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Staff Spotlight: Guitarists

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Brought to you by: Terr from Technology & Metadata Services

How long have you been at Helen Plum Library? 4 years

Why did you choose this topic?

This blog will touch on 4 guitarists who were exceptional in their time but have been forgotten. Let’s start with a common theme, guys who have replaced Eric Clapton in a band. The easy one is Jeff Beck who replaced Clapton in the Yardbirds. The lesser-known guitarist is Peter Green. He replaced Eric Clapton in John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers. Following that brief stint, Green formed the original Fleetwood Mac, an excellent blues band. Though Green was the founder, he named it after two of his bandmates, Mick Fleetwood and John McVie.

Another outstanding guitarist who died young (in his 30’s) is Michael Bloomfield. He was part of the Paul Butterfield Blues band, teaming with Elvin Bishop on lead guitars. He later worked with Bob Dylan on Like a Rolling Stone. He can also be heard on Super Session (Bloomfield/Stills/Kooper), an early attempt at a super group that lasted for one recording session.

Hubert Sumlin was the lead guitarist for Howlin’ Wolf and is considered one of the greatest blues guitar players. In the last Rolling Stone magazine poll of guitarists, the top 5 all have credited Hubert Sumlin with influencing them. With Jimmy Page stating that Sumlin was the greatest blues guitarist ever. High praise indeed!!!

The last but certainly not least of these forgotten guitarists is Les Paul, the inventor of the solid-state electric guitar. All of the great electric guitarists are in his debt, they make their living based on his invention.

That’s it for now, until the next time.

- Terr

  1. Guitar King: Michael Bloomfield's Life in the Blues (781.64309 BLOOMFIE)
  2. Highway 61 Revisited (CD POP/ROCK DYLAN)
  3. The Best of John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers, 1964-69: As It All Began (CD BLUES MAYALL)
  4. Crossroads: Eric Clapton Guitar Festival 2010 (DVD 781.66 CROSSROA)
  5. Howlin' Wolf: Moanin' in the Moonlight (CD BLUES HOWLIN')
  6. His Best (CD BLUES HOWLIN')
  7. Muddy Wolf at Red Rocks (CD POP/ROCK BONAMASS)
  8. Les Paul: Chasing Sound! (DVD BIOG PAUL)
  9. The Best of the Capitol Masters: Selections From "The Legend and the legacy" Box Set (CD POP/ROCK PAUL)
  10. The Birth of Loud: Leo Fender, Les Paul, and the Guitar-Pioneering Rivalry That Shaped Rock 'n' Roll by Ian S. Porter (787.8719 PORT)
  11. British Blues Explosion Live (CD POP/ROCK BONAMASS)
  12. Slowhand: The Life and Music of Eric Clapton by Phillip Norman (781.6609 CLAPTON)
  13. All Music Guide to the Blues: The Experts' Guide to the Best Blues Recordings edited by Michael Erlewine [and others] (781.64309 ALL)
  14. Crossroads: How the Blues Shaped Rock 'n' Roll (and Rock Saved the Blues) by John Milward (781.6609 MILWARD)
  15. The Blues: A Very Short Introduction by Elijah Wald (781.64309 WALD)