19

JamesBurton

David Redfern/Redferns
JamesBurton'strademark"chickenpickin'"stylebright,crispandconciselisoneofthemostunique
soundsincountrymusic,andahugeinfluenceonrockguitaraswell.Burtongothisstartwhenhewas
14,writing"SusieQ,"forDaleHawkins,andbecameateenagestarwhenhejoinedRickyNelson'sband
in1957.WithNelson,Burtoncreatedhisdistincttechnique:Heusedafingerpickandaflatpick,and
replacedthefourhigheststringsonhisTelecasterwithbanjostrings,sothathisguitarsnapped,popped
andstuttered."IneverboughtaRickyNelsonrecord,"KeithRichardssaid."IboughtaJamesBurton
record."InthelateSixtiesandSeventies,heconvenedElvis'TCBbandandbecameagotoguyon
countrymindedrecordsbyJoniMitchellandGramParsons,andstilltourstoday."Hewasjusta
mysteriousguy:'WhoisthisguyandwhyisheonalltheserecordsIlike?'"saysJoeWalsh."His
techniquewasallimportant."
KeyTracks:"HelloMaryLou,""SusieQ,""BelieveWhatYouSay"

20

Carlos Santana

Larry Hulst/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

MexicanbornCarlosSantanahadjustfinishedhighschoolinSanFrancisco,in1965,whenthecity's
musicsceneexploded,exposinghimtoawealthofrevelationselectricblues,Africanrhythmsand
modernjazz;guitarmentorssuchasJerryGarciaandFleetwoodMac'sPeterGreenthatbecamekey
strandsintheLatinrhythmpsychedeliaofhisnamesakeband.Santana'scrystallinetoneandcleanarcing
sustainmakehimtherareinstrumentalistwhocanbeidentifiedinjustonenote.Asforhisbold,
exploratorystyle,hegivespartialcredittohisacidintake."YoucannottakeLSDandnotfindyour
voice,"heclaims,"becausethereisnowheretohide.You'renotgoingtosoundplasticorcute."The
welcomingforceofSantana'ssoundmakeshimanidealcollaboratorhissuperstarladen1999
album,Supernatural,wonnineGrammysandenduringinspiration.Princecalledhimabiggerinfluence
thanJimiHendrix:"Santanaplayedprettier."
KeyTracks:"BlackMagicWoman,""OyeComoVa,""SoulSacrifice"

21

ChetAtkins

David Redfern/Redferns
AsarecordexecutiveandproducerintheSixties,ChetAtkinsinventedthepopwise"Nashvillesound"
thatrescuedcountrymusicfromacommercialslump.Asaguitarist,hewasevenmoreinventive,
masteringcountry,jazzandclassicalstylesandperfectingtheabilitytoplaychordsandmelody
simultaneously,thankstohisdistinctivethumbandthreefingerpickingstyle."Alotofitwastrialand
error,"AtkinstoldRollingStonein1976."Ijusthadadamnguitarinmyhands16hoursaday,andI
experimentedallthetime."Atkinscouldbelaidbackandrestrained(asheardoniconicrecordings
likeHankWilliams'"YourCheatin'Heart,"ElvisPresley's"HeartbreakHotel"andseveraloftheEverly
Brothers'earlyhits).Buthisowninstrumentalheavysoloalbumsareanendlessbagofguitartricks,
mixingharmonics,arpeggiosandpurenoteswithabrilliantlycleartone."Ithinkheinfluencedeverybody
whopickedupaguitar,"saidDuaneEddy.
KeyTracks:"YourCheatin'Heart,""WakeUpLittleSusie"