The loud problem was really conquered in the 1940s with the proliferation
of amplified guitars. Electromagnets placed just below the strings created
a signal that could be amplified and pushed through a speaker. The crowd
or the band could get as loud as it wanted and it didn't matter anymore to the guitar player. The guitar really began to step out as a solo instrument with a band accompaniment. The best known pioneer of the era was
Muddy Waters 1915 - 1983. Muddy used his acoustic chops on an electric guitar along with a drummer, bass player,
harmonica man, and piano player to created the template for today's rock
and funk bands. He electrified the Blues.
Hear Muddy Waters play electric guitar on I
Can't Be Satisfied.
Lucille! The most famous
name in the Blues who not a person. B.B. King 1925 ran into a burning juke joint one night to save his precious guitar after a jealous lover set the place on fire because a girl named Lucille done him wrong. Now that's the Blues! When B.B. hugs Lucille she comes to life with probably the most recognizable sounds in all of popular music. B.B. owns several Lucilles and chances are you'll never see the original. It stays in his hotel room.
Hear B.B.
King play Lucille on How
Blue Can You Get?.
