Forgotten Fretmasters #19 - Roy Buchanan 

I hate guitar heroes and solos more than 30 seconds.Except Roy.

Cool brother, it was Tommy James, Paul Revere etc., and all the usual Brits....Buchanan blew my mind along with the American black & white bluesers....50 year Fender man here since the fifth grade....rock on brother

Same here. I can't remember when I first heard Roy (probably on an alternative or community radio station in Pittsburgh) but when I saw him perform live, that was it. I had already been playing for 5 years but when I heard his sound and saw what he did on a Tele, that was it for me. The best sound with no fancy tunings and no pedals. And when I found a used Guild "Roy Buchanan", I bought it without any hesitation. Did you see on the doco about him when he talks about the string gauge he used? Heavy AF. Imagine his hand strength and callouses! RIP Roy.

@@MrJoelyms 👍👍

I saw the same special, same time. Best blues ever played by a white guy!

Remember watching the same program and being awed by the guitarist. Also, I saw Buchanan perform in Boathouse in Norfolk, Virginia. He was the only performer on the bill that night. Buchanan was leading a trio that night, and the highlight of the show was his band performing the "Are You Experienced" album. Yes, I remember the band playing the entire album. Also saw him in 1973 at the Chicago Auditorium, Theater. The band was Buchanan, a drummer and a bass player. And the thing that impressed me was Buchanan playing his tele and he had his amp, a small Fender, sitting on a traditional, classic folding metal chair and in that theater, that small amp sounded so incredibly large. Hearing Buchanan play live was an incredible experience and an emotional rollercoaster. He was one of the seriously great artists.

You should have stayed quiet and not interfere with the recording.

Was that the gig with Fusion and 11th House? I was a big jazz, jazz fusion fan and one of the guys, Bob D’Andre, was a professional musician and he told me, Roy was every bit as good as Larry Coryell and he was really looking forward to seeing Roy.

@@cobar5334 people get worked up…chill…should have, would have gets us nowhere. Hi Saul Mahavishnu in Central Park and John had asked for a moment of quiet and the guitarist I met later said that his bass player had screamed out to get included on the recording and hopefully his voice would’ve been preserved. I always thought it was a little rude but said nothing it is on the album between nothingness and eternity in the very beginning

@@michaelbrickley2443 No I think that was at Avery Fisher Hall

@@bobbyg3269 the show I saw was at Town Hall. I know Avery Fisher very well. Saw Genesis there when it was still Philharmonic Hall. There aren’t many venues in NYC that I didn’t see shows. The legendary Schaeffer Fest in Central Park was a favorite. Led Zep played there and I heard it was phenomenal.

Do you still have that interview???

@@lukeglatts2361 No tape...just memories. I waited for Roy and the band between sets as they made their way back from the corner diner and their burgers and fries dinner. We sat in what served as the green room; a second floor college classroom. He seemed relaxed and spoke about how much he enjoyed the crowd response that evening and could've played all night if he weren't feeling so tired from just getting off of drugs. The most shocking thing he conveyed was that he was found contemplating suicide when he heard that Hendrix had died. Went on to tell what a great influence he was and marveled at his playing. Felt part of the problem that led to Jimi's demise was the audience not accepting the new Blues/Jazz direction he was going in. Said he heard audiences booing and hissing at him on taped recordings that passed his way. Said most great players, better than him, are either strung out or refuse to put up w managers, agents, lawyers and the like. He conveyed how dumbfounded audiences were in the early 50's when he played. Said he was never into Frankie Avalon nor Yellow Polka Dot Bikini and white audiences just couldn't understand him. He had hopes of connecting w Billy Preston, Bill Wyman and others to form a supergroup in the near future. In closing he stressed, to a 19 year old budding journalist, that drugs are no way. Only God could lead to a healthy, creative and productive life. As I think back; his stature, his commitment, the majesty with which he played and the sheer power of the sound pouring forth from the stage that cold evening in early December 1973 will forever remain clearly ingrained within me.

@@JC-oz6xnthanks for sharing such a detailed response. Greatly appreciated.

yeah me too

And his version of Peter Gunn incredible

I like the mood in his "Wayfairing pilgrim" . Its special, can't get it to describe it, but there it is. One of the best blues tracks ever imho.

@@myplan8166 you got me on that one!!! had to go listen----i understand!!! blues with a feeling!!! O-YEAH!!!

Unknown to who- tribes in the Amazon? What guitar guy doesn't know Roy? The official Worlds Greatest Unknown title was coined (accurately) for fellow DC area player Danny Gatton.

Oh, man, very cool! That's right around the time I would have seen him at the Crossroads, but I didn't remember the name of the band. Great band!

I was thinking a little about the bridge pick up it's special

Roy Buchanan & Danny Gatton. as good as most players who have picked up a Tele ..

@@vincentl.9469 not true

@@Molt408 who do you think is a great Tele player ?

This was in the early 70's. The Crossroads bar I think was around Wsahington, D.C.

Yup in Bladensburg MD@@bloozswami

Lonnie should be the subject of one of these-without Lonnie Macks influence most of these other guys wouldn't exist . Never got his due in his lifetime and had the bad luck to die on the same day as Prince so passed almost unnoticed.

@@Sota-son I was blessed to open several shows for another guitar great, Jerry Miller. Jerry's style is quite unique and been the influence of many guitarists. Cheers from Seattle 🍻 Alex

Right? I'll be going down that rabbit hole at work next week. What a sound.

Just the name of the series, dude.... it's meant to denote a player who's not as well known. I know he has his hardcore fans, of which I count myself.

For R.E.O's lead guitarist Gary Richrath are two very talented guitarist, RIP to Both.

Gary and Roy are my two favorite unknown and underrated top 10 guitari of all time

No doubt. As an ex lifer in NY ...seen cops do some horrific shit in prison. Murder one of their own ...1981 Donna Payant in Greenhaven. I was in B Block five company 280 cell. They murdered her and a bulldozer ran over her body at the Dutchess co landfill. They kill tons of inmates. Too much power in the hands of people with character flaws and power trips

I saw him there too!

I misspelled his last name, it should read Thackery. Please, please, listen to this man for he is surely phenomenal!!!!!

Buchanan great bender, tone; BUT Gatton best ever hands down; Beck could also outplay Buchanan the Beck in 72-76. There's others Leny Breau, Django, Wes, Scotty Anderson, Johny Smith, Hank Garland all better than Buchanan .

@@TheGattonmaster I would never say Roy was greatest ever. He was the master of pulling off the wild tones Blues and bends on that Tele. It’s too difficult to say any one guitarist was the greatest because of the vast array of styles of music-Blues,Jazz,Classical,Bluegrass etc. Gatton surely was in the top few with his fluid style-especially of Bluesy Rockabilly Jazz -Danny was a Monster. L Breau’ was hands down probably the best finger style Jazz Cat ever-But Joe Pass was a monster too. Al Dimeola’ is up there with that handful of players. Scoefield is pretty amazing. Garland,Joe Maphis, Wes , Burrell,Smith,Christian ,Kessel and those Jazz cats were all up there. And yes Django who created a unique style of soloing. Beck is definitely great--Always was better than Clapton,page and the other slingers from his Era, and to this Day is a monster at tone bends volume control. Best!!!

Donnie Bell. Beck didn't even come close. You're welcome.

That's not old for a genius guitarist as Roy. I knew him personally years ago.

Yup, those are THE tunes. Five string blues.....that guitar is literally in need of tissues!

Doubtful.

What’s funny is that I used to try to keep these under 15 minutes… But so many people get pissed off when you miss an album or a single or one moment that is insignificant in their lives. I started to have to include EVERYTHING in an effort to be complete. So it naturally pushed the time up.