(b.23 September 1939, Ozark, Alabama, USA, d. August 1988).

The son of a preacher, Buchanan discovered gospel music through the influence of traveling revivalists. LOADING ZONE was an accomplished album and contained two of his finest (and longest) outings; the pulsating Green Onions featured shared solos with the song’s co-composer Steve Cropper and the extraordinary Ramon’s Blues (again with Cropper).   His trademark was a battered Fender Telecaster guitar.  Buchanan was never comfortable with the role of virtuoso. A shy, reticent individual, he made several unsuccessful suicide attempts before hanging himself in a police cell in 1988, following his arrest on a drunk-driving charge.

“Reading on your web site the rundown of the suicide (most think) of Roy Buchanan, it should be noted that he… was not arrested on drunk driving (he never learned to drive!) but public intoxication. And there was only one known prior suicide attempt, not several as your entry states. You might also mention the recording that really shows him at his best was “Live Stock” a 1974 live recording, (that was actually recorded in 2 locations). ” ~ Regards, Bob B.