Sonny Landreth

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Sonny Landreth (born February 1, 1951) is an American blues musician from southwest Louisiana who is especially known as a slide guitar player. He was born in Canton, Mississippi, but soon after, his family moved to Jackson, Mississippi, before settling in Lafayette, Louisiana. When he is not touring and performing, he resides in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana.

[edit] Technique

Although Landreth is an extremely competent guitarist in the conventional form, it is his slide playing that he is most well known for. He has developed a technique where he also frets notes and plays chords and chord fragments "behind" the slide while he's playing. He has managed to perfect this form of playing like no other. Many a well known guitarist has left his shows shaking his or her head in amused disbelief. He plays with the slide on his little finger as most slide players do. It would be basically impossible to play this style with the slide on any other finger.

Landreth has been working steadily for decades, amassing a devoted following among his fans and peers. Eric Clapton said he is "probably the most underestimated musician on the planet and also probably one of the most advanced."

[edit] Discography

Sonny Landreth has performed on many other artists' albums, including albums from John Hiatt, Waterline, and The Goners. He has performed with Bonnie Raitt, Mark Knopfler, and Buddy Guy, among others.

He has released at least nine solo albums: