| 1940 |
 |
Django_Reinhardt
records “Nuages”
which goes on to sell more than 100,000 copies in Nazi-occupied Paris.
Despite the terrible handicap of two permanently damaged fingers on his
left hand (from a 1928 fire in his Gypsy caravan), Reinhardt becomes one
of the most important and influential ( Les Paul, Jeff Beck, John Jorgenson)
jazz guitarists of all time. |
| 1941 |
|
Les Paul builds “The Log”, a prototype solid
body guitar.
Jimi Hendrix born in Seattle, Washington
|
| 1942 |
 |
Charlie_Christian
dies of pneumonia at the age of twenty-five.
T-Bone
Walker
cuts his first single for
Columbia Records. Regarded by many music historians as the first modern
blues recording. Walker was the ultimate showman on stage, later to have
a major impact on Jimi Hendrix, Chuck Berry, Buddy Guy, and Elvis Presley.
|
| 1948 |
|
Les Paul debuts his “new sound” with a multilayered disc recording
of “Lover”.
Merle Travis and Paul Bigsby collaborate, design, and Bigsby
builds arguably the first solid body guitar in his machine shop in California.
Bigsby also designs and builds the vibrato system for guitars that remains
popular with many guitarists to this day.
Muddy
Waters
goes into the Chess
recording studio to recut “I
Can’t Be Satisfied” on electric guitar despite objections
from the label boss. The record sold out instantly.
The Chicago Blues sound is born.
|
| 1949 |
|
While playing in a jukejoint, B.B.
King almost dies in an inferno started by two men fighting over a
woman. The woman’s name is Lucille.
|