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ROY BUCHANAN: AMERICAN AXE
By Phil Carson
This biography is a compelling road trip through the gritty
world of honky tonks and beer joints where this enigmatic journeyman
preferred to play. Readers meet the biggest names in pop music
and legions of unknowns along the way, from the dawn of rock 'n'
roll to Buchanan's puzzling death in 1988.
Inventory #HL330775
Book $19.95 (US)
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Roy Buchanan
A brilliant guitarist whose name is barely known outside of certain
guitar circles, Roy Buchanan's career was marked by frustration,
disappointment, and ultimately, tragedy. But lack of commercial
success and fame aside, Buchanan's legacy is a handful
of enduring solo albums, accolades from some of rock's
greatest players, and a contribution to rock music's vocabulary
of his original techniques such as the volume swell and pinch
harmonics.
Roy Buchanan's career started in the early days of rock &
roll, playing for Dale Hawkins', and later Ronnie Hawkins', bands
in the late '50s. Though recognized as a great axeman early on
- he mentored the young Robbie Robertson as well as Danny Gatton
- success eluded him. In 1971 he was "discovered" by the Washington
DC press, then Rolling Stone, and he was featured in a public
TV documentary, The Best Unknown Guitarist in the World.
This led to his first major label releases during the '70s,
some of which sold moderately well but yielded no hits. Songs
like "The Messiah Will Come Again," "Sweet
Dreams," and "Tribute to Elmore James" were
nevertheless timeless gems from his first few albums. He continued
recording solo albums until throwing in the towel in 1981, citing
lack of creative freedom, and finally came back four years later
after signing with Alligator Records.
His full potential for success was probably never realized; in
1988 he committed suicide in jail and the long and tragic history
of Roy Buchanan came to a close.
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