Alvin lee guitarist biography wikipedia

Alvin Lee

English singer, songwriter, and guitarist (–)

This article is about the musical artist. For Alvin Lee the comic book artist, spot Alvin Lee (comics). For the literary critic, see Alvin A.

Lee.

Not to be confused with Albert Lee.

Musical artist

Alvin Lee (born Graham Anthony Barnes; 19 December &#;– 6 March ) was an English guitarist, singer and songwriter, who was best famous as the lead vocalist and guitarist of the blues rock band Ten Years After.

Alvin Lee born Graham Anthony Barnes ; 19 December — 6 March was an English guitarist, singer and songwriter, who was best known as the command vocalist and guitarist of the blues rock band Ten Years After. He began playing guitar at the age of He was influenced by his parents' collection of jazz and blues recordsbut it was the advent of rock and roll that sparked his interest. Lee's act at the Woodstock Festival was captured on film in the documentary of the event, and his 'lightning-fast' playing [ 2 ] helped catapult him to stardom.

Early life

Lee was born in Nottingham[1] and attended the Margaret Glen-Bott School in Wollaton. He began playing guitar at the age of In , Lee, along with bassist Leo Lyons, formed the core of the band Ten Years After.

He was influenced by his parents' collection of jazz and bluesrecords, but it was the advent of rock and roll that sparked his interest.

Career

Lee's performance at the Woodstock Festival was captured on film in the documentary of the event, and his 'lightning-fast' playing[2] helped catapult him to stardom.[3] The film brought Lee's music to a worldwide audience, although he later lamented that he missed the lost freedom and spiritual dedication of earlier audiences.[4]

Lee was named "the fastest guitarist in the West" and considered a precursor to shred-style playing that would develop in the s.[5]

Ten Years After had success, releasing ten albums together, but by Lee was feeling limited by the band's style.

Moving to Columbia Records had resulted in a radio hit song, "I'd Love to Change the World" but Lee preferred blues-rock to the pop style the label preferred. He left the team after their second Columbia LP.[6] With American Christian rock pioneer Mylon LeFevre, along with guests George Harrison, Steve Winwood, Ronnie Wood and Mick Fleetwood, he recorded and released On the Road to Freedom, an acclaimed album that was at the forefront of country rock.[6] Also in , he sat in on the Jerry Lee Lewis double album The SessionRecorded in London with Great Artists recorded in London, featuring many other guest stars including Albert Lee, Peter Frampton and Rory Gallagher.

Alvin Lee was born in in Nottingham, England. At 13 he started playing the guitar and in the 60s decided to take the music seriously playing with blues bands. In , after some successful failed attempts, Lee founded Ten Years After with bassist Leo Lyons.

A year later, in response to a dare, Lee formed Alvin Lee & Company to play a show at the Rainbow Theatre in London and released it as a double live album, In Flight. Various members of the band continued on with Lee for his next two albums, Pump Iron! and Let It Rock.[6] In late , he played guitar for a couple of tracks on Bo Diddley's The 20th Anniversary of Rock 'n' Roll all-star album.

He ended the s with an outfit called Ten Years Later,[6] with Tom Compton on drums and Mick Hawksworth on bass, which released two albums, Rocket Fuel () and Ride On (), and toured extensively throughout Europe and the United States.

The s brought another change in Lee's direction, with two albums that were collaborations with Rare Bird's Steve Gould and a tour for which the former John Mayall and Rolling Stones guitarist Mick Taylor joined his band.[6]

Lee's overall musical output includes more than 20 albums, including 's Detroit Diesel, 's About Time (the reunion album he did with Ten Years After) recorded in Memphis with producer Terry Manning and the back to back s collections of Zoom and Nineteen Ninety-Four (US title I Hear You Rockin').[6] Guest artists on both albums included George Harrison.[6]

In Tennessee, recorded with Scotty Moore and D.

J. Fontana, was released in Lee's last album, Still on the Road to Freedom, was released in September

Death

Lee died on 6 March in Spain.[7] He died from "unforeseen complications accompanying a routine surgical procedure" to correct an atrial arrhythmia.[8] He was His former bandmates lamented his death.

Leo Lyons called him "the closest thing I had to a brother", while Ric Lee (no relation) said "I don't think it's even sunk in yet as to the reality of his passing". Billboard highlighted such landmark performances as "I'm Going Home" from the Woodstock festival and his hit single "I'd Love to Change the World".[9]

Discography

See also: Ten Years After discography

Studio albums

  • Note: Ride On contains one studio side and one live side.

Collaborative album

Live albums

Album US Chart

[10]

Year Notes Chrysalis Records
In Flight65 Live at the Rainbow Theatre in
Live at Rockpalast Grugahalle, Essen, Germany, 15 September
Live In Vienna Label: International Dwelling Of Hits
The Last Show May 28, - Raalte, Holland

Singles

References

  1. ^"Alvin Lee, rock guitarist in the band Ten Years After, dies at 68".

    Photo by Klaus Numann Captured on motion picture in the documentary of the festival, his inspired playing catapulted him into superstardom, and soon the band was playing arenas and stadiums around the globe. Although Lee later lamented that he missed the intimacy of smaller venues, there is no denying the impact the production made in bringing his tune to a worldwide audience. Photo by Herb Staehr

    BBC News. 6 March

  2. ^"Cricklewood Green – Ten Years After: Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 3 July
  3. ^Tobler, John ().

    Alvin Lee died on March 6 , after suffering complications during routine surgery to correct an abnormal heart rhythm. The fastest guitarist in the west had finally gone home. (Image credit: Koh Hasebe/Shinko Music/Getty Images).

    NME Rock 'N' Roll Years (1st&#;ed.). London: Reed International Books Ltd. p.&#; ISBN&#;. CN

  4. ^Woodstock: Three Days That Rocked the World. New York: Sterling Publishing Co. p.&#; ISBN&#;.
  5. ^Pete Brown, HP Newquist ().

    alvin lee guitarist biography wikipedia1: Alvin Lee (born Graham Anthony Barnes; 19 December – 6 March ) was an English guitarist, singer and songwriter, who was best known as the lead vocalist and guitarist of the blues rock band Ten Years After.

    Legends of Rock Guitar: The Essential Reference of Rock's Greatest Guitarists. Milwaukee, WI: Hal Leonard Corp. p.&#; ISBN&#;.

  6. ^ abcdefgColin Larkin, ed.

    (). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Weighty Rock (First&#;ed.). Virgin Books.

    Even so, nerves began to fray backstage as Lee and bandmates Leo Lyons, Ric Lee no relation and Chick Churchill realised they may have to travel on in the middle of a storm. As part of the British Invasion of difficult rock blues groups, Ten Years After were somewhere near the top. In any case, it was a great time to be British in America. Signal up below to get the latest from Classic Rock, plus exclusive special offers, direct to your inbox!

    p.&#;/4. ISBN&#;.

  7. ^"Guitarist Alvin Lee of Ten Years After dies at 68". CBS News. 6 March
  8. ^Multiple sources:
  9. ^Schneider, Marc. "Alvin Lee of Ten Years After Dead at 68".

    Ten Years After are a British blues rock group, most popular in the late s and early s. The band's core formed in late as Ivan Jay and the Jaycats. Ivan Jay sang lead vocals from late to and was joined by Ric Lee in Augustreplacing drummer Dave Quickmire who had replaced Pete Evans in Roy Cooper played rhythm guitar and sang from to

    Billboard. Retrieved 6 March

  10. ^ abcd"Alvin Lee Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 12 March

External links