This edition of Blues Stories is about a couple of seriously underrated blues guitarists who've had a lifelong influence on this player.

Jimmy Dawkins
Jimmy Dawkins is a major influence. His style of gritty, west side Chicago blues has been thrilling audiences for decades. His first Delmark Records album in 1969, Fast Fingers was honored with the prestigious Grand Prix du Disque de Jazz from the "Hot Club de France". He has also served as a sideman on several classic blues records. Unfortunately, he has not received the same level of acclaim in the states, although he remains a force on the U.S. blues scene.

I've always dug his basic approach to life and music. A quiet man by nature, his stinging guitar leads speak volumes about his blues and his lyrics speak to the basics of life, pain and poverty. Don't miss the chance to enjoy these good blues! He has some dozen titles to his credit, most recently Jimmy Dawkins, West Side Guitar Hero and Tell Me Baby, both on the Fedora label.

Elvin Bishop
Elvin Bishop has enjoyed his share of fame and big stages. Best known for his Top 40 hit "Fooled Around and Fell in Love", Elvin has been playing blues guitar for decades. He got his start playing in the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, including their 1965 debut album, but was somewhat overshadowed by the legendary Mike Bloomfield. After several years with Butterfield, he started his own Bay Area band, the Elvin Bishop Group, recording for Bill Graham's Fillmore Records label. Three albums later he signed with Capricorn Records, releasing several albums of funk and southern rock inspired blues.

His style of playing is more restrained, focusing on tasteful licks which add to the songs. For this reason he tends to be very underrated as a guitar player. He is one of just a handful of great slide guitar players. His latest album, Gettin' My Groove Back, on Blind Pig Records, features absolutely beautiful slide work on "Sweet Dreams," the song immortalized by Patsy Cline.

Elvin was raised on a farm near Red Oak, Iowa, which had no electricity or running water. Another native Iowan, keyboardist Stephen Miller, plays on his first four albums and co-wrote a Bishop classic, "Party 'til the Cows Come Home," reprised on Gettin' My Groove Back.

Ready for some good ole boy good-time blues? Buy some Elvin Bishop records!