response from students when he brings his guitar and plugs in for live demonstrations of the 12-bar blues or Keith Richards' discovery of open tuning.

McIntosh has been living the history of Las Vegas entertainment since 1981. He came to town armed with credentials from Boston's prestigious Berklee College of Music, only to land a job with Dondino, then the epitome of Vegas' open shirt-and-gold chains lounge singer.

And he celebrated the history of rock and pop nightly for 15 years as part of the house band for "Legends in Concert." Along the way, teaching guitar turned into teaching this class to nonmusicians. Now, after helming the class since 1994, McIntosh is officially a rock historian. This fall, the course textbook is a new one he co-wrote with Timothy Jones: "Rock 'n Roll: Its Origins & Innovators."

McIntosh is especially proud of the cover: the painting "B Stage" by Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood. Two years ago, thanks to connections stemming from McIntosh's work on the Strip, one door opened another and Wood ended up playing on McIntosh's labor-of-love album, "Orleans to London."

Wood not only came through with the new favor, but declined a royalty from the textbook publisher for the artwork.

McIntosh still is dealing out musical history each night on the Strip as well as in the classroom. Early this year, he joined the house band of "Jersey Boys" after a long stint as the guitarist for "Mamma Mia!"

"I'm more aware of the different (musical) eras and respect them more, probably because of teaching this class," he says. The Four Seasons and their "Italian Motown" get mentioned in his class. ABBA, alas, does not.

Contact reporter Mike Weatherford at mweatherford@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0288.