Albert Lee

Infobox musical artist
Name = Albert Lee

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Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Albert Lee
Alias = Mr. Telecaster
The Guitar Player's Guitar Player
Born = birth date and age|1943|12|21|df=y
Leominster, England
Died =
Instrument = Guitar, Piano, Mandolin
Genre = Country, Rockabilly, Rock and roll, Rock, R&B
Occupation = Musician, Singer-songwriter
Years_active = 1959 - present
Label = A&M, Diamond Records, MCA, Heroic Records, Castle, Magnum, Polydor, Sugar Hill
Associated_acts =
URL = [http://www.albertlee.co.uk www.albertlee.co.uk]
Notable_instruments = 1952, 1953, 1960 Fender Telecaster
Ernie Ball Music Man
Albert Lee Signature Model
1958 Gibson J-200
1958 Gibson Les Paul Custom
Gibson Everly Brothers model
1958 Fender Stratocaster

"For the city in Minnesota, see Albert Lea, Minnesota"

Albert Lee (born December 21, 1943 in Leominster, Herefordshire) is a Grammy-winning English guitarist known for his finger-style and hybrid picking technique.

Early life

He grew up in Blackheath, London. His father was a musician, and Albert studied piano. During this time, like many of his age, he became a fan of Buddy Holly, and also of Jerry Lee Lewis. He took up guitar in 1958 when his parents bought him a second-hand Höfner "President" which he later traded in for a Czechoslovakian "Grazioso", the forerunner of the "Futurama". Later, he wished he had bought a Fender instead. Albert Lee left school at the age of 16, to play full-time.

Career

Early career in England

Lee was with a variety of bands from 1959 onwards, playing mostly R&B, country music and rock and roll. Lee first experienced commercial success as the lead guitarist with Chris Farlowe and The Thunderbirds.Lee says that he enjoyed playing the Stax-type material, but he really wanted to play Country music. Consequently he left Farlowe and the Thunderbirds in 1968.

During his time playing with Heads Hands & Feet, Lee became a "guitar hero", playing his Fender Telecaster at breakneck speed. Larkin, Colin. The Guinness Who's Who Of Country Music: Albert Lee entry, Guinness Publishing, 1993. ISBN 0-85112-726-6] Heads Hands & Feet became a very popular live band in the UK, making appearances on The Old Grey Whistle Test and also in Europe, where they appeared on the German music programme Beat-Club.

International success

Lee left for Los Angeles, California in 1974 as offers of session work were flooding in, although efforts to record and release his own albums were stalling. In 1976, Lee was asked to join Emmylou Harris's Hot Band, replacing one of his heroes James Burton.

Starting in 1978, Lee worked for five years with Eric Clapton, playing and singing for a live concert recording at the Budokan in Japan.

Albert Lee was responsible for The Everly Brothers 1983 reunion concert and was the musical director. [ [http://homepage.eircom.net/~albertlee/biography/biography.html] Albert Lee biography (retrieved 26 August 2006)] Lee was a regular player with the Everlys for over twenty years.

In 1987, Lee was invited by Gerry Hogan to headline at a Steel Guitar Festival in Newbury, Berkshire.Lee was at first intimidated by the prospect of having to front a band, however, the gig was successful and he now tours with "Hogan's Heroes" on a regular basis. Hogan's Heroes are renowned for attracting celebrities to their gigs. Stars such as Eric Clapton, Tommy Emmanuel, Lonnie Donegan, Dave Edmunds, Marty Wilde, Willie Nelson, Nanci Griffith, Don Everly, Emmylou Harris, Sonny Curtis and Rodney Crowell have all jammed with the band at one time or another.

In 2002, Albert Lee appeared at the Concert for George.

Also in 2002, Lee received a Grammy Award for Best Country Instrumental Performance for Foggy Mountain Breakdown from the CD "Earl Scruggs and Friends".

Lee continues to tour and work in the studio, and tours on a regular basis with Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings.

Awards, accolades and legacy

Lee has received many awards for his playing, including the five times consecutive winner of "Guitar Player" magazine's "Best Country Guitarist". [http://www.riffinteractive.com/emp/albertlee/]

Lee is known within the music industry for his speed of playing and his technical virtuosity [http://enjoyment.independent.co.uk/music/news/article878438.ece] and yet by the same token, one of the most melodic, playing slower passages approximating the sound of the Pedal Steel Guitar with his Music Man and Telecaster guitars which are equipped with B-Benders.

He is known as "the guitar player's guitar player" [ [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20060613/ai_n16475038] Unsung heroes: session musicians are given their own Hall of Fame (retrieved 26 August 2006)] because of the presence of so many guitarists, famous or unknown, everywhere he performs. Albert Lee is also referred to as "Mr. Telecaster". [ [http://experts.about.com/e/a/al/Albert_Lee.htm Mr. Telecaster] ] A long-time Telecaster player, Lee wrote a foreword to A.R. Duchossoir's book detailing the history of the instrument.

Albert Lee's song "Country Boy", helped to redefine country guitar for a whole generation of players, and was later to become a huge hit for multi- instrumentalist Ricky Skaggs.

Despite positive press from Melody Maker and New Musical Express, Lee has never achieved any great commercial success in terms of vast record sales during his career, but more as a live performer, session player and sideman, perhaps due to his self-effacing stage presence. Lee has been described by his peers who include Jimmy Page and Ritchie Blackmore, as a complete gentleman who does not know the meaning of the word "ego".

Earl Scruggs, commenting on Albert Lee has stated: "I have been a fan and admirer of his guitar work from the first moment I heard him play. I am constantly amazed at his talent. I am sure there are many guitar players who have been influenced by his style and will continue to be influenced for years to come. Albert is in every sense of the word, a genuine guitar wizard". [http://www.sugarhillrecords.com/events/seeartist.cgi?Albert+Lee]

It is widely quoted that Eric Clapton is on record as stating that Albert Lee is, in his opinion, "the greatest guitarist in the world." Emmylou Harris has stated that Lee " [is] a brilliant guitar player. His sound is unmistakable—often emulated, never equalled. When St Peter asks me to chronicle my time down here on earth, I'll be able to say (with pride if that's allowed) that for a while I played rhythm guitar in a band with Albert Lee." [http://www.smh.com.au/news/gig-reviews/albert-lee/2007/08/20/1187462126054.html]

Reflecting on the Heads Hands & Feet period of his career, Lee has stated: "What amazes me is how many musicians in Nashville have a copy of our first album in their personal record collections, and still ask me what happened to the band."

In September 2006 Lee took part in Primal Twang: The Legacy of the Guitar—the first definitive theatrical journey through the guitar’s colourful and surprisingly controversial 3500-year history.

Albert Lee appeared at the 2007 Crossroads Guitar Festival on 28 July and performed with Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings at the Ahmet Ertegun tribute show at The O2 in London on 10 December.

A new Albert Lee and Hogan's Heroes album entitled 'Like This' is to be released in Spring 2008 to coincide with their European tour.

Accident in Paris

In April 2008 while on tour in France, Albert Lee suffered a bad fall in Paris when he misjudged a curb, falling forward breaking his humerus in two places. Lee received medical attention in a Paris hospital before flying home to Malibu to recover. Details of rescheduled tour dates as well as Lee's progress, were posted on both his and Hogan's Heroes websites. [ [http://www.munster-express.ie/front-page-news/general-stories/albert-lee-hogans-heroes-concert-postponed/ The Munster Express Online » Archive » Albert Lee & Hogan’s Heroes concert postponed ] ] Happily, Albert has made a full recovery and is currently back on the road with a busy touring schedule.

Guitars owned by Lee

Albert Lee is the owner of Don Everly's Gibson J-200. The Gibson Guitar Corporation made one for Don and the other for Phil Everly. The guitars have an all black, high gloss lacquered finish, and are equipped with twin "Everly Brothers" white pickguards. The Everly Brothers manager Wesley Rhodes had wanted the guitar to be presented to the Country Music Hall of Fame, but Everly informed him that guitars like that should be played, not kept sitting in a glass case. Don Everly presented it to Lee, along with his Gibson "Everly Brothers" model.

Eric Clapton also gave Lee the Gibson Les Paul Custom that he played with Delaney and Bonnie.

Confusion with Alvin Lee

Albert Lee is often confused with Alvin Lee. This confusion has led to Alvin Lee being incorrectly credited on many albums in the past.

Albert Lee currently lives in Malibu, California.

ource

* "The Guinness Who's Who Of Country Music". Guinness Publishing. ISBN 0-85112-726-6
* Watts, Derek, (2008), "Country Boy: A Biography of Albert Lee", pub. Jefferson, N.C. : McFarland & Co., ISBN 9780786436583

References

Partial Band List

*Chris Farlowe And The Thunderbirds
*The Crickets
*Country Fever
*Green Bullfrog.
*Heads Hands & Feet
*Emmylou Harris and The Hot Band
*Hogan's Heroes (guitar and vocals)
*Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings
*Biffbaby's All Stars, featuring: Albert Lee, Eddie Van Halen, Steve Morse, and Steve Lukather. In association with Ernie Ball products.

Discography

olo albums

* Albert Lee — "Black Claw/Country Fever"
* Poet And The One Man Band — "Poet And The One Man Band" LP(actually Heads Hands & Feet) (1969)
* Heads Hands & Feet — "Heads, Hands & Feet" LP(1971)
* Heads Hands & Feet — "Tracks" LP(1972)
* Heads Hands & Feet — "Let's Get This Show On The Road!"
* Heads Hands & Feet — "Jack Daniels Rare Old No.7"
* Heads Hands & Feet — "Old Soldiers Never Die" LP(1973)
* Heads Hands & Feet — "Home From Home - The Missing Album" LP(1968; unissued until 1995)
* Albert Lee — "Hiding"
* Albert Lee — "Albert Lee"
* Albert Lee — "Speechless"
* Albert Lee — "Country Guitar Man" (Re-release of "Old Soldiers Never Die" by Heads Hands & Feet)
* Albert Lee — "Gagged But Not Bound"
* Albert Lee — "Real Wild Child"
* Albert Lee — "That's All Right Mama"
* Albert Lee — "Heartbreak Hill"
* Albert Lee — "Road Runner"
* Albert Lee — "Advanced Country Guitar" (DVD)
* Albert Lee — "Master Session" (DVD)
* Albert Lee — "Country Legend" (DVD)
* Albert Lee — "Highlights" (DVD)
* Albert Lee — "Guitar Heroes" (DVD)
* Albert Lee — "Country Boy" (DVD)
* Albert Lee — "Guitar Techniques" (DVD)
* Albert Lee & Hogan's Heroes — "In Full Flight!"
* Albert Lee & Hogan's Heroes — "Tear It Up"
* Albert Lee & Hogan's Heroes — " In Between The Cracks"
* Albert Lee & Hogan's Heroes — "Live In Paris" (DVD)
* Albert Lee & Hogan's Heroes — "Like This"

Featured appearances

* Bo Diddley — "The London Bo Diddley Sessions"
* Jerry Lee Lewis — "The London Sessions"
* Emmylou Harris — "Luxury Liner", "The Ballad Of Sally Rose", "Blue Kentucky Girl", "Roses in the Snow", "Evangeline" (Guitars, Mandolin)
* Eric Clapton — "Just One Night", "Another Ticket", "Money and Cigarettes"
* John Prine — "The Missing Years" (Guitar, Mandolin, Piano)
* Jon Lord — "Gemini Suite"
* Earl Scruggs — "Earl Scruggs and Friends"
* Paul Kennerley — "The Legend of Jesse James" (Guitars, Vocals, Mandolin)
* The Crickets — "Long Way From Lubbock", "The Crickets and Their Buddies"
* Joe Cocker — "Sting Ray"
* Nicolette Larson — "The Very Best Of Nicollette Larson"
* Rodney Crowell — "The Essential Rodney Crowell"
* Dolly Parton - "White Limozeen"
* The Return Of Spinal Tap — DVD (As himself, playing on "Break Like The Wind.")
* John 5 — "Death Valley"
* Carlene Carter — "I fell in Love"
* Foster and Lloyd — "Version of the Truth"
* Nanci Griffith — "I Knew Love"
* Hugh Moffatt — "Dance Me Outside"
* Shakin Stevens — "Hot Dog"
* Everly Brothers— "Reunion Concert" (Guitars, Piano, Musical Director.)
* Don Everly — "Sunset Towers"
* Dave Edmunds — "Sweet Little Lisa"
* Marcel Dadi — "Nashville Rendez-vous"
* Bert Jansch — "Heartbreak"

External links

* [http://www.albertlee.co.uk Official Site]
* [http://www.albertleeandhogansheroes.com/band.htm Albert Lee and Hogan's Heroes]