Before we get to our weekly collection of political potshots, let’s pause to remember Guitar Slim, a rock ‘n roll and guitar pioneer with his #1 R&B hit “The Things You Used to Do” (produced by young Ray Charles) in 1953 He died on this day from pneumonia in 1959 at the age of 32. Born in Greenwood, Miss., he developed a wild stage act with colorful costumes (and with hair dyed to match) and 350 feet of cord to his amps allowing him to go outside to the street and stop traffic. His guitar distortions preceded all the famed rock guitarists of the 1960s by a decade. Hendrix attempted a tribute in the studio in 1969 with Steve Stills but didn’t quite pull it off. Below, enjoy Slim’s original classic, then stellar covers by Tina Turner, Chuck Berry and James Brown. Then subscribe, it’s still free.
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