Roy Buchanan's (September 23, 1939 - August 14, 1988) musical career began … Read Full Bio ↴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"). 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.
In The Beginning
Roy Buchanan Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'In The Beginning' by these artists:
Amorphis I have a good mind Take into my head To start of…
Beatiful Mapiyato yanqua hopi Ane himu tangaquunu tanpo Lomata ya tat…
Bethany Dillon In the beginning was the word The word was God And put…
BG&E See we are [?] to see you See we knew everything Well…
Black Stax In this game so long So long yeah In this game so…
Brian Carter In the beginning Good always overpowered the evils Of al…
Brotha Lynch And Doomsday In the beginning There was darkness And then came the…
Budapest pres. C-Base I know eventually you're gonna get money for your mom And…
Chuck Roberts In the beginning there was Jack And Jack had a groove. And…
connie constance One, two, three, four One, two, four One, two, three, four O…
D.B.M. I know eventually you're gonna get money for your mom And…
Dana Dirksen In the beginning, God created the earth, God created the hea…
Daughn Gibson I wasn't me I'm not the same guy You got it wrong Someone…
Defender In the desert of silence Walks a man beyond the grave In…
Dreamnote We are dreaming all night long We are dreaming all night…
E.Y.C. I know eventually you're gonna get money for your mom And…
E.Y.L See we are [?] to see you See we knew everything Well…
Fahrenhaidt Once there was one sea that grew into two Wonders of…
Fellowship Creative To Him who is able to exceed To do abundantly more…
Frankie & The Damons In the beginning the lord made the earth The heaven…
Frankie Laine In the beginning the lord made the earth The heaven the…
Gad Elbaz In the beginning you made a vow to me Yes you…
Genesis Ocean of motion Squirming around and up and down Pushing tog…
Genesis (Peter Gabriel Years) Ocean of motion Squirming around and up and down Pushing t…
Genesis and Peter Gabriel Ocean of motion Squirming around and up and down Pushing tog…
George Burns YOW! So - In the beginning there was hum From a poet whose…
God & Me In the beginning there was water Falling on the ground so…
Guy Fletcher There's no sunlight In the garden now it's gone Here by the…
Holmes Ives You would stop and stare In the glare of my…
Holy Cross Choir In the beginning God created heaven and earth In the beginni…
In:aviate The peace I've found will save this soul And I've built…
Jamie Soles In the beginning, God created, the heavens and the earth On…
John Cote Dusk to dawn Start to end And everything is lost again All t…
Joshua Spacht Behold the Lamb, silent before His accusers As thorns are pr…
Justin Hayward In the beginning there was love around our lives In the…
Justin Rarri Oh, oh Da-da, oh Who see me? Hmm Oh, oh Hmm Hmm, la-la, la-l…
K Naan So! In the beginning There was a hum From a poet whose …
K'naan So! In the beginning there was a hum From a poet whose…
Kate Stewart Back, back to the beginnin' Rewind it, gotta start again I b…
Knightz Of Bass the story so far: in the beginning, the universe was…
K\'naan So! In the beginning There was a hum From a poet whose …
K´naan So! In the beginning there was a hum From a poet whose…
K’Naan So! In the beginning There was a hum From a poet whose …
Magnum Pages were written turn yellow the age of the rhyme Sadly…
Manfred Mann's Earth Band Manfred Mann's Earth Band - In The Beginning, Darkness Dark…
Method Man feat. Run‐D.M.C. I know eventually you're gonna get money for your mom And…
Mike Oldfield In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. An…
Mötley Crüe In the beginning Good always overpowered the evils Of all…
Mötley Crüe In the beginning Good always overpowered the evils Of al…
My Brightest Diamond In the beginning There was a spark Like two great symbols cl…
N.O.R.E. See we are [?] to see you See we knew everything Well…
O.S.I.R.I.S. I know eventually you're gonna get money for your mom And…
Old Caltone Trust me we can dance tonight I'll give you a rose…
Old Man Luedecke In the beginnin', when true love was winnin' List of my…
ONEFOUR (Ay, got way too many to mention) (Ay) gotcha (ay) In the…
Paul Williams In the beginning Empty pages With our story still untold …
Planet Funk In the beginning There was nothing but rain Then came the pe…
R. Christopher Teichler See we are [?] to see you See we knew everything Well…
Ramp It's just a matter of attitude What I'm going to talk…
Rearview Mirror You're not above and nothing is real subtle when you…
Recon [Jones] In the beginning was the Word And the Word was w…
Reginald J. Lewis I said goodbye, just to come back 'round again (come back…
Rob Rock In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth…
Roppongi Inc. Project בראשית כבר הייתה אהבה לאדמה טובה חיכתה כמו למים חיכתה לשמש, …
Ryan Vegh Before the world existed God was there God is holy Which mea…
Sean T. Hubbard In the beginning was the Word. cnd the Word was with…
See You Next Tuesday Although comfortable It's not safe to cry yourself to sleep…
Silver Synthetic When I came to, there was nothing around me Then I…
Simeon And John Dusk to dawn Start to end And everything is lost again All t…
Sound Destroyer In The Beginning it all starts with love but what they don't…
Sunz of Man Blood clot... Yo what I'm about to do Is explain how the…
The Moody Blues First Man: I think, I think I am, therefore I…
The Orion Experience In the beginning, the human mind looked to the stars…
The Ring My friend I know what you been thinking, I see…
The Statler Brothers In the beginning The Lord made the Earth The Heavens the hil…
The Stills IN THE BEGINNING - Sergio L. Fleck & Cesar M.P.…
Todd Snider In the beginning, man wondered to himself: Why, oh why are…
TREIYER There´s no doubt i was a happy kid. All i cared…
Unbelievable Truth You seem to want it just like it was in…
West Coast Revival In the beginning was the Word And the Word was with…
Weyes Blood I gave my strength. For years like an ox I pushed, and…
With Faith Or Flames a beast considered slain now rests within the realm of…
Wizard In former times when the gods brought the steel to…
Zaxas A beast considered slain now rests within the realm of reaso…
Zeds Dead Oh, that's unexpected Yeah ya' that's right! Yeah ya' th…
Zero-Project בראשית כבר הייתה אהבה לאדמה טובה חיכתה כמו למים חיכתה לשמש, …
We have lyrics for these tracks by Roy Buchanan:
16. Sweet Dreams Sweet dreams of you Every night I go through Why can't I…
25 Miles Hey hey uh huh huh huh huh oh Uh huh…
A Nickel and a Nail Oh, I once had love And plenty of money, hmmm But some…
After Hours All the gang has gone home Standing on the corner All alon…
Baby Baby Baby لا هادي ولا هاديك ولا وحدة مني تديك غير انسى انا ماشي لعبة…
Black Autumn Subways stumbling through the night Flashing rows of neon l…
blues guitar solo You know, you get the strangest feelin' Yeah, when a guitar…
Can I Change My Mind She didn't bat an eye, as I packed my bags…
Caruso I was goin' across Oklahoma, When i thought I'd fall…
Country Boy Have you heard the story Of a little country boy He…
Down By The River Down by the river Be on my side, I'll be on your…
Five String Blues Oh, Jesus This is my final plea Yes, Jesus This is my fin…
Further On Up The Road By Mary McCreary I've been working so hard, Just came home …
Get Out of My Life Woman You don't love me no more Get out my life woman You…
Good God Have Mercy Down in South Carolina in the piny woods Where they make…
Haunted House I just moved in my new house today Moving was hard…
Hey Joe Hey Joe, where you goin' with that gun of your…
Home Is Where I Lost Her When it's early in the morning That's the time That's the …
I Am A Lonesome Fugitive I'd like to settle down but they won't let me A…
i desire you You went away and left me long time ago And now…
I Still Think About Ida Mae Well I smoke my cigarettes Set my Schlitz cans along the…
I'm Evil Well, if you're looking for trouble You dun' come to the…
My Baby Says She's Gonna Leave Me My Baby Says She's Gonna Leave Me My Baby Says She's…
My Baby Says She’s Gonna Leave Me Well she took my clothes And threw 'em out the door Told…
Please Don Please don't turn me away, please let me stay I'm askin'…
Rodney's Song Well she walked into the bar And she looked dead at…
Roy's Bluz (Yeah make me feel so good I think my nose…
Roy's Bluz (Live) Yeah, My soul laid down last friday Yeah, But it rose…
Roy’s Bluz (Yeah make me feel so good I think my nose…
Shotgun I said shotgun shoot 'em 'fore he run now do…
Sign On The Window Sign on the window says "Lonely" Sign on the door says…
Slow Down Come on pretty baby, won't you walk with me? Come on,…
Sweet Dream Sweet dreams of you Every night I go through Why can't I…
Thank You Lord Thank you, Lord, saw your sun shine today Bless you, Lord,…
That Did It When we first met, baby You said it was me and…
The Messiah Will Come Again [guitar intro] There was a town Strange, lonely little town…
The Story Of Isaac Well, the door it opened slowly, My father he came in, I…
These Arms of Mine These arms of mine They are lonely Lonely and feeling blue T…
Treat Her Right I'm wanna tell you a story That every man oughta know If…
Voices Poeple talk about life People talk about work They talk ab…
When a Guitar Plays the Blues You know, you get the strangest feelin' Yeah, when a guitar…
You Thank you Lord, saw your sun shine today. Bless you…
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Shannon McDonald
This changed my whole life.... was doing bong hits at my buddys house, he had a compilation tape and this came on. As a guitar player, this was the shit for me in the days of Joe and Steve(Satriani, Vai) . somehow, managed to remember the melody long enough to get to my Dads home studio and record my version. ive recorded it at least 3 times. 35 years later, still trying to get the PERFECT version!!!
Point blank
Roy Buchanan was a great super natural guitar player
Gábor Borsos
Literally.Literally...
Jibladze /Smith
💛