I'm not committed to putting myself up for a blues guitarist, even though I love playing the blues.
Jimi Hendrix came from the blues, like me. We understood each other right away because of that. He was a great blues guitarist.
When you think blues, you think BB King. Even a young kid can look at a picture of BB King and say, 'the blues.' The man is more than a musician. He's a monument.
Everyone wanted to play like Eric Clapton in the early to mid-'60s.
I decided early on that I wanted to be Michael Bloomfield, Jeff Beck and Eric Clapton - not George Harrison.
When I got out of high school, I was in a blues band. It was the kind of music I was interested in, and listening to, mostly because it was becoming a vehicle for a generation of guitarists - like Jeff Beck and Eric Clapton. Mike Bloomfield. And that's what I wanted to be, principally: a guitar player.
Strangely enough, I wasn't into fast guitarists. I preferred Peter Green's subtle touch. I saw him with John Mayall's Bluesbreakers at the Marquee Club in London and was very impressed. He was the only guitarist I've ever seen to turn the volume control on his guitar down during a solo.
Of course that was my idol, Son House. I think he did a lot for the Mississippi slide down there.
Mention Hubert Sumlin, as well, because Hubert's a great man, and again, you know, I don't play the guitar very good, but when I'm playing this kind of music, I always have him in my mind. I wish I could play like Hubert.
I am, and always will be, a blues guitarist.
Larry Carlton is an incredibly versatile guitarist who has been a major force for guitar for many years. He is easily recognizable - all you have to do is hear him once and from that point on you'll be a fan, just like me. It gives me great pleasure to extend congratulations to Larry on his 2011 George Benson Lifetime Achievement Award. Congratulations !
Duane Allman was the best guitar player I ever heard who didn't read a note.
I've always wanted the sound of Muddy Waters' early records - only louder
Eric Clapton was such a great player. He sounds like he's Freddie King or someone like that. He plays the roots of blues and Delta blues. He really affected me with the way that he plays, because he never really plays that many notes.
Hardly a day goes by without me sticking on a Muddy Waters record.
Stevie Ray Vaughan was very intense. Maybe that's what caught everybody's attention. As a player, he didn't do anything amazing.
I was a virtuoso of all the folk-blues guitar styles by the time I reached 17.
I always did have a kind of candle shining for Peter Green. I mean, he was my god.
When I began my career, I was constantly referred to as the kid who could play the blues.
I knew BB King when he first started out.
I think people must wonder how a white girl like me became a blues guitarist. The truth is, I never intended to do this for a living.
Robert Johnson? No, I didn't know him, personally.
I was 22 years old when I met Robert Johnson. I was there the night he was poisoned.
If it wasn't for guys like Gary Moore, I wouldn't exist. He not only proved that the blues could rock but it could draw a crowd as well. All of which made a huge impression on me.
Albert King wasn't my brother in blood, but he sure was my brother in Blues
