-
Jim Carlton
Tony Mottola
Mr. Big, Guitar Pioneer
Some argue that Tony Mottola was more legendary than famous. In a career spanning 50 years, the guitarist logged thousands of studio dates and made hundreds of concert and television appearances. A first call for dozens of artists including Frank Sinatra, Perry Como, Johnny Mathis, Rosemary Clooney, Billie Holiday, Connie Francis, and others, he was…
-
Jim Carlton
John Pisano
1931-2024
John Pisano, doyen of the Los Angeles jazz guitar scene, passed away at his home May 2, at the age of 93. During a seven-decade career, he recorded and often toured the globe with artists such as Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Barbra Streisand, Burt Bacharach, Natalie Cole, Peggy Lee, and Diana Krall, among many others.…
-
Jim Carlton
Freddie Green
Artistry in Rhythm
Fellow musicians called him “Pep” or “Pepperhead.” He was also known as “Mr. Rhythm,” and he could drive a band like no other guitarist. His was a subtle yet unmistakable motivating and metronomic force. Others emulated his style and function, but Freddie Green was the archetype – the most famous rhythm guitarist in jazz. In…
-
Jim Carlton
Dennis Budimir
Renowned studio guitarist Dennis Budimir died in Los Angeles on January 10. He was 84. Early in his career, Budimir’s path to jazz stardom began when he started working with progressive artists such as Bud Shank and Eric Dolphy, until he was drafted by the U.S. Army. After being discharged in 1963, Budimir (VG, November…
-
Jim Carlton
Thom Rotella
Chart Topper
Sitting with his TV Jones custom archtop, exploring “Unit 7” – the tune made famous by Cannonball Adderley and Wes Montgomery – Thom Rotella says, “For years, I played everything in octaves – even scales. I actually had to re-learn how to play single-string lines and at first I was really lost. And even today,…
-
Jim Carlton
Tim May
The MVP
Renowned studio guitarist Tim May played his first film-score session in 1974, for John Schlesinger’s Day of the Locust. Now a legitimate first-call session player, May has contributed to thousands of film scores, TV soundtracks, and record dates. Still, he’s probably best known for his scalding version of “Johnny B. Goode” that was so nicely…
-
Jim Carlton
Bill Pitman
1920-2022
One of the last surviving members of the record industry’s famed Wrecking Crew, Bill Pitman died at his home in LaQuinta, California, on August 11, 2022. He was 102 and fractured his spine in a fall that ultimately caused his demise. Until recently, Pitman’s wife, Jan, said he played guitar daily, often exploring Bill Evans…
-
Jim Carlton
Carlos Barbosa-Lima
Classical guitarist Carlos Barbosa-Lima passed away February 23 in Paraty, Brazil. He was 77 and succumbed to a heart attack. Barbosa-Lima began studying guitar at the age of nine, with Isaías Sávio. By 12, his concerts in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro garnered nationwide attention and resulted in his first LP, recorded in 1958.…
-
Jim Carlton
Keith Richards’ 1963 Gibson SG Custom
Ready to Ramble
In 1961, Gibson introduced the double-cutaway Les Paul to replace the original version, which had been endorsed by guitarist Les Paul since being developed in 1952. Redesigned in response to falling market demand in the face of competition from Fender’s lighter, curvier, more-contoured Stratocaster, the guitar was re-named SG (for “solid guitar”) during the 1963…
-
Jim Carlton
Ted Greene Remembered
You know what happened: discretionary income for the first time and the rise of the indies with things that the majors laughed at. Just like Gibson laughing at Leo at the 1950 or ’51 NAMM show. But they got pretty scared by late ’51 and ’52 because Gibson was calling up Les and inviting him…
