Guitar Heroes

Nowadays, many of us have healthy fantasy lives as a result of all our technological advances; internet, video games, fantasy sports, and readily available pornography (Yeah, like it's just me).
Rockstar wannabes now have Guitar Hero and Rock Band to facilitate a healthy imagination, not just for kids, but for adults as well.

As a matter of fact, it has even become a very popular form of entertainment at parties. My friend (and business partner) Zev at Spirit Entertainment recently had the idea to combine Rock Band, and video karaoke to create a great new amusement for special events where multiple guests can fulfill their Rock N' Roll fantasies and receive a personal DVD complete with special effects to share with family and friends at Christmas, Kwanza, Passover or Magha Puja Day. To enjoy this at your next celebration, please contact Zev or Joel at http://www.spiritentertainment.ca/

Even with these games, we must remember that there are some of us (alright some of "you"), who actually play these instruments, and are the artists we all long to emulate. The mastering of any musical instrument requires talent, but also years of dedication and practice. The real "Guitar Hero" spends years honing his/her skills, and never really stops.

Every article written about guitar includes great names like; Hendrix, Clapton, Paige, Santana, Beck, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Eddie Van Halen and Slash to name just a few. But most of you know someone who knows someone that the rest of the world will never hear.

On a recent trip to Las Vegas, I met a gentleman who, throughout the 60s, 70s and 80s played guitar at countless hotel lounges, conference centres and conference halls with big name stars of yesteryear like BB King and T-Bone Walker.

For those of you who don't know him, I dedicate this post to Mr. Jesse "Huck" Daniels.

The following guitar virtuosos are names that many of you know, but who rarely grace the lists of "Best of all time" for a variety of reasons. In some cases, they may be heralded as awesome musicians, performers or singers to such a degree that their guitar-playing ability is simply overshadowed.

I beg, in advance, for forgiveness if I omit your favourite. A list of this nature is highly subjective. I have, as well, conducted my usual focus group of friends, nephews and mainstream music fans of all ages.

I ask that you take solace in the fact that all of the aforementioned "axe-grinders" and others like U2's "The Edge", The Who's Pete Townsend, and even Rolling Stone's Keith Richards do not require my accolades. The world is already familiar with their accomplishments in this regard.

This is a shout-out to the brothers and sisters that rock their Fenders and Gibsons off, and while well-known among peers and critics, are rarely on the lips of the general public for this aspect of their work.

10) Jeff Healey: This blind Canadian's unique style of playing the instrument flat on his lap was not only awesome to watch, but just amazing to hear. A local hero in Toronto, he originally started playing the pre-indy indy circuit around Queen Street West where, legend has it, he was seen by Stevie Ray Vaughan and Albert "Master of the Telecaster" Collins, which led to a record deal with Arista. Movie buffs will remember him from the Patrick Swayze classic, Road House. The rest of you mainstream fans will remember the song Angel Eyes, but he had a variety of good tunes throughout the 90s, and even covered The Beatles While My Guitar Gently Weeps with a guest appearance by none other than George Harrison himself.

9) Bonnie Raitt: This daughter of Broadway star John Raitt began playing guitar at an early age. Completely unknown in the 60s, this little white girl played at blues bars alongside Howlin' Wolf and Sippie Wallace. She became known to critics in the '70s, and worked with some of the greatest musicians of all time, but commercial success would elude her for a long time. It was Nick of Time, released in 1989 that became a hit and stole the Grammys in early 1990. I still remember the odd vibration when everyone in the neighbourhood said "Who?" at the exact same time. Next came a Grammy Award-winning duet with John Lee Hooker on his album The Healer. She followed up this success with three more Grammy Awards for her 1991 album, Luck of the Draw, but many of those commercial fans don't get that she is a bad-ass "Bottle-neck" or "Slide" guitar viruoso in a very unsuspecting package (She looks like my aunt Gert. If I had an Aunt Gert).

8) Ray Parker Jr.: (high pitched voice indicating surprise) "Ain't that the dude that sang Ghostbusters?" Yes it is. Ironically, his biggest hit seemed to be the last thing people remember, but he was working it for years before that. Few people know that he was a sideman in Barry White's renowned Love Unlimited Orchestra in the 70s. He also wrote songs and played guitar, bassand sometimes drums for Chaka Khan (Lemme rock ya, lemme rock ya, Chaka Khan!), Aretha, The Temptations, The Spinners, Boz Scaggs, David Foster, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Herbie Hancock, Diana Ross and the ultimate association...Stevie Wonder (Gasp!). He had hits of his own throughout the 80s, but his aptitude on the electric was unlike any others. He was the original funk-rocker, with hits like; The Other Woman, Bad Boy and the instrumental, For Those Who Like to Groove.

7) Nancy Wilson: Yes, the woman who now produces all the music for her husband Cameron Crowe's films was once a super-hot rock guitarist. Also, we Canadians love to take credit for this San Francisco born talent, but sorry folks. We'll just have to be content with Mike Reno (Loverboy) and every one of those Canadian Idol winners whose name no one remembers (Go ahead, name two). She lived in Vancouver, but only for a few years before going back home. If you are uncertain as to her prowess on the 6-string, just listen to the old stuff from the '70s classics like Barracuda, Crazy On You, and my wife's favourite, Magic Man. This sister can rock!

6) Joe Satriani: How can I say that he is underrated when he has made his living as a guitar player, and has been critically acclaimed for over 2 decades? Because no one I ask seems to know any of his music. This guy will blow your mind with what he can do. He works the fretboard like a woman with a spider in her hair (alright, it was me). This guy is a master because no matter how hard and fast he slices and grinds, you can always hear the melody underneath. The mark of a true musician. Listen to Surfing With The Alien or Crowd Chant. His biggest fans are other guitar players who listen and say "Oh no he di' int!".

5) John Frusciante: The Red Hot Chili Peppers' lead guitarist may not have Joe Satriani's magic fingers, but he has a unique funk-rock style that just slides in and out of the groove, providing the basis for their very succesful and ever-changing sound. The band's re-working of songs by Stevie Wonder and Sly & The Family Stone are indicative of his widely varied influences. Take note of songs like; Californication, If You Want Me To Stay, Scar Tissue and their classic ballad Under The Bridge. Ultimately, he's just a really groovy player in a very good band.

4) George "Lightnin' Licks" Johnson: The guitar half of the Brothers Johnson who enjoyed success with I'll Be Good To You, Strawberry Letter 23 and Get The Funk Out Ma Face (Oh, how the kids loved saying that one). Discovered by Qunicy Jones along with his brother, bass-player Louis "Thunder Thumbs"Johnson (I am not making this up), they were teenage prodigies in the mid '70s, but seem to have been relatively forgotten ever since. Their huge disco hit, Stomp served as an extended showcase of their skills containing a bass solo for Thunder Thumbs and then a 30-40 second example of why they call George "Lightnin' Licks". Rock and blues guitarists seem to get all the mention, but this guy was (and probably still is) the Fender funkmaster.

3) Robert Cray: This guy played behind aforementioned guitar great, Albert Collins for years and is also the guy playing bass at the frat party in the movie Animal House. Like others before him, his skills became known to his peers, but never quite hit the American radio listener. In the mid '80s all his hard work and critical acclaim won him a couple of Grammys, and some mainstream name recognition, but with the possible exception of the song, Smoking Gun, the average listener remained ignorant. Never the less, in the world of Blues, this man is a legend and has worked with all time greats like Eric Clapton and John Lee Hooker. He's so good that Fender makes two signature Robert Cray Stratocaster guitars. In addition to his instrumental skills, he also has a sweet soulful voice. Try listening to songs Don't Be Afraid of the Dark and The Forecast (Calls for Pain).

2) George Benson: He and Robert Cray are extremely similar in my mind. I rank him higher for his commercial success and somewhat more catchy style. Like Cray, he will sometimes play a super-fast riff, while mouthing the sounds his fingers are picking, which is no easy feat at that speed. He also has a voice so awesome, that he could have easily made a career out of just singing. Check out the "original" version of Whitney Houston's Greatest Love Of All or his definitive version of Leon Russel's This Masquerade. Also beware of dancier tunes like Love Ballad, Turn Your Love Around and Give Me The Night. Watch his fingers rock the Ibanez (guitar) on his instrumental hit, Breezin'. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QjTK0pL1go

1) Prince: An eccentric musical magician with a wide variety of talents, including James Brown dance moves and Stevie Wonder studio skills, he also rocks a guitar like few others. Just listen to Let's Go Crazy from the Purple Rain soundtrack to give you an idea. And then check out all of the songs that came afterward including the actual song entitled, Guitar. Why is he number 1? Because most of you didn't even consider him.

And to all the others that go unheard, I say "Play on, and your music will always find ears".