Roy Buchanan – The Guitar Ghost Who Could Make His Telecaster Cry
Every blues guitarist has a “moment” they remember.
Mine was hearing Roy Buchanan for the first time.
I’d heard all the big names—Hendrix, Clapton, SRV—but nothing prepared me for the feel of Roy’s playing. He didn’t just bend notes—he tore them out of the sky. And the sound that came out of his battered Fender Telecaster was like nothing else: crying, screaming, whispering… sometimes all in the same solo.
Roy Buchanan didn’t need words. His guitar spoke volumes.
Who Was Roy Buchanan?
Born in 1939 in Ozark, Arkansas, and raised in California, Roy Buchanan was a self-taught genius. He wasn’t flashy in the showbiz sense—he didn’t smash guitars or sing his heart out—but man, when he played, it was like he was channeling something from another world.
He’s often called “The Best Unknown Guitarist in the World,” and while that’s true to an extent, those of us who know his work know he was one of the greatest who ever lived.
Roy played with artists like Dale Hawkins and Ronnie Hawkins in his early years, and by the ’70s, he was quietly changing the game—with no hits, no big tours, and no compromises.
The Sound: Pure Emotion Through a Telecaster
Roy Buchanan made the Fender Telecaster scream, sob, and sing like no one else.
- 🎸 He used volume and tone knobs like most people use pedals—manipulating sound in real time.
- 🎵 He mastered pinch harmonics, feedback, and volume swells long before they became rock clichés.
- 🎙️ And he did it all without distortion, just pure tone, fingers, and feel.
No one made a clean guitar sound more dangerous.
His solos weren’t licks or scale runs—they were conversations, often desperate, always beautiful.
The Albums That Changed My Life
If you want to understand why Roy Buchanan still has a cult following decades after his death, start here:
- 🎧 Roy Buchanan (1972) – His self-titled debut on Polydor. Includes “The Messiah Will Come Again”, one of the most emotional instrumentals ever recorded.
- 💿 Second Album (1973) – More blues fire, more fearless phrasing. “After Hours” is another stunner.
- 🔥 Live Stock (1975) – A blistering live record. You can hear the sweat in every note.
- 🎶 When a Guitar Plays the Blues (1985) – A late-career highlight, raw and soulful with better production.
- 📀 Roy Buchanan: Sweet Dreams – The Anthology – For the complete picture.
“The Messiah Will Come Again” – A Spiritual Experience
There’s no better place to start than “The Messiah Will Come Again.”
It’s not a song—it’s a sermon. A whisper, a scream, a prayer, and a cry for salvation all at once.
The spoken intro is haunting. Then comes the guitar—and it breaks your heart wide open.
I remember sitting in the dark, letting that song wash over me, thinking: this is what emotion sounds like with no words attached.
Seeing Him Live: The Stuff of Legend
I never got to see Roy live—he passed in 1988 before I even picked up a guitar.
But the live footage is unreal.
He barely moves. No gimmicks. Just a man, a Telecaster, and the most expressive fingers I’ve ever seen.
There’s a clip of him playing “Hey Joe” live, and it’s almost uncomfortable to watch—like you’re witnessing something private, sacred.
He wasn’t trying to entertain.
He was testifying.
Why Roy Buchanan Still Matters
Roy didn’t chase fame. He didn’t fit into the mainstream.
But his impact? Massive.
Players like Jeff Beck, Gary Moore, Danny Gatton, and Joe Bonamassa have cited him as a major influence.
And fans like me?
We keep going back to him when we want something real.
He showed that you don’t need a wall of amps or flashy solos to move people.
You just need a guitar, a heart, and the courage to play like nobody’s watching.
Where to Start If You’re New
Here’s your Roy Buchanan starter kit:
- 🎸 Roy Buchanan (1972) – The perfect entry point.
- 🔥 Live Stock – To hear him at full power.
- 💿 When a Guitar Plays the Blues – Mature, refined Roy.
- 📺 YouTube: Search “Roy Buchanan Messiah,” “Roy Buchanan live Hey Joe,” or “Roy Buchanan pinch harmonics” to see why he’s so revered.
More info at allmusic.com
Roy Buchanan wasn’t a star. He was a ghost. A soul with a Telecaster who didn’t care about fame—just feel.
And once you’ve heard that tone, you’ll chase it for the rest of your life.
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