Jeff Beck, 1944 – 2023

British guitarist Jeff Beck died this week at the age of 78. He was know for his singing, melodic solo lines, seen here in a 2014 performance encore in Utrecht. The song, “‘Cause We’ve Ended As Lovers,” was written by Stevie Wonder for his ex-wife Syreeta Wright, who recorded it in 1974. Jeff Beck interpreted it as an instrumental the next year, and his version became more influential than the original. He often used it in perfomance as a finale or encore number, as at the Hollywood Bowl in 2017.

Mr. Beck recorded with The Yardbirds and The Jeff Beck Group in the 60s, and remained in demand as a sideman throughout his career. His sensitivity is obvious in this 2007 performance with Imogen Heap:

Imogen Heap (vocals), Jeff Beck (guitar), Jason Rebello (keyboards),  Tal Wilkenfeld (bass),  Vinnie Colaiuta (drums).

More:

“Jeff Beck, Guitarist With a Chapter in Rock History, Dies at 78,” Jim Farber, New York Times

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Scotty Moore, 1931 – 2016

Guitarist Scotty Moore died Tuesday at the age of 84. In 1955, at tiny Sun Studio in Memphis, Mr. Moore played his Gibson ES-295 through an EchoSonic amp and, along with bass player Bill Black, backed up young Elvis Presley on an uptempo version of Junior Parker‘s song “Mystery Train.” It was the first Rock n’ Roll record many people ever heard.

You can hear the key role Scotty Moore’s finger-picked guitar played in propelling the tune on the Elvis recording and on the version he recorded in 1964 without a lead vocal:

Lonnie Mack, 1941– 2016

Virtuoso electric guitarist Lonnie Mack died last Thursday at the age of 74. In 1963 he recorded the groundbreaking electric guitar instrumentals “Memphis,” “Wham!”, “Chicken Pickin,” and “Suzie Q” and is considered the father of the “Blues Rock” genre.

B.B. King, 1925 — 2015

Influential singer and guitarist Riley B. King died yesterday at the age of 89. He popularized electric Blues guitar and the Urban Blues musical style, performing under the name he adopted as a disc-jockey on WDIA radio in Memphis, B.B. King.

Bobby Parker, 1937 — 2013

Guitarist and singer Bobby Parker, beloved figure on DC’s Blues scene, passed away last Thursday in Bowie. Tributes from as far away as Argentina, Hungary, The Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and India have noted his passing.

More:

“Bobby Parker, influential blues singer-guitarist and showman,” Terence McArdle, Washington Post

“Blues Guitarist Bobby Parker Dies at Age 76,” Ally Schweitzer, Washington City Paper blog

J.J. Cale, 1938 – 2013

“J.J. Cale, Musician and Songwriter, Dies at 74,” By Ravi Somaiya, New York Times

“Grammy-winning singer-songwriter J.J. Cale dies at 74,” Matt Schudel, Washington Post

“Musician JJ Cale dies; wrote Clapton, Skynyrd hits,” Chris Talbott, AP via USA Today

“Tulsa Sound artist JJ Cale dead at 74,” Tulsa World

J.J. Cale website

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Hubert Sumlin

Blues guitarist Hubert Sumlin, best known for his collaboration with Howlin’ Wolf, passed away on December 4, 2011. He was 80 years old.

“Hubert Sumlin, Master of Blues Guitar, Dies at 80,” Bill Friskics-Warren, New York Times

“Hubert Sumlin Dead at 80,” Rolling Stone

“Guitarist Hubert Sumlin energized Howlin’ Wolf’s hits,” Howard Reich, Chicago Tribune

“Hubert Sumlin obituary,” Tony Russell, The Guardian

“Legendary blues guitarist Hubert Sumlin asked for his guitar before he died,” Dan Goldberg,  Newark Star Ledger

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Image by Mike Licht. Download a copy here. Creative Commons license; credit Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com

Comments are welcome if they are on-topic, substantive, concise, and not boring or obscene. Comments may be edited for clarity and length.

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Bert Jansch, 1943 – 2011

“Bert Jansch, an Influential Folk Guitarist, Is Dead at 67,” William Grimes, New York Times

“Bert Jansch: a modest man with an immodest talent,” Pete Paphides, The Guardian

“Brilliant Guitarist Bert Jansch: An Appreciation,” Tom Cole, All Songs Considered, NPR