Albert Collins is to blame... it's because of Albert Collins I fell in love with the blues... Albert's tone can knock down a grown man.. imagine what it did to this impressionable teenager. Also, Albert humor, snide singing style and band are heaven sent. If not for Albert Collins, I may never have started "Blues for Peace"..
I was giving this kid a blues guitar lesson in Tel Aviv when I came up with the idea to write a blues guitar book to teach kids in Israel how to play the blues in Hebrew. I contacted Alligator Records and they sent me a couple of pictures of Albert Collins to put in the book.Here it is called "Blues & Rock N' Roll Guitar for beginner guitar players. It's older brother is this blues band format blues guitar book.
They don't make 'em any more like Albert Collins, it's over, but not done.. you see, because Albert Collins didn't try to copy anyone else or fake his way into the hearts of blues music fans, he just tried to discover and be himsellf.. lovable, bad ass blues guitar / singer / songwriter from Texas... Albert, "Blues for Peace" is my tribute to you!
Johnny Mayer
Master of the Telecaster
Albert Collins talks about playin' blues guitar and creating your own sound and style.. when you hear Albert, Collins sing and play the blues .. it all sounds SO natural and easy.. you too can learn to play blues with a feeling.. just listen to Albert Collins - Master of the Telecaster
Simple Music - Albert Collins
"I was told when I started to play that simple music is the
hardest music in the world to play. And blues is simple
music."
Other Guitar Players - Albert Collins
"A lot of guys shy away from other guitar players who are better
than them. I've never been that way. I listened to all the other
guys, but I never wanted to play like them. Like I tell a lot of
people, I change a few notes, but I've been playing the same way
because I always wanted to keep my own style and always be Albert
Collins."
That Hum - Albert Collins
"Most of the time I hum what I'm playing so sometimes it bleeds
through on the track. That's why I get hoarse sometimes when I
try to sing, I'll be humming my notes, and I'm not always aware
of how hard I'm doing it. That's really how I started playing,
just with my mouth."
The Energy - Albert Collins
"I hear so many blues records and a lot of it's not dance music.
That has a lot to do with your concerts. People say 'I can dance
to this, let's go see him in person'. Because I'm playing for
younger audiences, I always try to keep that energy
happening."
His Roots - Albert Collins
"In Texas, I was raised up around those kind of sax players like
Illinois Jacquet. Down there there's blues and jazz and R&B.
I had a choice to make when I started out, so I decided to play
blues."
Day Jobs Albert Collins
"Before I really got started with music, I mixed paint for
automobiles for six years. That was back in Texas, before I came
to the west coast. When I cut "Frosty" in 1962, I didn't follow
it up. I never traveled because I had a regular day job at
home."
Hard Times - Albert Collins
"Around 1974 to 1975 I quit for a minute and I didn't record for
six years from 1972 to '78. For about a year, I stopped playing
completely. My landlord was a contractor, and I started doing
work with him. My wife told me 'this ain't you, you've got to
keep up with your music' which I'm proud of her for telling me
that."
Using A Capo - Albert Collins
"I got the idea for the capo from Gatemouth Brown. I started
without one, but I looked at Gatemouth and said, "Man, you're
using that choker." We used to call it a choker. Now I can't play
without one." (Albert tuned his guitar to an F minor chord
instead of the regular tuning.)
His Sound - Albert Collins
"I get most of my sound from the amp that I use and I always like
to use my own amp- a 100 watt Quad Reverb I've been using since
1972. I always put the volume all the way up on 10, treble on 10,
middle on 10 and I don't use bass, intensity or none of that.
Reverb I set at 4.
