Recommendations of the Editorial team
Chuck Berry
Chuck Berry was married, had a child and struggled with various jobs before his appearances with blues bands in St. Louis became more than just a hobby. Pianist Johnnie Johnson:. In 1953 Berry jumped in his trio when the guitarist got sick. With his showman quality and rapidly growing guitar skills, he soon became band leader-in 1955 the contract was followed by Chess Records. Johnson played the piano on Berry’s first single “Maybellene”, which immediately topped the R&B charts.
Jack White
As a teenager, White wanted to go to the seminar, but his amplifier was not allowed. Instead, he started an upholsterer teaching at a punk fan that brought him into a duo. Later, White led his own upholstery company before realizing the duo idea with wife Meg: the White Stripes were born-and with them a unique career as a musician, producer, archivist and label chief.
Jimmy Page
Perhaps it was fate: when the family moved, Page found a guitar left behind in the new house. He taught himself to Elvis and Skiffle songs, which he heard on the radio. Soon he played studios sessions in London (for the Kinks and the WHO) before entering the Yardbirds briefly. With Robert Plant, John Paul Jones and John Bonham, he finally founded Led Zeppelin – one of the greatest bands ever.
Joe Bonamassa
Bonamassa could hardly escape the guitar: his parents led a music business, and he himself reached the guitar at the age of four. At eleven he learned from virtuoso Danny Gatton. In the nineties he played at Bloodline with the sons of Miles Davis, Robby Krieger and Berry Oakley. He has been pursuing a successful solo career since 2000, started with “A New Day Yesterday”.
Eric Clapton
At 13, Clapton got a cheap guitar that was so difficult to play that he first put her aside. At 15, the instrument grabbed him again – he took on a blues plate on a tape while playing. Already at 18 he joined the Yardbirds in 1963. This started a legendary career full of collaborations and millions sold.
Dan Auerbach
Auerbach grew up with his parents’ old blues LPS, but only took the music seriously in college. He broke off to devote himself to the guitar, inspired by the raw sound of the Mississippi-Bluesmann Junior Kimbrough. The Black Keys later developed their own style, but Auerbach’s Kimbrough fascination returned to the EP tribute “Chulahoma” in 2006.
Pete Townshend
His father played saxophone in a RAF band, but rock’n’roll from the USA-especially Bill Haley-shaped the young Pete. At eleven he saw the film Rock Around The Clock again and again until his grandmother gave him the first guitar. Shortly afterwards he played with John Destle in bands; Together they joined Roger Daltrey and finally Keith Moon: The Who was born.
John Mayer
After two semesters at Berklee College of Music, Mayer moved to Atlanta to play with a friend as a duo Lofi Masters. After separation, he brought out the EP Inside Wants Out on his own – with the song “No Such Thing”. This later became the first hit on his debut album Room for Squares and paved Mayer the way to the contract at Columbia.
Jimi Hendrix
Hendrix was already a professional musician as a teenager and played for Wilson Pickett, Sam Cooke and Little Richard. But it was not until 1966 in London to himself: Manager Chas Chandler provided him with Noel Redding and Mitchell. At a club gig, in front of an audience with members of the Beatles, Stones, WHO and Clapton, he completely convinced. His debut Are You Experience appeared six months later.
Clark played small shows as a teenager until club owner Phil Antone discovered him and Jimmie Vaughan as well as blues greats such as James Cotton and Hubert Sumlin. Eric Clapton soon took him under his wing, invited him to the CrossRoads Festival in 2010 and in 2011 as support in Brazil. This started Clark’s climb.