Tuesday, April 3, 2012

The #38 Guitarist of the Rock Era: Derek Trucks

We're up to #38 in our special countdown of The Top 100 Guitarists of the Rock Era*.  He is a guy who showed at an early age that he was something special and he's now recognized as one of the best slide guitarists in the world:
#38:  Derek Trucks, Allman Brothers Band, Derek Trucks Band, Soul Stew Revival
23 years as an active guitarist

 
Derek Trucks was born June 8, 1979 in Jacksonville, Florida.  His uncle, Butch, was a founding member of the Allman Brothers Band.  Derek was an official member of the Allman Brothers Band beginning in 1999 and he also has led the Derek Trucks Band.


Trucks purchased his first guitar at a yard sale at the age of nine and he played his first paid performance at age 11.  After taking lessons, Derek began playing slide guitar on his Gibson SG electric.  Before his 13th birthday, Trucks had jammed onstage with Buddy Guy and toured with the Allman Brothers Band.  By age 20, Derek had formed the Derek Trucks Band and played with artists such as Bob Dylan, Joe Walsh and Stephen Stills.  Trucks became an official member of the Allman Brothers Band, appearing on the albums Live at the Beacon Theatre and Hittin' the Note.  In 2006, Trucks collaborated with Eric Clapton on an album called The Road to Escondido and in 2007, Derek performed at Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival. 

Later that year, Derek and his wife, Susan Tedeschi, combined their bands to form the Soul Stew Revival and performed at the Bonnaroo Music Festival in June, 2008.  In 2010, the Tedeschi Trucks Band was formed with his wife.

Trucks was influenced by Duane Allman, Elmore James, Howlin' Wolf, Albert King, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Charlie Christian, Freddy King and B.B. King, among others.  He plays Southern rock, blues, soul and jazz that are fused together in an eclectic mix.

Derek uses a modified Gibson USA SG 1961 reissue with a modified tailpiece and an additional "stopbar" connected to his 1965 Fender Super Reverb amplifier with four Pyle Driver MH1020 speakers.  He plays the slide in an open E tuning and uses bottlenecks cut from bottles in antique stores.  He plucks and strums with his fingers.  Derek is an innovator in the field and his live shows are fascinating because he never plays a song the same way twice. 


Trucks' guitar-playing is great to listen to.  He has one of those rare gifts that made him a natural.  Derek ranks #38 for the Rock Era*...

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