The living synthesis of black and country music. As a child, he took up the
guitar under the influence of local bluesman Ralph Trotts, as well as country
figures such as Merle Travis. In 1963, his rockabilly instrumental version of
Chuck Berry's "Memphis" and his creation of "Wham" (1965) propelled him to the
forefront of the music scene. After a confidential debut album, The Wham Of That
Memphis Man (1963), and a first retirement, he accompanied artists such as James
Brown, Freddy King and the Doors on Morrison Hotel (1970), just before producing
a new album, Hills Of Indiana (1...