Guitar Shorty | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Guitar Shorty at the 2008Ottawa Bluesfest | |
| Background information | |
| Born | David William Kearney (1934-09-08)September 8, 1934 |
| Died | April 20, 2022(2022-04-20) (aged 87) Los Angeles,California, U.S. |
| Genres | Blues |
| Occupation | Musician |
| Instrument | Guitar |
| Years active | 1950s–2022 |
| Labels | Black Top,Alligator |
| Website | http://www.guitarshorty.com |
David William Kearney (September 8, 1934 – April 20, 2022), known asGuitar Shorty, was an Americanblues guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He was known for his explosive guitar style and wild stage antics. Credited with influencing bothJimi Hendrix andBuddy Guy, Guitar Shorty recorded and toured from the 1950s until the 2020s.[2][3] In 2017,Billboard magazine said, "his galvanizing guitar work defines modern, top-of-the-line blues-rock. His vocals remain as forceful as ever. Righteous shuffles...blistering, sinuous guitar solos."[4]
Shorty was born in eitherHouston,Texas,[5] orLoughman, Florida.[1] He grew up mainly inKissimmee, Florida. He was taught by his uncle to play the guitar at an early age,[6] and began leading a band not long after. During his time inTampa Bay, Florida, at age 16 he received his nickname, Guitar Shorty, when it mysteriously showed up on the marquee of the club he was playing as 'The Walter Johnson Band featuring Guitar Shorty.'[7] He steadily began to garner accolades from his peers and, soon after, he joined theRay Charles Band for a year.[7] He recorded his first single in 1957, "You Don't Treat Me Right", for the Cobra label under the direction ofWillie Dixon,[6] after Dixon saw him playing with the Walter Johnson Orchestra.[8]
While in New Orleans, Shorty also fronted his own band which played regularly at theDew Drop Inn where he was joined by special guests such asT-Bone Walker,Big Joe Turner andLittle Richard.[7] Not one to stay in one place long, Shorty next moved to theWest Coast at 19 to play withSam Cooke. He played up and down the west coast and Canada until he met his future wife, Marsha or Marcia, inSeattle, Washington.[6] Marsha was the step-sister ofJimi Hendrix.[9] Hendrix was so enthralled with Shorty's playing, he went AWOL several times from his Army base to see him perform.[7][8][10] Shorty introduced Hendrix to thewah pedal and loaned him one when Hendrix could not afford to buy his own.[11] Shorty married Marsha in 1962 and they separated in 1970.[9]
Shorty gigged steadily through the late 1950s and 1960s. During the 1970s, he worked as a mechanic, playing music at nights and on weekends. He again became a full-time musician in 1975, struggling at times to make ends meet. In 1976 he made an appearance onChuck Barris'Gong Show, winning first prize for performing the song, "They Call Me Guitar Shorty", while balanced on his head.[10]
In 2002, he was featured on theBo Diddley tribute albumHey Bo Diddley – A Tribute!, performing the song "Don't Let It Go (Hold On To What You Got)".He joinedAlligator Records in 2004. His album that year,Watch Your Back and his 2006 albumWe the People both charted on theBillboardTop Blues Albums at numbers eleven and twelve, respectively.Billboard said ofWe The People, "it's difficult to imagine that he ever tracks a better album than this one."[4]
On May 10, 2016, his touring van and trailer was stolen with most of his instruments and gear. An online fundraiser and several benefit concerts were organized, by his guitar player Crazy Tomes, in Los Angeles to help him with the financial losses, including a special performance withThe Chambers Brothers.[11][12][13]
Guitar Shorty released his albumTrying To Find My Way Back in 2019, produced by Jerry "Swamp Dogg" Williams and Larry "MoogStar" Clemons.[14] He also played lead guitar on Crazy Tomes' single "Livin' on Memories", released in 2020.[15] He continued to tour with his band of many years that included Crazy Tomes (guitar and vocals), Malcolm Lukens (keyboards), Wadada Khufu (bass) and Dan Gerass (drums).[16][17]
He died on April 20, 2022, in Los Angeles, at the age of 87.[18] He appears in the 2024 documentary filmSwamp Dogg Gets His Pool Painted, which was in production at the time of Guitar Shorty's death.[19]
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