Roy Buchanan

Roy Buchanan (September 23, 1939 - August 14, 1988) was an American guitarist and blues musician, and was considered a soulful master of the electric guitar.

Early career

Roy Buchanan's musical career began in Pixley, California. His father was in the main a sharecropper (not a Pentecostal preacher as Buchanan himself had claimed). Buchanan told how his first musical memories were of racially-mixed revival meetings his family would attend. "Gospel," he 'recalled', "that's how I first got into black music". This however was not true, merely a mark of the enigmatic nature of the man who in fact drew upon many disparate influences whilst learning to play his instrument (although he later claimed his aptitude was derived from being "half-wolf"). He initially showed precocious talent on the steel guitar before switching to the standard instrument in the early 50's where upon began an extraordinary relationship with the instrument which was to give rise to arguably one of its most accomplished exponents.

Related Topics:
Pixley - California - Pentecostal

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In 1957, Buchanan made his recording debut, playing the solo on Dale Hawkins' "My Babe" for Chicago's Chess Records.

Related Topics:
Dale Hawkins - Chess Records

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Three years later, Buchanan headed north to Canada, where he took charge of the guitar role in Ronnie Hawkins' band (a group later to gain fame as The Band). The group's bass player, Robbie Robertson, studied guitar under Buchanan, and took over the lead guitar spot when Buchanan split.

Related Topics:
Ronnie Hawkins - The Band - Robbie Robertson

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The early 60's found Buchanan performing countless gigs as a sideman with nameless rock bands, and cutting a number of sessions as guitarist with musicians as diverse as pop idol Freddy Cannon and country star Merle Kilgore.

Related Topics:
Sideman - Freddy Cannon - Merle Kilgore

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