NEWS
WAYNE, NJ –The world of blues gui-
tar lost one of its founding fathers
when Hubert Sumlin passed away on
December 4 at the age of 80.
After Wolf’s death, Sumlin’s output decreased until a resurgence that began with a series of
albums on various independent labels such as Black Top, Blind Pig, and Blues Special. His 1998
album, I Know You, introduced his sound to a whole new generation and allowed him to become
a headliner in his own right. In 2004 Sumlin released his final solo album, About Them Shoes,
which was conceived and produced by Keith Richards purely as an excuse for Richards to play
with one of his heroes. That same year Sumlin underwent surgery to remove a lung, but that
didn’t slow him down at all as he continued to perform and tour right up until his death.
Guitarist Bob Margolin, a member of Muddy Water’s band and frequent duo partner of Sumlin,
describes on Sumlin’s website what made his playing special, “When Hubert Sumlin plays guitar he
takes you to his World of Blues Feeling – from despair to ecstasy, from delicate grace to raw power,
from lost to found. Though he’s influenced and inspired many of the most famous guitar players,
Hubert owns the magic. His style is original and personal and instantly recognizable.”
Sumlin was acknowledged as a
major influence on guitarists such as
Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, Jeff
Beck, Buddy Guy and many more.
His stinging tone was the backbone
of Chester “Howlin’ Wolf” Burnett’s
band from the mid ‘50s through the
rest of Wolf’s career. On tunes such as
“300 Pounds of Joy,” “Killing Floor,”
and “Wang Dang Doodle,” Sumlin
laid the foundation for modern blues
guitar that has become a required vernacular for any aspiring blues guitarist.
HUBERT SUMLIN,
1931-2011
BY JASON SHADRICK
Fingerstyle Guitar
Legend Paul Yandell:
1935-2011
BY ANDY ELLIS
Jerry Reed a Certified Guitar
Player (C.G.P.) Award in recognition of Reed’s monumental
contributions to the guitar.
Atkins gave Reed the first
C.G.P., and then over the next
few years also gave one to John
Knowles (1996), Steve Wariner
(1997), and Tommy Emmanuel
(1999). After Atkins died in
2001, some of his family members and close associates felt
it would be right to also give
Yandell the C.G.P. Award, as
he’d spent more time than anyone playing with Atkins.
In response, Yandell once
said, “I always thought that,
because it was my idea, it would
be in bad taste and self-serving
for me to get one. I don’t care
for awards. I got the best award
of all—I got to work for Chet
for 24 years.” Despite Yandell’s
reticence, in August 2011
Atkins’ daughter Merle Atkins
Russell asked Wariner to help
her confer the last C.G.P. title
on Yandell, making him the
fifth and final C.G.P. recipient.
In addition to recording
dozens of albums with Atkins,
Yandell released five solo
albums, including 2006’s Drive
On. The cause of his death is
not yet public, but in recent
years, he was in declining
health. Yandell is survived by
his wife Marie, son Micah, and
daughter-in-law Sheri.
NASHVILLE, TN – Fans of
“thumbpick” guitar were dismayed to hear that Paul Yandell
passed away on November 21
at the age of 76.
Yandell was revered and
respected as the man who
played guitar with Chet Atkins
for almost a quarter century,
accompanying him onstage
and in the studio from the
mid ’70s through the rest
of Atkins’ career. Though
the soft-spoken Yandell was
known for his impeccable
technique and gorgeous tone,
he always remained modest
about his abilities.
Montreal Guitar
Show and Healdsburg
Guitar Festival
Join Forces
BY REBECCA DIRKS
Yandell (left) backs up Chet in 1979.
MONTREAL, QC – Organizers of
the Healdsburg Guitar Festival
in California and the Montreal
Guitar Show have announced
their alliance, combining their
forces to better promote the
guitar, the craft and art of lutherie, and the exceptional creative
talents of the people behind it.
