Meet Legends and shoot 8-ball --Welcome to the Pool Hall, the Lair's bio page
Welcome to the Pool Hall, where legends of different times and places meet. In the corner, you spot BB King sinking the eight-ball while Blind Lemon Jefferson groans and shells out a five-spot. Stevie Ray Vaughan and Buddy Guy moan and lean against each other in mock agony as Eric Clapton and Robert Johnson slap each other five. Jonny Lang is tossed out on his @$$, his fake ID confiscated and shredded. Kenny Wayne Shepherd gushes excitedly over Albert King, who has a bemused look on his face. Sonny Boy Williamson and Junior Wells jam on stage, with Ry Cooder backing them on slide and Peetie Wheatstraw hitting the keys. Here, you can learn about my favorite blues artists. Since I'm not a blues historian, I'll keep the bios simple and cogent. It may actually be better that way, since you'll get easy-to-understand info on playing style (as well as some basic history for some of the artists) without trivial, unnecessary filler facts. Enjoy your stay.
The Musicians--
Stevie Ray Vaughan
Stevie Ray is one of the tragic glories of the blues. His style was electrifying, his will to live strong, and his disposition friendly. He fought for his life, and won it back, only to have it snatched away from him. Stevie picked up guitar because of the influence of his older brother, Jimmie. Stevie's band, Double Trouble, was the driving force of the '80s blues revival. Stevie's Texas-flavored riffs were blindingly fast and comprised many notes, yet his solos never sounded empty or hollow. He exposed a rock audience to blues greats such as BB King and Buddy Guy. He sounded like a Texan Hendrix, speeded up and made bluesier. Stevie Ray, unfortunately, had a terrible problem with cocaine. However, before it destroyed him, he decided to fight back. He entered rehabilitation, casting out his addiction. His life became happier and his music became even better. Then, he died. He died not from drugs. Stevie had won that battle. Life was taken from him in a tragic accident. He was in a helicopter crash which had killed everyone aboard. He had been taking the helicopter back from a triumphant concert with Robert Cray, Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy, and his brother Jimmie. That spectacular gathering of blues legends was the final, bright blaze of his flame before it was snuffed out by cruel fate. However, Stevie still lives on in the hearts of his fans and fans, and will continue to live on as long as there are people who play the blues.
BB King
BB King and Lucille are two halves of the most reconized partnership in the blues. The latest incarnation of Lucille, a custom Gibson ES-355, is the most recognized symbol of the blues, just as BB is the most recognized bluesman. His smooth, bend-laden style is instantly recognizeable. In the fifties, Riley B. King was the Beale Street Blues Boy, spinning vinyl on the radio and singing the virtues of the Pepticon tonic. He still occasionally gets a laugh out of memories of himself singing over the airwaves, "Pepticon, sho' is good... get it anywhere in your neighborhood (note: he has since found out that a good percentage of the tonic was alcohol.) He became famous for his rendition of "3 o'Clock Blues." His most famous and well-known song is "The Thrill is Gone." BB King, a kind and giving man, has played at jails and in third-world nations. He played in Russia, when the iron curtain was still holding strong. He is the blues' acknowleged ambassador; though you won't likely hear him profess it, he lives up to his nickname: the King of the Blues.
Sorry there's not much now, I just started working on it. There'll be much more sooner or later (probably sooner.) Enjoy what's here so far and check now and then for occasional updates. --Boy Blues
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