Daily Tune On - Sonny Landreth A Goner within “Reach”
Writing about John Hiatt last week got me thinking about Louisiana guitarist Sonny Landreth. He and “The Goners” use to back John Hiatt, but Sonny Landreth is a talent in his own right and deserves a column of his own. Best known for his slide guitar work, many well-known musicians have called upon him for work on their own projects, but it should be known that he is a guitar force to be reckoned with as his own leading man. One musician who has recognized the talents of Sonny Landreth besides John Hiatt is famed guitarist Eric Clapton who had Landreth as his opening act at last years “Crossroads Guitar Festival” in Chicago.
Having been influenced by Elvis guitarist Scotty Moore and groups like “Chet Atkins and the Ventures,” Landreth’s biggest guitar influence and personal hero was Robert Johnson stating that he also closely studied the guitar styles of Mississippi John Hurt, Skip James and Charlie Patton. Lyrically he’s said he was influenced by a number of writers and Robert Faulkner was one writer up at the top of his list.
Born in Mississippi, his family soon moved to Lafayette Louisiana. Starting off as a trumpet player Landreth later switched to guitar where he developed his own unique style of playing slide guitar. His first professional gig eventually came with accordionist Clifton Chenier and then Landreth struck out on his own. Catching the eye of Nashville Landreth was soon working with the likes of John Hiatt, and eventually John Mayall, Bonnie Raitt, Jimmy Buffet, Steve Conn, Gov’t Mule, Mark Nopfler, Buddy Guy, Eric Clapton, and Jimmy Buffet with whom he toured, to name a few.
A guitarist most people have never heard of, Landreth’s newest release, “From The Reach,” his ninth, is the first of his records to be released on his own label, “Landfall.” On this disc Landreth collaborates with five of the top guitarists still alive today; Eric Clapton, Robben Ford, Mark Knopfler, Vince Gill, and Eric Johnson; something the artist had never done before. Landreth says on his website, “I’ve wanted to make this kind of record for a long time – to do an entire album that would feature some of my favorite players as special guests.” He’s also joined on the disc by Dr. John and Jimmy Buffett who add their own unique touches of piano and vocals on the cut “Howlin’ Moon.”
On tour this month you can check his website to learn more about Landreth and see if he’s playing anywhere near you. And if you would like to hear a cut from Sonny Landreth’s most recent release, “From The Reach,” one of his collaborations with Eric Clapton, “When I Still Had You,” simply click on the link below or cut and paste it into your browser.
Sonny Landreth – “When I Still Had You” with Eric Clapton
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8JvPu3FCVM
Official website of Sonny Landreth
www.sonnylandreth.com/
November 5th, 2008 at 10:03 pm
[...] Audrey of Cracks in Sidewalks takes a look at an amazing slide guitarist I was first exposed to just last year at the Crossroads Guitar Festival in: Sonny Landreth A Goner within “Reach” | Cracks In Sidewalks [...]