I'm really sad this morning as I go back with John Garcia 31 years. It didn't take me long after moving to the Bay area in 1985 to discover JJ's Lounge in San Jose, where John used to put on incredible performances, including walking atop the bar with his guitar. I had him at a party at my place in the Santa Cruz Mountains in 1987. He had Deacon Jones on Hammond organ.
John was John Lee Hooker's guitarist circa 1978-1983. Simply one of the great blues guitar players anywhere, NOT just the Bay area. But John could make you cry, too. Evidenced by the above video which I shot three years ago, a Richie Valens tune.
John was every bit as much a nice person as he was a great musician. Gonna miss you SO much Johnny..............
Sorry for your loss Rob, my condolences to John's friends and family
Sorry for your loss Rob, my condolences to John's friends and family
Thank You.
Here's a little blurb I found in Facebook. John lived in Gilroy which is about 25 miles south of San Jose, 75 miles south of San Francisco.
[Edited on 10/17/2016 by robslob]
[Edited on 10/17/2016 by robslob]
Messin' With The Kid........Philip Benson, guitar, right, was one of John's students. Andy Just, harp.
Pretty Girls Everywhere. I love John's version of this, he just kills it, and he recorded it as well. Clapton did this on "John Mayall's Bluesbreakers". I shot this one. You can't even see the keyboard player, the lighting was really bad in the club, but the performance is there.
[Edited on 10/17/2016 by robslob]
Here's my favorite John Garcia solo.....This was recorded at the Keystone Palo Alto when he was backing John Lee Hooker....his solos is after JLH says..."Make it Funky"....and he builds one of the most expressive solos I've ever heard...When JLH comes back in and they trade riffs....John Garcia ends the trade with one of the greatest emotional riff I've ever heard from anyone....it sounds like a man crying and sobbing...that riffs starts at 4:39 and ends the solo.....
Hey Hey from the Album "The Cream" on Tomato Records....very rare
Oh Yeah....that Refinished 56 Les Paul with P90's is what he's playing on this recording....you can hear those p90's in that solo so clearly....That was for the gear heads....
RIP John Garcia....he was such a great player
[Edited on 10/29/2016 by goldtop]
Here's my favorite John Garcia solo.....This was recorded at the Keystone Palo Alto when he was backing John Lee Hooker....his solos is after JLH says..."Make it Funky"....and he builds one of the most expressive solos I've ever heard...When JLH comes back in and they trade riffs....John Garcia ends the trade with one of the greatest emotional riff I've ever heard from anyone....it sounds like a man crying and sobbing...that riffs starts at 4:39 and ends the solo.....
Hey Hey from the Album "The Cream" on Tomato Records....very rare
Good to see you chime in here Ron, you've told me many times what a big fan you are of John's playing.
