Closing Night has arrived – already – for Boulevard Music’s Summer Music Festival.
The 7 o’clock finale in the Dale Jones Courtyard at City Hall arguably will feature the most memorable act of the Gary Mandel-produced season:
Country, rock and blues guitarist Albert Lee and his band.
The colorful British native has performed with many of the most popular groups and stars of the rock era.
Albert Lee grew up in Blackheath, London, where his father played English pub music on piano and accordion. At seven, Albert took up piano and studied formally for two years, delving into the classics, learning pop tunes, and coming to love rock and roll in part through the music of Jerry Lee Lewis.
In 1958 he got his hands on his first guitar, a Hofner President acoustic arch-top.
Taking an immediate liking to Buddy Holly and the Crickets, he learned all he could from their records. For a time the acoustic guitar served its purpose, but soon Albert longed for an electric
Due to an insatiable craving for American country, rock and roll, and rhythm and blues, Albert diligently studied recordings by Jimmy Bryant, Gene Vincent and The Blue Caps (featuring Cliff Gallup on lead guitar), the Louvin Brothers, Ricky Nelson (James Burton on lead), and especially the Everly Brothers.
An important milestone was guitarist Hank Garland‘s masterwork Jazz Winds from a New Direction, the 1960 LP that shattered the barriers between jazz and country.
At 16, Albert quit school in Christmas of 1959 when his band turned pro. Various day jobs followed but it wasn’t until 1961 that his luck turned when he was approached by Bob Xavier to join his band.
Albert’s first record was cut when he was with the Jury, backing Jackie Lynton on All Of Me/I’d Steal in 1962.
Albert again replaced Jimmy Page in Neil Christian’s band, the Crusaders, and was replaced by Ritchie Blackmore when in 1964 he joined Chris Farlowe And The Thunderbirds, a seminal R&B/rock and roll band that was somehow overlooked in the U.S. during the British Invasion of the mid-60s. He recorded and toured with Farlowe for four years during this period.
From 1968 to 1970, Albert played throughout England in various club bands, often supporting American country artists on European tours. One such band was Country Fever who were together for about 18 months and played U.S. air bases in Britain and Germany.
Shortly after the group’s demise, its rhythm section was signed on in the U.S. as the core of support for what would become Jerry Lee Lewis’s The London Sessions album. Although sometimes a bit tattered around the edges due to the Killer’s penchant for minimal rehearsals and foot-to-the-floor arrangements, the record still crackles with energy, thanks in part to Albert Lee’s daredevil rock and roll magic.
The double album also featured guitarists Alvin Lee and Irish blues legend Rory Gallagher.
In 1973 Albert began occasional touring and recording with the Crickets.
In 1974, his career took a turn upon his arrival in Los Angeles. Somewhat disappointed in efforts to gain recognition through touring, he pursued the difficult course of L.A. session work. Through his association with the Crickets, he met musical idols, Phil and Don Everly. Their friendship remains to this day. At the time Don was gigging informally at the Sundance Saloon, in Calabasas.
In 1983 he was an instigator in the Everly Brothers reunion when he was chosen as guitarist/musical director for the Everlys’ first concert in 10 years at the Royal Albert Hall in London. He continues to tour with the Everlys, spending up to four or five months on the road with them each year.
More recenlty Albert has been touring with ex-Rolling Stone Bill Wyman and his band, the Rhythm Kings.