The music is what wows you in this show. Aside from the aforementioned "Misty", Roy shows off his gentler side on his parents' back porch with his Telecaster plugged into a small amp with an astonishing display of circle picking, pedal steel-inspired licks when playing along with Merle Haggard, "chicken pickin" while backing up a church service, plus his concert tours de force, "Sweet Dreams" and "The Messiah Will Come Again". "Sweet Dreams" takes the old Patsy Cline song to another plane, with its exquisite slow bends and volume swells, and "Messiah" runs from anguished country blues to Page-like excess, again with Roy's lightning neck runs, pinched harmonics and his uncanny ability to make the guitar seem like it was crying and talking. Timing concerns caused WNET to fade out "Messiah" on the broadcast, but every time it aired, the performance generated a lot of phone calls asking about this awesome guitarist.
Buchanan's career was very checkered, and other than his very first album, his records didn't really capture Buchanan's smoldering passion for playing. Most of his records were disjointed jams, and frankly, his singing was better left unheard. The recordings were corporate affairs, trying to capitalize on the "guitar hero" aspect of the times, but looking for something commercial, which truth be told, Buchanan wasn't. He was a player's player. I saw him on several occasions at places such as The Bottom Line and My Father's Place, with bands that were looser and sloppier than the Snakestretchers (if such a thing were possible). Roy could be a bit infuriating to watch if you were looking to hear only "Sweet Dreams" or "The Messiah Will Come Again", as he played whatever came into his head that evening, and maybe, if we were lucky we'd get one or the other (on one rare occasion we did get both pieces in the set), but as a guitarist sitting in the front row eagerly absorbing every note, you know you'd be challenged, frustrated and ultimately awed by seeing Roy in concert.
Roy's death is still the subject of conjecture, and to some extent his recorded legacy needs to be managed better. I would imagine that releasing this and perhaps some of the other extant footage of him would go a long way to acknowledging this legendary player's talents.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - godoggo
I believe he's in the band in that Roy Orbison special they show on PBS whenever they're fundraising.
2 - The Proprietor
The only other PBS show I'm aware of that Roy appeared on was an oldies show in the mid-80s with the likes of Ben E. King and Lesley Gore. It was actually a sweet little show, with a very respectable pit band (which Roy led; he was respectfully addressed as "Professor" by some of the performers).
3 - Geo
I used to sneak into "My Mother's Place" in D.C., with a fake I.D. when I was around 16 and watch Roy play. I saw him many times during those years, it was Phenominal. What an inspiration to a budding yound guitarist (me), Really cool. Danny Gatton was another favorite. We had some real talent in D.C. who never were recognized nationally. Partly due to the fledgling recording scene of the 70's. NYC and LA was where musicians headed, then later Nashville was added to the list. But D.C. was only interested in politics and unabashed apple polishing.
4 - Jonesy
Wow! Didn't know Roy was king (Messiah?) of electric guitar...until about a month ago, reading the web. Apparently Jeff Beck did Stevie Wonder's "Cause We've Ended As Lovers" on "Blow By Blow [1975] as a tribute to Buchanan. Does this mean that stylistically the track emulates Roy's sound, at least in part? I've never heard Roy before.
5 - RICK
I have the following DVDs Of Roy Buchanan: P.B.S. The Greatest Unknown Guitarist in the World 1971; Roy Buchanan Sweet Dreams 1973 Musicladen; Roy Buchanan Austin City Limits Recorded in 1976 And Shown on P.B.S. 1977; Further On Down The Road 1986 that I had to Convert V.H.S. to DVD; Josephs Foodliner February 1987, Josephs Foodliner October 1987; Shake Rattle & Roll November 1987 and Broadcasted On P.B.S. 1988; Custom Made Guitars 1988; The Last Session-Raw outtakes of Custom Made 1988 that I had to Convert from V.H.S. to DVD. I know that there is one more from 1974 Don Kirshners Rock Concert that I have not Been able to get!! Roy was the Greatest Ever!! Bar None!!!!
6 - RICK
I saw Roy at Poor Davids Pub October 1988 In Dallas, Texas and Got to talk with Roy Several Times that Night. I told Roy that I had waited 17 years to meet him and Roy just smiled and told me to stick around for the second show and that he was going to pull out all the stops and he (ROY) did. I was about 10 Feet away when he played Hey Joe and at that moment i felt like a screaming little kid and i looked around and saw that everyone else had the same reaction that I did!! Most everyone there was a Guitar Player. I took My telecaster to Dallas and asked Roy If he would sign it and he said that he would during the break. During the break Roy walked over to me and asked if I had my telecaster for him and I told Roy no because i had Parked so far away that I was afraid someone would steal it from me!! Roy Understood and patted me on my Belly and said I understantd! Boy, I wish now that I had took the Chance with my guitar but this was a rough area and I am From Southern Oklahoma and not used to the things that I saw In Dallas. I was 30 Years Old at the Time and I had been playing guitar myself for about 18 years but could never do what Roy did and never saw anyone who could!!!
7 - TONY LISI
I WAS INTRODUCED TO ROY'S GUITAR PLAYING BY AN OLDER GUITAR PLAYING COUSIN. HE WAS MORE INTO COMMERCIAL MUSIC, BUT I WAS ALL ROCK AND ROLL. BEFORE I SAW ROY, I WAS FOLLOWING BUDDY HOLLY. MY COUSIN SNUCK ME INTO A BAR IN WOODLAWN,NEW JERSEY CALLED "DICK LEE'S".
HE SAID YOU GOTTA HEAR THIS GUY PLAY. I THINK THE YEAR WAS 1961 OR 62. ROY WAS PLAYING WITH A GROUP CALL "THE
TEMPTATIONS". ONCE I SAY HIM FINGER PICKIN' MALAGUENA, I WAS HOOKED. HE WAS AWESOME. WHEN I TURNED 21, IN 1963, I STARTED SNEAKING OTHER GUITAR PLAYERS IN TO SEE HIM. IT WAS SO WILDLY KNOWN BY THIS TIME OF HIS TALENTS THAT THE BOUNCERS LET ME BRING MINORS INTO THE BAR TO WATCH, BUT OF COURSE, THEY WERE NOT ALOUD TO DRINK. WE WERE ABLE TO STAND IN A BACK CORNER WHERE WE HAD FULL VUE OF ROY ON STAGE. ROY THESE DAYS WAS STARTING TO GET PRETTY WEIRD.
I SPOKE WITH HIM ON SEVERAL VISITS TO THE BAR. IN THE LATER VISITS, HE WOULD SOMETIMES TURN HIS BACK ON US WHEN HE PLAYED A GUITAR SOLO AS IF WE COULD COPY HIS TECHNIC. IT WAS STRANGE AND SO WERE THE TIMES AS THE MID SIXTIES ROLLED IN, ROY HAD LEFT THE TEMPTATIONS. THE TOLD ME HE HAD MOVED DOWN TO THE D.C. AREA.
THEY WERE GREAT TIMES, NEVER TO BE EXPERIENCED AGAIN. MAN, DO I FEEL LUCKY.
TONY
8 - David J Buchanan
I'm Roy Buchanan's son and would like to thank all the people who left comments here. It was awesome!!!
9 - Tom Vitale
It's great to see that Roy is remembered so fondly - he and his family deserve to keep his memories alive and well.
I have collected much of Roy's music - can never get enough! - but only have "Further on down the Road" re/video -(never got the chance to see him live!!)
wondering if Rick who posted a message on 8/21/05 is willing to cpoy any of his DVD's of Roy - for a fair price - I'd love to build up my video collection of Roy...
Thanks,
Tom
10 - Ken Tickle
I am trying to find video of Roy for my Dad Buck Tickle as a bass player he worked with Roy And Danny Denver Off and on in the 60's and some early 70's In The in the DC area man some of the stuff my dad could tell about Roy's
playing day's as back then I never get tired of hearing the stories.One of my favorites Is when Roy my Dad and Danny Walked up on the stage while Jerry Lee
Lewis was playing and Danny told Jerry about this guitar player he had with him so Jerry invited Roy to sit in Well afterwards Jerry wanted to hire Roy on the spot.Danny Responded you can't have him he works for me so the next thing you know Danny and Jerry going at it about who Roy's going to work for
11 - Joe Mocerino
I also saw Roy for the first time on TV. It was Don Kirshner's "In Concert" series. This was early seventies. I finally saw Roy live in 78 at the Bottom Line. I would like to say it was the most awsome show I ever saw but it was the late show. Started at 11:30. Roy was quite wasted and not really able to play. I would love to get a copy of the video. Let me know if any are for sale.
12 - Ken Tickle
Rick please e-mail me
13 - drew lavan
Either first or second concert ever for me - Roy Buchanan at Gaston Hall, Georgetown U in WDC. Messiah was an achingly slow, gut-wrenching bit of guitar mastery: didn't want it to stop, but it was overwhelming.
I'd appreciate any links to quality DVD pressings of Fairfax County's finest.
14 - steve vuich
As a teenage guitar player in Western PA circa 1972, I was lucky to find out about Roy Buchanan from another guitar player who was 4 or 5 years older than I was. I was at a 9th grade dance and Fran Picciato, the guitar player from the band ( The B.D. Biggs Blues Band ) introduced a song by Roy Buchanan. It was "The Messiah Will Come Again". I was mesmerized, hypnotized and baptized in the spirit of Roy's music that night. It wasn't Roy, but Frannie had that " Gospel Rust Belt Mojo " and after the band's set I pestered him until he told me as much as he knew about Roy. I went out the next day. bought the record, traded my Les Paul copy for an old Tele and I've been preachin' the word of Roy Buchanan ever since. Nowadays, I play in a band with some of the guys that first turned me on to Roy Buchanan... and we still play the blues and hope that Roy is pleased with the way we play 'em!
15 - Ken Tickle
Any one how do I see the e-mail adress'es of the different posts
16 - Chip Goddard
David Buchanan--
Thanks very much for letting us know you are here. We all hope you and the rest of the family are well; I understand there have been some tough times since your dad passed away, all the more frustrating because we know that Roy always wanted the best for his family.
Kindly appreciate that there are still many, many musicians who look up to your father's memory and music and we miss him deeply. He lives with us each time we listen to--or try to play-- 'When a Guitar Plays the Blues', 'Messiah', 'Sweet Dreams', and 'Green Onions', "After Hours', etc.
17 - Jack Chleva
As a young player hwo had recently moved to Denver I was "turned on" to Roy by someone who had played bass for him (supposedly) in the D.C. area in the 60's or 70's (name: Jim Harrelson, aka Jim Brady). After listening to Roy's first album (the one with Pete's Blue, Messiah, Haunted House, etc.), I was hooked. I stopped the double-cutaway humbuck sound and have been using a Tele ever since.
I had a chance to me Roy here in Denver..and have a few photos of that time...one of the people in the local back-up/warm-up band had auditioned for me a few months before and got me backstage where Roy and I had Hieniken beers together. Along with Danny Gatton, Roy remains to this day a considerable influence on my playing...perhaps too much, as some players wonder if the Buchanan and Gatton styles dominate my playing tooo much...Well, there are worse things of which to be accused....
Roy is still missed...I remember the morning I read about his death in the Rocky Mountain News as if it were yesterday. Man, he sure could teach a fellow to bend a note....
RIP.....
18 - bill huggins
Danny gatton once said that only one person could out play him.Was that person roy buchanan?
19 - Reuben
No, Danny said that once about Roy Nichols.
20 - R Dysinger
Worked as a keyboard player in DC during Roy's heydy. Used to see him at places like the Silver Dollar in Georgetown, the 007 Club, a few others now all gone. Lots of apocryphal stories from that era. Like he turned down the Stones . . . Guy was an unbelievable player. Can still see that jaw grinding away while he's blasting up the neck and reaching back with his little pinky to move that volume control on his Telecaster. And yes when guitar players he didn't like came to see him he would play an entire set with his back to the audience. God rest his soul.
21 - Mark Dougherty
I know I saw the same program on PBS, when I was young, 1971 sounds about right, I was a junior in high school. I walked into the house one night and my mom and dad were watching a guitar player on television. This was very weird because my dad listened to nothing but big band music, (Benny Goodman etc.) I sat down and was just blown away. I still remember that experience to this day.
Some time later 1793 or 1974 my friend and I bought tickets to see Roy in Pittsburgh at the Syria mosque. Back in those days we bought concert tickets in Steubenville Ohio through national record mart. They gave you a receit that you took to the book office for tickets. When we got to the mosque that night they had no tickets for us and my friend went nuts. He was screaming at the poor girl until some guy came in to see what the problem was. He tried to calm down my friend and he told us to meet him over by the door. He turned out to be Jay Rich, Roy's Manager. He said that as soon as everyone got in he would find us seats. He took us back stage and got us a beer and told us that if worse comes to worse we could just grab the chairs we were sitting in and watch the show back stage. I said Don't even bother looking for the sets. While we were sitting there someone went into the room to our left and when I leaned to look into the room a smiling Roy Buchanan leaned forward and waved to me.
When we heard the introduction for the opening act my friend and I grabbed those chairs and sprinted up the steps an planted ourselves in the front row looking right out on the stage. We could not belive our good fortune. It was amazing.
After a while I heard alot of noise behind us, I turned to around to see Roy and has band coming out to go on next. there was a large crowd of people ( mostly women) around them so I turned back to watch the action on stage. While sitting ther I noticed something to my left out of the corner of my eye, I turned my head and there was a white Fender telecaster in my face. I looked up and Roy was looking down smiling at me. I was speechless. Right before he went on stage He ask me when are you fella's going on? That was on of the best concerts of my life. It was the billy price era. and you can still relive in with the live stock album.
22 - Gabby
In the early seventies, I cooked at a saloon in G'town called the Apple Pie. When a band called, DC Dog, fonted by Jimmy Nalls, would be featured on Sunday evenings, Roy would show, the magic he and
Jimmy worked was nothing short of a miracle. So gald
I was there. I have video of Roy, Lonnie Mack, and
Albert Collins at, Carnegie Hall, if anyone would be
interested, Would be glad to copy, just send blank
tape and postage. Leave message through URL
Gabby
23 - alan M
I'm 55 and just discovered Roy this summer. I heard the name when I was younger, but always thought he was Country, which I wasn't very interested in at that time in my life. When I was turned on to Roy this summer, he blew my mind. A guitar god for sure. I've been playing since 1964 and after watching him in some DVD's I just bought, I feel like I don't know a dman thing about playing. He was so cool and smooth. He could play any style and then add all those special effects without any extra equipment. Man ... amazing. I have no stories like the rest of you, just that after discovering Roy's music it's changed my life as a player. I see now I need to push my limits more. I wish I paid attention earlier. When I read about his death I was crushed. What a horrible loss, and so sad for his family. Roy will be in my thoughts daily for the rest of my life, everytime I pick up a guitar, which is every day. I'm a high school teacher, and all my students have been introduce to Roy this year. When they see the DVD's I just bought, they'll appreciate him even more.
24 - gypsyman
Wow, I haven't heard anything about Roy since the early seventies. His music got a lot of air time on FM rock stations up in Canada, Ottawa where I was living at the time, but by the late seventies he just seemed to vanish. I remember, weird as it sounds, I used to always mix up him and J.J. Cale in my mind. Hell I was only thirteen at the time, what do you expect.
But it was around the time that Cale's Midnight was getting airtime, that Ray's Loading Zone was being played on Radio up here. Have I got that title right? Loading Zone? That's a lot of years and a lot of... well whatever since then.
Thanks for the reminder about a truely great guitarist.
Oh any you can't get anybody's email from here. They have to be willing to hand it out. Privacy and all that.
gypsyman
25 - Pete Van Allen
Hi folks. I played bass for Roy in '71-'72 as a "Snakestretcher"...It was a blast. I had been working with legendary DC sax player Joe Stanley backing the Platters in Virginia Beach. Roy was truly amazing and I have zillions of fond memories of him and his wife Judy. I now play in the Baltimore area with my grown son Pete Jr. (drums) in a classic rock band known as "Kelly's Secret". Am also playing with my teenage daughters in a gospel group. Even today, 30-some years later I often remember Roy's live sound and his often prophetic words of wisdom. He was one of a kind. One last thing--one night I had the privilage of being on stage between Roy and Danny Gatton as they battled it out in a guitar "duel". Great memories!!