The Memphis Commercial Appeal newspaper is reporting the death of beloved local bluesman Fred Sanders Jr, who passed away on Saturday, January 15, 2010 a week after suffering a stroke. Sanders had also been battling cancer for several years; he was 71 years old at the time of his death, but had continued performing and teaching guitar until he was hospitalized for the stroke.
After graduating from Manassas High School in Memphis, Sanders joined the Army, landing in Corpus Christi, Texas where he picked up the guitar. He returned to Memphis in the late 1960s, quickly becoming a fixture on the thriving local blues scene. Nicknamed Fred "Good Guitar Playing" Sanders, he was the house guitarist at Club Paradise in Memphis, where he backed artists like B.B. King, Bobby "Blue" Bland, and Albert King. Through the years Sanders had also played with jazz artists like Buddy Rich and Duke Ellington.
A talented instrumentalist that could perform in just about any style, Sanders was a big-hearted man who freely gave his time to mentor younger musicians in the ways of the blues. On Beale Street, Sanders will be remembered as a dynamic showman who never failed to entertain the audience. Our thoughts go out to his family, friends, and many fans in the Bluff City.
Comments
i had the pleasure to know and play with fred in Levi williams low end blues band and a few others between 1993 and 1995.we played on beale st.mostly in Handy park for tips.we called him fred”chicken picken”sanders.he was a great guitarist and entertainer.losing big-t,jimmy ellis and levi was bad enough.beale st.sure aint gonna be the same without fred.my condolences to his family and friends.