John Whitehill died today, July 1. For many years blues fans throughout the region and beyond listened in awe to John's immaculate guitar playing. Those who attended gigs at the long since demolished Broken Doll pub in Newcastle will have fond memories of hearing John play with the Blues Burglars, later going on to tour across Europe with Paul Lamb and the King Snakes.
John won many individual awards and in 2012 enjoyed international recognition as a member of Groove-a-matics when the band was crowned winner of the prestigious New Brunswick Battle of the Bands competition. Influences were many - the three Kings (Albert, BB and Freddie), Buddy Guy and, notably, Peter Green (hearing John play his composition Mr Green was a rare treat). John shared the stage with many blues greats, including Lowell Fulson, Louisiana Red and local lad Eric Burdon.
In 1998 John recorded his Guitar Gunslinger album (Mo Scott and others were on the session) and more than twenty years later he was still pulling in the crowds, on one memorable occasion in December 2019 playing with Groove-a-matics to a sold out crowd at the Peacock pub in Sunderland (see photo). The band that night was part of a triple bill with George Shovlin and the Radars and Archie Brown and the Young Bucks. An undemonstrative sort, John Whitehill, a master of his craft, made it look all so easy. He'll be missed by all who had the privilege of hearing him play the blues. Russell
Ashington Jazz Club LINK.
4 comments :
The performance of the Teresa Watson band tonight at The Buffs (Friday 1st July) was cancelled due to the death of Ashington's Greatest lead guitarist Johnny Whitehill
RIP The great JW
John Taylor
Oh no! really really sad. One of the greatest local guitarists of all time his playing was just exemplary his name could have equally been at home in all the Clapton is God graffiti that adorned many a wall and school book . A very very sad loss
https://blues.gr/profiles/blogs/interview-with-veteran-johnny-whitehill-four-times-best-guitarist
Only just heard the news and I'm devastated. I was at Newcastle College in the 80's with him he taught me a tone trick on my amp that I've been using ever since. RIP old friend
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