Lonnie Mack

Blues, Musical Artist

1941 –

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Who is Lonnie Mack?

Lonnie Mack is an American rock, blues, and country guitarist and vocalist.

In 1963 and early 1964 he recorded a succession of full-length electric guitar instrumentals that combined blues stylism with fast-picking techniques and a rock beat. The best-known of these are "Memphis", "Wham!", and "Chicken Pickin'". These instrumentals preceded the emergence of major rock guitar soloists such as Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix in the late 1960s, and established the standard of virtuosity for a generation of rock guitarists. They are also said to have formed the leading edge of the "blues rock" lead guitar genre. The pitch-bending tremolo arm found on some electric guitars reportedly became known as the "whammy bar" in recognition of Mack's aggressive, rapid manipulation use of the device in 1963's Wham!"

In 1979, music historian Richard T. Pinnell called 1963's "Memphis" a "milestone of early rock guitar". In 1980 the editors of Guitar World magazine ranked "Memphis" first among rock's top five "landmark" guitar recordings. Mack is widely regarded today as a pivotal historical figure in expanding the role of the electric guitar in rock.

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Born
Jul 18, 1941
Harrison County
Also known as
  • Mack, Lonnie
Nationality
  • United States of America
Profession
Lived in
  • Indiana

Submitted
on July 23, 2013

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