Albert Lee
Albert Lee was born on December 21, 1943, in Herefordshire, England. He grew up in Blackheath, Lee was with a variety of bands from 1959 onwards, playing mostly R&B, country music and rock and roll. Lee first experienced commercial success as the lead guitarist with Chris Farlowe and The Thunderbirds. Lee’s first tour was in 1960 for Larry Parnes.
During his time playing with Heads Hands & Feet, Lee became a "guitar hero", playing his Fender Telecaster at breakneck speed. Heads Hands & Feet became a very popular live band in the UK and also in Europe, where they appeared on the German music program Beat-Club.
Lee left England for Los Angeles, California in 1974 as offers of session work were flooding in, although efforts to record and release his own albums were stalling. In 1976, Lee was asked to join Emmylou Harris's Hot Band, replacing one of his heroes James Burton.
Starting in 1978, Lee worked for five years with Eric Clapton, playing and singing for a live concert recording at the Budokan in Japan. Lee was an integral part of The Everly Brothers band since their reunion concert in 1983 and has been a regular player with them until their retirement two years ago.
In 1987, Lee was invited by Gerry Hogan to headline at a Steel Guitar Festival in Newbury, Berkshire. Lee was at first intimidated by the prospect of having to front a band, however, the gig was successful and he now tours with Hogan's Heroes on a regular basis. Hogan's Heroes are renowned for attracting celebrities to their gigs. Stars such as Eric Clapton, Lonnie Donegan, Marty Wilde, Willie Nelson, Nanci Griffith, Don Everly, Emmylou Harris, Sonny Curtis and Rodney Crowell have all jammed with the band at one time or another.
In 2002, Lee appeared at the Concert for George (Harrison). The same year Lee received a Grammy Award for Best Country Instrumental Performance for Foggy Mountain Breakdown from the CD Earl Scruggs And Friends.
Lee continues to tour and work in the studio, and tours on a regular basis with Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings Band. Lee has received many awards for his playing, including the five times winner of Guitar Player magazine's Best Country Guitarist.
Lee is known within the music industry for his speed of playing and his technical virtuosity and yet by the same token, one of the most melodic, playing slower passages approximating the sound of the Pedal Steel Guitar with his Music Man and Telecaster guitars which are equipped with B-Benders. He is known as, "the guitar player's, guitar player" because of the presence of so many guitarists, famous or unknown, everywhere he performs. Albert Lee is also referred to as "Mr. Telecaster". A long time Telecaster player, Lee wrote a forward to A.R. Duchossoir's book detailing the history of the instrument.
Lee's song Country Boy, helped to redefine country guitar for a whole generation of players, and was later to become a huge hit for multi instrumentalist Ricky Skaggs. Lee has been described by his peers who include Jimmy Page and Richie Blackmore, as a complete gentleman who does not know the meaning of the word ego. Earl Scruggs, commenting on Lee has stated: "I have been a fan and admirer of his guitar work from the first moment I heard him play. I am constantly amazed at his talent. I am sure there are many guitar players who have been influenced by his style and will continue to be influenced for years to come. Albert is in every sense of the word, a genuine guitar wizard".
Reflecting on the Heads Hands & Feet period of his career, Lee has stated: "What amazes me is, how many musicians in Nashville have a copy of our first album in their personal record collections, and still ask me what happened to the band".