31

RyCooder

Ian Dickson/Redferns
RyCooderoncelikenedhisplayingasublimeamalgamofAmericanfolkandblues,Hawaiianslack
keyguitar,theTexMexzestofconjuntoandtheregalsensualityofAfroCubansonas"somekindof
steamdevicegoneoutofcontrol."Cooder'slifeonguitarhasbeendistinguishedbyararemixofarchaic
fundamentalsandexploratorypassion,fromhisemergenceasateenagebluesphenomenonwithTaj
MahalandCaptainBeefheartinthemidSixtiestohisrootsandnoirfilmsoundtracksandcentralrolein
thebirthandsuccessofthe1996HavanasupersessionBuenaVistaSocialClub.Asasideman,Cooder
hasbroughttruegritandemotionalnuancetoclassicalbumsbyRandyNewman,theRolling
StonesandEricClapton.Cooderisalsoasoulfulpreservationist,keepingvitalpastsaliveanddynamicin
themodernworld.Agoodexample:thenightBobDylanshowedupatCooder'shouseaskingforalesson
onhowtoplayguitarlikethebluesmanSleepyJohnEstes.
KeyTracks:"MemoFromTurner,""Boomer'sStory"

32

BillyGibbons

Lorne Resnick/Redferns
BillyGibbonswasaguitaristtobereckonedwithlongbeforehegrewthatepicbeard.Inearly1968,his
psychedelicgarageband,theMovingSidewalks,openedfourTexasshowsfortheJimi
HendrixExperience.Accordingtolocalacidrocklore,HendrixwassoimpressedbyGibbons'facilityand
firepowerthathegavetheyoungguitaristapinkStratocasterasagift.Gibbonshassincegliblydescribed
whatheplayswithhisfourdecadeoldtrio,ZZTop,as"spankin'theplank."Butfromthemuscular
boogieof"LaGrange"andthegnarlyoffbeatshuffleof"JesusLeftChicago"tothesynthlinedglideof
Eightieshits"Legs"and"SharpDressedMan,"Gibbons'guitarworkhasbeenreligiouslytrue,inits
thunderboltattackandmelodicconcision,tohisTexasforebears(FreddyKing,AlbertCollins)andthe
electricDeltachargeofMuddyWaters."Youcandefinitelymakesomeonewiggleintheirseatalittle
bit,"Gibsonsaysofhissolos,"ifyouknowwhereyou'reheadingwithitandendupthere."
KeyTracks:"JesusLeftChicago,""LaGrange"

33

Prince

Frank Micelotta/Getty Images

Heplayedarguablythegreatestpowerballadguitarsoloinhistory("PurpleRain"),andhissoloonan
allstarperformanceof"WhileMyGuitarGentlyWeeps"duringGeorgeHarrison'sRockandRollHall
ofFameinductionin2004hadjawsonthefloor.ButhecanalsobringthenastyfunklikeJimmyNolen
andNileRodgers(listentothegroovemagicof"Kiss")orshredlikethefiercestmetalhead("When
DovesCry").Sometimeshishottestplayingsimplyfunctionsasbackgroundsee"GettOff"and"Dance
On."PrincegetsalotofHendrixcomparisons,butheseesitdifferently:"Iftheyreallylistenedtomy
stuff,they'dhearmoreofaSantanainfluencethanJimiHendrix,"heoncetoldRollingStone."Hendrix
playedmoreblues,Santanaplayedprettier."ToMilesDavis,whocollaboratedwiththePurpleOne
towardtheendofhislife,Princewasacombinationof"JamesBrown,JimiHendrix,MarvinGaye...and
CharlieChaplin.Howcanyoumisswiththat?"
KeyTracks:"PurpleRain,""Kiss,""WhenDovesCry"