Guitar Shorty, a blue great for more than six decades known for his stage antics and awesome guitar solos, died Wednesday in Los Angeles.
He was 87 and his death was attributed to natural causes by his representatives.Born David William Kearney, Guitar Shorty (a name granted him on a club marquee) started his career in the clubs of the south and southwest, with a stop in New Orleans at the famed Dew Drop Inn, where he led his own band.
He then headed to Los Angeles and a gig with Sam Cooke, playing the west coast blues circuit.During his travels, he met his future wife, Marsha, in Seattle, Washington.
She was the step-sister of Jimi Hendrix, who quickly grew into one Guitar Shorty’s biggest fans. His bio claims he introduced Hendrix to the wah-wah pedal and loaned him one when the young man couldn’t afford one.
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