Jeff Beck was an English guitarist who rose to prominence as a member of the rock band the Yardbirds, and afterwards founded and fronted the Jeff Beck Group and Beck, Bogert & Appice. In 1975, he switched to an instrumental style with focus on an innovative sound, and his releases spanned genres and styles ranging from blues rock, hard rock, jazz fusion and a blend of guitar-rock and electronica.
Beck was ranked in the top five of Rolling Stone and other magazines' lists rankings of the greatest guitarists. He was often called a "guitarist's guitarist". Rolling Stone described him as "one of the most influential lead guitarists in rock". Although he recorded two successful albums (in 1975 and 1976) as a solo act, Beck did not establish or maintain commercial success like that of his contemporaries and bandmates. He recorded with many artists. Beck earned wide critical praise and received the Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance six times and Best Pop Instrumental Performance once.
Beck was born in Wallington, Surrey, England on 24 June 24 1944. He began playing guitar at the age of 13, and was influenced by early rock and roll guitarists such as Chuck Berry and Scotty Moore. In 1963, he joined the Yardbirds, a British blues rock band that was also home to Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page. Beck left the Yardbirds in 1966, and went on to form the Jeff Beck Group, which released two albums, Truth (1968) and Beck-Ola (1969). The group disbanded in 1970, and Beck went on to form Beck, Bogert & Appice with former Vanilla Fudge members Tim Bogert and Carmine Appice. The group released one album, Beck, Bogert & Appice (1972), before disbanding in 1974.
In 1975, Beck returned to a solo career, and released the album Blow by Blow, which was a critical and commercial success. The album featured a new, more experimental sound that was influenced by jazz fusion and electronica. Beck continued to release albums throughout the 1970s and 1980s, and collaborated with a variety of artists, including Stevie Wonder, Tina Turner, and George Harrison. In 1999, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Yardbirds.
Beck continued to tour and record throughout his career, and was awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015. He died on 10 January 2023, at the age of 78.
EPIC EPC 6911 Yellow Label , 1975 , Made in Holland
"Blow by Blow " is the second solo album by British guitarist Jeff Beck, released on Epic Records in 1975, and recorded in October 1974.
Show DetailsEPIC 463472 , 1989 , Holland
"Jeff Beck's Guitar Shop" is the 1989 studio album by the English Guitarist and Musician "Jeff Beck", this album was awarded "Best Rock Instrumental Performance" at the 1990 Grammys;
Show DetailsEPIC EPC 86012 , 1976 , Made in Holland
Wired is the 1976 Studio album by the English Guitarist and Musician "Jeff Beck" and was produced by George Martin.
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