x
Breaking News
More () »

Guitarist Lonnie Mack dies at 74

 

 

CINCINNATI — Rock guitarist Lonnie Mack, who is credited with influencing Stevie Ray Vaughan, among others, has died in Tennessee. He was 74.

According to his label, Alligator Record Label, Mack died of natural causes Thursday at Centennial Medical Center near his home in Smithville, Tenn.

Mack, whose hits include 1963's Memphis (an instrumental version of the Chuck Berry song), is credited with influencing not only Vaughan, but also Eric Clapton, Keith Richards and Jimmy Page.

Rolling Stone called him “a pioneer in rock guitar soloing.”

Mack followed Memphis, with Wham!, which inspired the nickname "whammy bar" for the tremolo bar he had on his Gibson Flying V.

 

Mack was born in 1941 in Aurora, Ind., about 30 miles from Cincinnati. He learned his first few chords from his mother. He quit school after a fight with his sixth-grade teacher and formed his first band, Lonnie Mack and the Twilighters, at age 13.

He played roadhouses in the Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky region and was a session musician for the Cincinnati-based King and Fraternity labels, backing big names such as James Brown, Freddie King and Hank Ballard.

Mack moved to Texas in 1983 and, shortly thereafter, recorded Strike Like Lightning. Vaughan plays with him on several tracks.

In June 1990, he released Lonnie Mack, Live! - Attack of the Killer V. Though it was recorded in Chicago, the album mentions Cincinnati on no less than three songs: Riding The BlindsCincinnati Jail and Camp Washington Chili.

The musician received a lifetime achievement award at the then-Cincinnati Enquirer Pop Music Awards (the Cammys) in 1998.

He is survived by five children and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, according to his label's release. Funeral arrangements are pending.

Contributing: The Associated Press. Follow Shauna Steigerwald and Carol Motsinger on Twitter: @shaunaincincy and @carolemotsinger

Before You Leave, Check This Out