He was actually instrumental within the early days of rock’n’roll and influenced a technology of future guitar figureheads. They ranged from Jimmy Web page and Hank Marvin to Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck. Cliff Gallup, born on June 17, 1930, by no means turned a family title himself. However he’s immortalized by way of his pioneering guitar work as a member of Gene Vincent’s Blue Caps.
Gallup began out in a band known as the Virginians, named after his residence state. He and his fellow group members had been launched to a 21-year-old Vincent in 1956 by songwriter and promoter “Sheriff” Tex Davis. Quickly, they had been recording in Nashville with producer Ken Nelson, who recognised Gallup’s prowess instantly.
Cliff’s time in rock ‘n’ roll was short-lived. He performed on some 35 tracks with Vincent, together with the 1956 traditional “Be-Bop-A-Lula” (co-written by Vincent and Davis). He was a linchpin of one of many nice debut LPs of all, Vincent and his Blue Caps’ Bluejean Bop! Then, aged 26, married and reluctant to tour, he was gone from the group by the tip of that 12 months.
A ‘proper’ job
He would return solely to play some classes on Vincent’s second album. He then recorded a 1960 album credited to the 4 Cs that includes Gallopin’ Cliff Gallup. Cliff received a “proper” job within the Virginia faculty system, and labored in that sector for the remainder of his life. He died in 1988.
Hank, Eric, Jeff, and different greats grew up imitating and idolizing the Rock and Roll Corridor of Fame inductee. Together with his nimble Gretsch taking part in, Gallup earned a No. 79 rating in Rolling Stone’s 2003 record of the 100 greatest-ever guitarists.
“I was most interested in bands that used the guitar to great effect,” mentioned Beck. “People like Scotty Moore, Cliff Gallup, and Gene Vincent — all of them in the States, which is where my musical roots are.”
‘The most sustaining influences’
Jimmy Web page was one other British guitar large who acknowledged Gallup’s affect. “I just kept getting records and learning that way,” he mentioned of his musical training. “It was the obvious influences at the beginning. Scotty Moore, James Burton, Cliff Gallup…Johnny Weeks, later. Those seemed to be the most sustaining influences until I began to hear blues guitarists Elmore James, B.B. King, and people like that.”
Rolling Stone’s David Fricke evocatively described how Gallup “introduced the stylistic swagger that every rock guitarist now takes for granted. His slashing, razor-blade-in-the-ducktail assaults pushed the instrument one big step away from country picking and down the mean streets that rock & roll guitar has traversed ever since.”
Hearken to a few of Cliff Gallup’s biggest performances on Apple Music and Spotify.
