B.B. King https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ui21On1RWjA B.B. King was born Riley B. King on the 16th of September, 1925 on a cotton plantation near Itta Beana, Mississippi. At a young age B.B. King sang in a church gospel choir lead by a minister who played the guitar, this same minister taught B.B. King his first few chords [...]
Albert King https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Py37G9qsfY Albert King was born Albert King Nelson on a cotton plantation in Indianola, Mississippi on the 25th of April, 1923. One of 13 children, Albert spent his childhood singing with a family gospel group at a church where his father played guitar. Albert began his professional career with a band called The [...]
Freddie King https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ua3s1W7XF-8 Freddie King was born Fred King in Gilmer, Texas on the 3rd of September, 1934. Freddie began learning the guitar at the tender age of 6 from his Mother and Uncle. When Freddie was in his teens he and his family relocated from Texas to the South Side of Chicago. It’s here [...]
Pat Hare https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAqTrbuxCRI Pat Hare was born Auburn Hare in Cherry Valley, Arkansas on the 20th of December, 1930. Pat recorded at Sun Studios in Memphis, Tennessee, playing as a sideman for James Cotton, Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Bobby Bland and other blues artists. In 1951 Pat Joined a blues band led by Junior Parker [...]
T-Bone Walker https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQEEWC4ZxYQ T-Bone walker was born Aaron Thibeaux Walker in Linden, Texas, on the 28th of May, 1910. T-Bone was of African American and Cherokee descent and his parents where both musicians. At a young age his stepfather taught him to play the guitar, ukulele, banjo, mandolin, and piano. T-Bone’s parents where family friends [...]
Buddy Guy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxNzZunmh-Q Buddy Guy was born George Guy in Letsworth, Louisiana, on the 30th of July, 1936. Like so many other blues greats, Buddy learned the basics of guitar playing from a home made 2 strings diddley bow, he later graduated to an acoustic guitar his Father bought him for $2. It wasn’t until [...]
Albert Collins https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrfOpXApxYQ Albert Collins was born in Leona, Texas, on the 1st of October, 1933. Albert was first introduced to the guitar by his cousin, blues legend Lightnin’ Hopkins who often played for him and his family. Albert Collins originally began learning piano at a young age, but during times when his teacher was [...]
Muddy Waters https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5QKpsVzndc Muddy Waters was born McKinley Morganfield in Issaquena County, Mississippi, on the 30th of April, 1913. Muddy earned his nickname from his Grandmother who raised him after his Mother died not long after he was born. She called him “Muddy” because he loved to play in the mud of the nearby creek [...]
John Lee Hooker https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SxSa6a6am4 John Lee Hooker was born was in Coahoma County, Mississippi, on the 22nd of August, 1917. The youngest of 11 other siblings and the son of a Baptist preacher, John and the rest of his brothers and sisters where only allowed to listen to spiritual music. After his parents separated in [...]
Howlin’ Wolf https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LFjHo7Cdrw Howlin’ Wolf was born Chester Arthur Burnett in White Station, Mississippi, on the 10th of June, 1910. Even as a young man he stood well over 6 feet and weighed a hulking 125kg, his intimidating size earned him the nicknames “Big Foot Chester” and “Bull Cow”. He claimed to have received his famous name [...]
Robert Johnson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgShIx49n_w Robert Johnson was born Robert Leroy Johnson in Hazlehurst, Mississippi, on the 8th of May, 1911. When he was only young, Robert’s Father was forced to leave town by a mob following several disputes with white landowners. His Mother raised him for the next two years then sent him to live with [...]
Elmore James https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKo80b-QfK0 Elmore James was born Elmore Brooks in Richland, Holmes County, Mississippi on the 27th of January, 1918. Elmore learned the basics of blues and slide guitar plying at the age of 12 on a single string instrument strung against a shack wall called a “Jitterbug” or “Diddley Bow”. Elmore began his musical [...]
Jimi Hendrix https://youtu.be/hvv–UkFfV8 Jimi Hendrix was born Johnny Allen Hendrix in Seattle, Washington on the 27th of November 1942. In 1946, Jimi had his name changed from Johnny Allen Hendrix to James Marshall Hendrix to pay respect to his Father. Jimi was of African American and Cherokee descent and developed a habit of carrying a [...]
Jimmy Page https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIHabvURnpk Jimmy Page was born James Patrick Page, Jr. in Heston, Middlesex, on the 9th of January 1944. After moving house in 1952 Jimmy came across his first guitar, Jimmy has been quoted saying that he wasn’t sure whether the guitar had been left in the house by the previous tenants or whether [...]
Eric Clapton https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=becWr0vc6cA Eric Clapton was born Eric Patrick Clapton in Ripley, Surrey on the 30th of March 1945. The son of 16 year old Patricia Molly Clapton and 25 year old Canadian soldier Edward Walter Fryer, Eric was raised by his Grandparents after his Father shipped off to war then returned to Canada. During [...]
Jeff Beck https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyyhm1D7zlI Jeff Beck was born Geoffrey Arnold Beck in Wallington, London Borough of Sutton on the 24th of June 1944. At the age of 10 Jeff learned to sing in a school choir, in his teens Jeff began learning the guitar on one he borrowed from a friend. After falling in love with [...]
Keith Richards https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yy_RKazhtkI Keith Richards was born in Dartford, Kent on the 18th of December, 1943. Growing up an only child, Keith’s Grandfather Augustus Theodore Dupree, affectionately known as “Gus” was a jazz guitarist. When Keith would visit his Grandfather his attention would be drawn to his grandfather’s guitar that was kept on top of [...]
Pete Townshend Pete Townshend was born Peter Dennis Blandford Townshend in Chiswick, London, on the 19th of May 1945. Pete came from a musical family, his Mother was an orchestral singer and his Father was a professional saxophonist with “The Squadronaires” a dance band for The Royal Airforce. On a seaside trip Pete was taken [...]
David Gilmour https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vi7cuAjArRs David Gilmour was born David Jon Gilmour in Cambridge, on the 6th of March, 1946. David’s parents always encouraged his interest in music, in 1954 David bought “Rock Around the Clock” by Bill Hayley, he also cites Elvis Presley’s iconic track “Heartbreak Hotel” and “Bye Bye Love” by “The Everly Brothers” as [...]
Ritchie Blackmore https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wndOOJ_Q88c Ritchie Blackmore was born Richard Hugh Blackmore in weston-super-Mare, Somerset, on the 14th of April 1945. At the age of 11 Ritchie received his first guitar, he took classical guitar lessons for 12 months at the insistence of his Father who permitted Ritchie to own a guitar provided he learned to play [...]
Tony Iommi https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWiKdFqnIzw Tony Iommi was born Anthony Frank Iommi in Handsworth, Birmingham, on the 19th of February, 1948. Toni is of Italian descent, his Mother’s family were well known vineyard owners in Italy. When he was young Toni went to Birchfield Road School where he met soon to become Black Sabbath lead singer John [...]
Angus Young https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJLRFQOra7U Angus Young was born Angus McKinnon Young in Cranhill, Glascow, on the 31st of March 1955. In 1963 Angus moved from Scotland to Sydney in Australia with his Mother and Father, older brothers Malcolm and George and his older sister Margaret. His older brother Alex stayed in Scotland and formed the London [...]
Brian May https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8Rfb1Jtmic Brian May was born Brian Harold May in Hampton, Middlesex, on the 19th of July 1947. During his time at school Brian formed a band called “1984” after the novel by George Orwell with bass guitar player and singer Tim Staffell. In 1968 Brian formed the group “Smile” with fellow “1984” member [...]
Joe Perry https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxXI2BPRzaA Joe Perry was born Anthony Joseph Perry in Lawrence, Massachusetts, on the 10th of September, 1950. Joe is of Portuguese descent on his Father’s side and Italian descent on his Mother’s side. Joe cites “The Beatles” as his earliest musical influences and recalls their appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show” as a [...]
Ace Frehley https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QK9W5_6l2K4 Ace Frehley was born Paul Daniel Frehley in The Bronx, New York City, New York, on the 27th of April 1951. Ace came from a musical family, his Mother and Father were both pianists, his brother and sister both play piano and guitar, his brother Charles is an accomplished classical guitarist. In [...]
Michael Schenker https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lwe7ZEJ8QrY Michael Schenker was born Michael Willy Schenker in Sarstedt, West Germany, on the 10th of January 1955. Michael Schenker began learning the guitar at a young age playing his older brother Ruldoph’s Gibson Flying V. Rudolph would go to work for the day and during his absence Michael would play his guitar. [...]
Randy Rhoads Randy Rhoads was born Randall William Rhoads in Santa Monica, California, on the 6th of December, 1956. Randy’s parents where both music teachers. Following the departure of her Husband, Randy’s Mother Delores open a music school in North Hollywood called “Musonia”. In place of a home audio system the Rhoad’s family made their [...]
Eddie Van Halen https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_lwocmL9dQ Eddie Van Halen was born Edward Lodewijk van Halen in Nijmegen, Netherlands, on the 26th of January. 1955. Eddie grew up in the Netherlands with his Mother, Father and younger brother Alex. Eddie’s Father was an accomplished musician who played the piano, saxophone and clarinet. Eddie’s received his name “Lodewijk” as [...]
Slash https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcIM_PL8BAA Slash was born Saul Hudson in Hampstead, London, on the 23rd of July, 1965. His Mother was an African American costume designer who designed onstage outfits for David Bowie, and his father was a white English artist who designed album covers for musicians like Neil Young and Joni Mitchell. His Mother left the family to [...]