Roy Buchanan
Roy Buchanan
Buchanan's reputation as a hot-shot guitarist extends back to the beginnings of rock & roll itself. On the road and recording with Dale Hawkins by his teens, Buchanan became the law of the land around the Washington, D.C., area by the mid-to-late '60s. His use of the Fender Telecaster, using high harmonic squeals in place of feedback and distortion, was part and parcel of rock guitar's vocabulary by the early '70s. A reluctant superstar, Buchanan later became more unfocused as his career waned, but his unique stylings remain etched into his best records. Sadly, when Buchanan seemed on the verge of a comeback in, he was said to have hung himself in a police cell in 1988, after he was arrested on a drunk-driving charge. Many have a hard time with this claim of suicide - The truth may very well be he was killed by the police - Kneed in the throat??? then made to look like he hung himself. He left behind a wife 6 kids and grandchildren and a number of records which testify that he was a consummate guitarist, capable of tones and techniques that other guitarists only dream of.
In 1960 Roy Buchanan replaced Fred Carter Jr. as guitarist in Ronnie Hawkins' Hawks. After a short period, he left the Hawks and teenager Robbie Robertson took over the lead guitar. Buchanan, one of Robertson's main guitar influences, also performed as an opening act for the reunited Band on their 1987 tour.