Roy Buchanan's (September 23, 1939 - August 14, 1988) musical career began in Pixley, California. His father was a sharecropper (not a Pentecostal preacher as Buchanan himself had claimed). Buchanan told how his first musical memories were of racially-mixed revival meetings his family would attend. "Gospel," he recalled, "that's how I first got into black music". He in fact drew upon many disparate influences while learning to play his instrument (although he later claimed his aptitude was derived from being "half-wolf"). Read Full BioRoy Buchanan's (September 23, 1939 - August 14, 1988) musical career began in Pixley, California. His father was a sharecropper (not a Pentecostal preacher as Buchanan himself had claimed). Buchanan told how his first musical memories were of racially-mixed revival meetings his family would attend. "Gospel," he recalled, "that's how I first got into black music". He in fact drew upon many disparate influences while learning to play his instrument (although he later claimed his aptitude was derived from being "half-wolf"). He initially showed talent on the steel guitar before switching to the standard instrument in the early 50's.
In 1957, Buchanan made his recording debut, playing the solo on Dale Hawkins' "My Babe" for Chicago's Chess Records. Three years later, Buchanan headed north to Canada, where he took charge of the guitar role in Ronnie Hawkins' band (a group later to gain fame as The Band). The group's guitar player, Robbie Robertson, studied guitar under Buchanan, and took over the lead guitar spot when Buchanan left the group.
The early 60's found Buchanan performing numerous gigs as a sideman with multiple rock bands, and cutting a number of sessions as guitarist with musicians such as Freddy Cannon and Merle Kilgore.
Buchanan's 1962 recording with drummer Bobby Gregg, "Potato Peeler", first introduced the trademark Buchanan pinch harmonics. An effort to cash in on the British Invasion caught Buchanan with The British Walkers. In the mid-'60's, Buchanan settled down in the Washington, DC area, playing as a sideman before starting his own groups. One of these groups was called The Snakestretchers, an allusion to Buchanan's disdain for the vagaries of the band experience. The Snakestretchers became a semi-permanent combo for Buchanan starting in this period, with whom he made his first acclaimed recording as a front man, Roy Buchanan & the Snakestretchers. Danny Gatton was another respected Telecaster master who lived in Washington, D.C. at that time. Both musicians gained reputations as under-appreciated guitarists.
In 1971, riding on word-of-mouth reputation that included praise from John Lennon, Eric Clapton, Merle Haggard, and an alleged invitation to join the Rolling Stones, Buchanan gained national notoriety as the result of an hour-long Public broadcasting television documentary. Entitled "The Best Unknown Guitarist In The World", the show rejuvenated a contract with Polydor and began a decade of national and international touring. He recorded five albums for Polydor (one went gold) and three for Atlantic Records (one gold), while playing most major rock concert halls and festivals. Finally, Buchanan quit recording in 1981, vowing never to enter a studio again unless he could record his own music his own way.
Four years later, Buchanan was coaxed back into the studio by Alligator Records. His first album for Alligator, When a Guitar Plays The Blues, was released in the spring of 1985. It was the first time he was given total artistic freedom in the studio. It was also his first true blues album. Fans quickly responded, and the album entered Billboard's pop charts and remained on the charts for 13 weeks. Music critics, as well as fans, applauded Roy's efforts with favorable reviews.
His second Alligator LP, Dancing on the Edge, was released in the fall of 1986. The album, featuring three songs with special guest, rock'n'soul vocalist Delbert McClinton, won the College Media Journal Award for Best Blues Album of 1986.
He released the twelfth LP of his career and his third for Alligator, Hot Wires, in 1987. In addition to Donald Kinsey (formerly with Albert King and Bob Marley), keyboardist Stan Szelest, and Larry Exum (bass) and Morris Jennings (drums), this album includes guest vocals by veteran soul singer Johnny Sayles and blues singer Kanika Kress.
Buchanan died August 14, 1988 in the Fairfax County, Virginia jail while being held after an arrest for public drunkeness. His death was ruled a suicide, although that finding has been disputed by friends and family.
In 1957, Buchanan made his recording debut, playing the solo on Dale Hawkins' "My Babe" for Chicago's Chess Records. Three years later, Buchanan headed north to Canada, where he took charge of the guitar role in Ronnie Hawkins' band (a group later to gain fame as The Band). The group's guitar player, Robbie Robertson, studied guitar under Buchanan, and took over the lead guitar spot when Buchanan left the group.
The early 60's found Buchanan performing numerous gigs as a sideman with multiple rock bands, and cutting a number of sessions as guitarist with musicians such as Freddy Cannon and Merle Kilgore.
Buchanan's 1962 recording with drummer Bobby Gregg, "Potato Peeler", first introduced the trademark Buchanan pinch harmonics. An effort to cash in on the British Invasion caught Buchanan with The British Walkers. In the mid-'60's, Buchanan settled down in the Washington, DC area, playing as a sideman before starting his own groups. One of these groups was called The Snakestretchers, an allusion to Buchanan's disdain for the vagaries of the band experience. The Snakestretchers became a semi-permanent combo for Buchanan starting in this period, with whom he made his first acclaimed recording as a front man, Roy Buchanan & the Snakestretchers. Danny Gatton was another respected Telecaster master who lived in Washington, D.C. at that time. Both musicians gained reputations as under-appreciated guitarists.
In 1971, riding on word-of-mouth reputation that included praise from John Lennon, Eric Clapton, Merle Haggard, and an alleged invitation to join the Rolling Stones, Buchanan gained national notoriety as the result of an hour-long Public broadcasting television documentary. Entitled "The Best Unknown Guitarist In The World", the show rejuvenated a contract with Polydor and began a decade of national and international touring. He recorded five albums for Polydor (one went gold) and three for Atlantic Records (one gold), while playing most major rock concert halls and festivals. Finally, Buchanan quit recording in 1981, vowing never to enter a studio again unless he could record his own music his own way.
Four years later, Buchanan was coaxed back into the studio by Alligator Records. His first album for Alligator, When a Guitar Plays The Blues, was released in the spring of 1985. It was the first time he was given total artistic freedom in the studio. It was also his first true blues album. Fans quickly responded, and the album entered Billboard's pop charts and remained on the charts for 13 weeks. Music critics, as well as fans, applauded Roy's efforts with favorable reviews.
His second Alligator LP, Dancing on the Edge, was released in the fall of 1986. The album, featuring three songs with special guest, rock'n'soul vocalist Delbert McClinton, won the College Media Journal Award for Best Blues Album of 1986.
He released the twelfth LP of his career and his third for Alligator, Hot Wires, in 1987. In addition to Donald Kinsey (formerly with Albert King and Bob Marley), keyboardist Stan Szelest, and Larry Exum (bass) and Morris Jennings (drums), this album includes guest vocals by veteran soul singer Johnny Sayles and blues singer Kanika Kress.
Buchanan died August 14, 1988 in the Fairfax County, Virginia jail while being held after an arrest for public drunkeness. His death was ruled a suicide, although that finding has been disputed by friends and family.
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Sweet Dreams
Roy Buchanan Lyrics
Sweet dreams of you
Every night I go through
Why can't I forget you and start my life new
Instead of having sweet dreams about you?
You don't love me it's plain
I should have known I'd never wear your ring
I should hate you the whole night through
Instead of having sweet dreams about you
Why can't I forget the past
Start loving someone new
Instead of having sweet dreams about you?
Instead of having sweet dreams about you
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Don Gibson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on specific lyrics, highlight them
michael ellis
+Shang Tsung see this post
LoveBandit1000 3 months ago (edited)
The BEST story involving Roy (who I saw a few times in The Wash DC area in the mid-80's) is when he played in Germany and after one particularly kick ass song the German crowd all starting chanting "Roy number one!, Roy number one!" and with his head tilted down in utter humility he softly said "I love you all for saying that but the truth is there is no such thing as number one"....that was Roy in a nutshell right there.
michael ellis 1 second ago
+LoveBandit1000 Hi and thanks for post. The footage of that concert is on youtube, and its exactly as you quote. That whole concert is really impressive!
buckfan1969
When I was in college a million years ago, a buddy of mine liked to say that no matter how good someone we all idolized was at something, whether it was sports or music or whatever, there was someone out in the world we'd never heard of who was better than our idols. We argued about that all the time. Then, in 1972, Buchanan's 2nd album came out, and I bought it. At the time it was all about Beck, Clapton, Hendrix, etc. I'd never heard of Roy Buchanan. But after listening to that album, I had second thoughts about what my buddy said. Maybe there is someone out there who's better. Buchanan opened my eyes to that concept with 'The Messiah Will Come Again', and reinforced it with many more magic works over the years. He was a true master that few knew of; much like Rory Gallagher and James Burton, only less famous than either of them even. RIP Roy. You are missed, and you are remembered fondly by many of us.
Eric Newman
Buchanan's second album was also my first exposure to his music. He was labeled " the world's greatest unknown guitarist". This sounds like bullshit hype, but he lived up to the description !!
Mando Fisher
@Jim Phillips I heard Roy in DC twice. Once in Cambridge, MA. Roy was beyond doubt, the best telecaster blues player that ever existed.
Clark Howell
Walked into a bar one night ... and there be was. I was mezmerized.
JJ Siam Returns
👍👍👍
Fake Name
I mean Clapton and Hendrix are better. I think Buchanan actually has bad playing technique now that I think about it. Like he's too stiff in the hands. That's not why Hendrix is better though. Hendrix is better because he's faster and more complex. Same with Clapton. Buchanan lacks alot of shredding technique it seems like. Or atleast he doesn't really try.
007attaboy
As a musician most of my 85 years (clarinet, piano) I've never been much of a guitar fan. But I'd like to think I have a great deal of appreciation of great music, mostly jazz and classical. Its a sad commentary to humanity that a great musician like Roy Buchanan never really got his due while he was alive, and then had to die so sadly. I keep playing Sweet Dreams over and over having first heard it in the film The Departed. It haunts me. I've diddled a little with it on piano which of course is not the right instrument for it. I dearly wish I could go back in time and help make things right for Roy Buchanan. What a great musician he was!! Kudos to Scorcese for featuring Sweet Dreams in his film.
christian duenas
I couldn’t describe those feelings any better, I feel exactly the same. He deserves our ear
booognish
Absolute masterpiece and a serious crime how underappreciated this man is to this day...
Mohsen
True legend. He was a true burs master. He was very underappreciated.