Happy Birthday Roy Buchanan!
Hi WA Friends!
Today, let's celebrate the birthday of the late great Roy Buchanan! He died tragically in 1998 at only 48 years old.
In the image on the left in the header photo, he looks a little like Rob Reiner (the "Meat Head" in the TV show "All In The Family") without a beard, don't you think?
Roy is considered a master of the Telecaster (guitar) and was an awesome Rock, Blues, Jazz, and Country player.
He started out playing the steel guitar in a Country band and then switched to the 6-string guitar. He brought his lap steel technique into the world of guitar playing, and you can hear this very prominently in his unique style.
Roy's music influenced Danny Gatton, Gary Moore, David Gilmour, and Jeff Beck, to name a few! Jeff dedicated his rendition of Stevie Wonder's "Cause We've Ended As Lovers" (Blow By Blow album) to Roy!
I'd recommend you start by listening to the albums "That's What I Am Here For," "When a Guitar Plays The Blues," and "Sweet Dreams."
Over the years, Roy left behind a massive discography of incredible music:
Studio Albums
- Buch and the Snakestretchers, 1971
- Roy Buchanan, 1972
- Second Album, 1973
- That's What I Am Here For, 1973
- In the Beginning 1974
- A Street Called Straight, 1976
- Loading Zone, 1977
- You're Not Alone, 1978
- My Babe, 1980
- When a Guitar Plays the Blues, 1985
- Dancing on the Edge, 1986
- Hot Wires, 1987
Live Albums
- Live Stock, 1975
- Live in Japan, 1978
- Live: Charly Blues Legend, 1987
- Live in U.S.A. & Holland, 1991
- Roy Buchanan Live, 1999
- American Axe, 1974
- Live: Amazing Grace, 2009
- Live at Rockpalast, (rec. 1985) 2011
- Live from Austin, TX (rec. 1976) 2012
- Shredding the Blues: Live at My Father's Place, 2014
- Telemaster: Live in '75, 2017
- Live at Town Hall (rec. 1974), 2018
Compilation Albums
- The Best of Roy Buchanan, 1982
- The Early Years, 1989
- Sweet Dreams: The Anthology, 1992
- Guitar on Fire, 1993
- Malaguena, 1996
- Before And After, 1999
- Deluxe Edition: Roy Buchanan, 2001
- The Best of Roy Buchanan, 2002
- The Prophet , 2004
- The Definitive Collection, 2006
- Hi-Five: Roy Buchanan, 2007
- After Hours, 2016
You can also find two great video performances of Roy:
- Live From Austin Texas (Austin City Limits), 1976
- Live From Rockpalast, 1985
Keep On Rockin' ๐ค
๏ปฟFrank ๐ธ
Recent Comments
35
You are a guitar head, like a gear head if you built and worked on trucks, cars, racing cars, of the rocker world for sure. Dag gone, you and an endless supply of hey check this rocker, jammer, steel slide, guitar picker out. Can not wait for Jerry Reed, Chet Atkins, and the other great finger pickers players' birthdays to roll around.
Here is a funny one, looking at your Lita Ford post, gosh I had it bad for her back in the day, a woman after my heart, could rock better than me! Anyway, I am watching a video, my buddy is backstage with her trying to hit on her after she came back to rocking when her daughter came of age. She did not even raise an eyebrow, reminds me of an AC/DC song, Shot down in flames!
Ah, good times, miss working the stage, but then I do not! Hahaha. Thanks for doing what ya do bro. I love it.
Hey, Scott
โGuitar head,โ Thanks for that- Iโm really honored! ๐๐๐๐
Iโm so glad youโre enjoying it!
Thatโs a great story and I love AC/DC! Angus Young rules!
Keep On Rockinโ ๐ค
Frank ๐ธ
Oh what a gem you shared here, he is now on my Apple playlist and adding some great ear candy to bless my days. Thank you very much.
I do love his steel guitar-style licks on that Teli!
You're very welcome, Scott!
Somehow Roy escaped you, but now you've got a ton of outstanding new music to explore! ๐
Frank ๐ธ
Yes that I do for sure, so far half the morning and the entire afternoon. Next live show I do, I will use his music as the mains sound check for some fun. See if anyone knows how is blasting the jams.
Another fun story, got a call to do a show last minute, 4th of July in Fontana California, that was a long day, and I refused most after that event.
However, I get things running, no stage hands that know a stage plot, mics just plugged in randomly. Was a very stressful event.
When I went to check the mains, get the amps tuned and such I used one of my favorite songs, Low Rider by the band WAR. Two of the members in the band on the stage I was working on were members of that band and the audio engineer that had been working that band for years, who God bless him, helped save the show, we both got that working inside of 20 minutes after we discovered our problem on stage.
I never want to endure a day like that again, and I do my homework to help ensure that things go as close to plan as possible, but I am so glad I got to experience that day. Many positive lessons are in my tool chest to share when needed.
Thatโs so cool, a sound check with Royโs music! ๐
I really like Low Rider. If youโve ever seen the movie โGone In 60 Seconds,โ with Nicholas Cage and Angelina Jolie then you know what Iโm talking about!
If you havenโt seen it and you like nice cars definitely check it out!
Frank ๐ธ
Happy Birthday Roy!!
Can't say that I am familiar with this lad Frank, but I will definitely check some of his work out!
What would be one of his best known pieces my friend??
Keep on Rockin'!!
Hi, Nick
These are some of Roy's best-known tunes:
Wayfaring Pilgrim
The Messiah Will Come Again
Sweet Dreams
Royโs Bluz
Hey Joe (Jimi Hendrix cover)
Check them out!
Frank ๐ธ
The lad could definitely play Frank!
I have listened to "sweet dreams" from a live concert in 76, somewhere (I can't remember where now) but it was just musical.. no singing!!
Just finished listening to "Hey Joe" and he wasn't bad my friend... but definitely not anywhere near JIMI!!
๐ป๐๐
Everyone bows to Jimi Hendrix, Nick! ๐
Check out the Wayfaring Pilgrim and The Messiah Will Come Again!
Frank ๐ธ
They do indeed buddy.. or at least shoud do!!
They are next on my list to check out Frank!!
I'll have to look him up, Frank! The name sounds familiar though!
Happy Birthday, Roy!
Jeff๐ธ๐ค
Hi, Jeff
Most likely, you've heard some of Roy's music.
He was an incredible player, so check him out!
There's lots available to stream on YouTube.๐
Keep On Rockin' ๐ค
Frank ๐ธ
Thanks, Frank! I'll do that when I get the chance, my friend!
Enjoy your Frisatsu!
Jeff๐๐ค๐ธ
That's Great to hear, Frank, and I will too, having written another four pages in my next book. If all goes well, I hope to publish it Sunday!
Jeff๐๐บ
See more comments
Thank you, Frank, for another bio on another great guitarist - and rocker!
-Mike
Youโre welcome, Mike. ๐
Check out some of Royโs tunes if youโre not familiar!
Frank ๐ธ
I certainly will!
-Mike