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Related: Culture Forums, Support ForumsLonnie Mack, July 18, 1941 - April 21, 2016
Groundbreaking guitarist and vocalist Lonnie Mack, known as one of rocks first true guitar heroes, died on April 21, 2016 of natural causes at Centennial Medical Center near his home in Smithville, Tennessee. His early instrumental recordings among them Wham! and Memphis -- influenced many of rock's greatest players, including Eric Clapton, Duane Allman, Keith Richards, Jimmy Page and especially Stevie Ray Vaughan. He was 74.
Rolling Stone called him a pioneer in rock guitar soloing. Guitar World said, Mack attacked the strings with fast, aggressive single-string phrasing and a seamless rhythm style that significantly raised the guitar virtuoso bar and foreshadowed the arena-sized tones of guitar heroes to come. The Chicago Tribune wrote, With the wiggle of a whammy bar and a blinding run of notes up and down the neck of his classic Gibson Flying V, Lonnie Mack launched the modern guitar era.
Drawing from influences as diverse as rhythm and blues, country, gospel and rockabilly, Macks guitar work continues to be revered by generation after generation of musicians. He recorded a number of singles and a total of 11 albums for labels including Fraternity, Elektra, Alligator, Epic and Capitol.
Mack was born Lonnie McIntosh on July 18, 1941 in Harrison, Indiana, twenty miles west of Cincinnati. Growing up in rural Indiana, Mack fell in love with music as a child. From family sing-alongs he developed a deep appreciation of country music, while he absorbed rhythm and blues from the late-night R&B radio stations and gospel from his local church. Starting off with a few chords that he learned from his mother, Lonnie gradually blended all the sounds he heard around him into his own individual style. He named Merle Travis and Robert Ward (of the Ohio Untouchables) as his main guitar influences, and George Jones and Bobby Bland as vocal inspirations.
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I'm not familiar with his music, so here's 'Memphis' from 1963. I find I am enjoying it now...
Cooley Hurd
(26,877 posts)Cross, gently, Lonnie...
pintobean
(18,101 posts)Stevie co-produced, and played on, Lonnie's 1985 "Strike Like Lightning" album.
Thanks for posting.
ETA - and this, with Albert Collins & Roy Buchanan, kicks ass.
kentauros
(29,414 posts)I like how he was so versatile that he can't really be pigeonholed by the music industry. Best label would be "Rock Guitarist Legend"
panader0
(25,816 posts)Miles Archer
(18,837 posts)Here's my all-time favorite performance, from his "Attack Of The Killer V" live album.
Really easy to see how he influenced Stevie Ray on this one. "I take what I get and play where I stay, if you have to know..."
R.I.P., Memphis Man.
kentauros
(29,414 posts)Yes, it is easy to hear how he influenced SRV, and many others. I'm going to have to look for some of his music soon, so thanks for posting this.
nolabear
(41,986 posts)Bluzmann57
(12,336 posts)I was getting ready to post something about this but you already did, so I won't. But here's a suggestion; how about Lonnie Mack music at Cinncinnatti Reds games? From Cincy originally and Prince will be getting his tunes played everywhere so...Just a thought. Rest in Peace Lonnie Mack. The world lost a pioneer in Rock guitar.
kentauros
(29,414 posts)They'd probably enjoy getting a letter about that, and might even consider it. Although, it's hard to displace The Organ at baseball games