Roy Buchanan - Down By The River, PBS (1971)

[stuartmenziesfarrant]

Fender should be planning a Roy Buchanan Signature model right now!

[jonathanlindberg]

In the late seventies I used to bring people to Roy Buchanan shows at small venues and after the first song watch their mouths hang open wide and their eyes with a look of disbelief

[xwarx]

One of the most naturally gifted guitarist to ever walk the earth.

[malbuff]

This was the first time I heard Roy Buchanan. I was 15. An older friend had raved about him, said he was THE best. Then by chance I found out this was being shown on WETA, the PBS station in DC. It was about the same time the "Snake Stretchers" album came out. WHFS-FM played several tracks from that album including the "The Messiah Will Come Again." I was always puzzled he didn't get the recognition he deserved. We had two of the greatest guitarists in the world living around DC in those days, he and Danny Gatton. Both brilliant, innovative musicians. Both unrecognized by many. Both passed under sad circumstances.

[kirkmeuselbach]

Just continuing to play a solo while drinking a beer alone should get Roy into the rock n roll hall of fame.

[Bill_Woo]

Many know of his tone dominance. He's one of a kind, an instantly identifiable legend when you hear him play a note, like Carlos Santana or Jeff Beck. What is phenomenally great among him (and Beck and Santana), and makes a guitarist truly legendary, is his *choice of notes.* Probably thousands of guitarists have taken a shot at jamming to Hey Joe or Down By the River. But not like this. Roy's choice of notes is so utterly moving and emotional that it's astonishing. Legendary.

[tonymurphy]

Saw Roy in England in the early 70's. They showed a video of him playing Sweet Dreams on The Old Grey Whistle Test, and within weeks he'd sold out a concert tour of the UK. We couldn't believe we'd never heard of him before. He was so laid back and unassuming, but his playing was awesome. I still think back to that gig, it made me a Tele man.

[jstnxprsn]

"You want bad ass, tasteful playing? Here, hold my beer. No wait, I'll jst drink it while I'm playing"
Cool vid. Thanks.

[PageMarker]

The guy plays 1000% time better than I do even when he has a beer in hand & sipping it.
RIP, Roy!

[drgallup]

That's a pretty young Roy. I don't think I discovered him until about 5 years later. Simply amazing guitar player. Of all the musicians who have passed in my lifetime I think his death hit me the hardest.

[raybede]

We were so lucky to be able to see artists and bands like these when I was young.

[foxyjazzbopper]

Roy Buchanan's touch and timing was immaculate. What an inspirational player, no flash, , just pure tone and feeling. Utterly brilliant.

[kennyguitarallen]

best guitarist you may have never knew, just brilliant

[raymind]

Certain notes and riffs heard by Roy make me think of him as the greatest BLUES Guitarists ever.

[ricravier]

All this talk about the guitar player... the tambourine player is on another level. He should immediately be put in the Hall of Fame.

[duanecupp]

I was fortunate to see him in a small bar, awesome guitarist and drowning on dry land is my favorite, truly miss him

[zymmer]

It was said that Roy, in his early years, stood in the back of the bandstand and made the front man look real good..here, as we can see, he is still modest, yet his genious cannot be overstated.

[timowalker]

I discovered RB the day after he died in his jail cell… the radio station disc jockey was playing his music and I thus was introduced to his mastery… such a loss… I remember it as well as my wedding, the birth of my sons, the death of my father, etc…

[cshubs]

I discovered him in 1990 when I was my college radio's blues DJ. Once I found him, I played his stuff every week. I was thoroughly disappointed when I learned he passed just a couple years before under suspicious circumstances.

[liamc]

Everyone in the audience are mind blown. No distractions like phones today