In the music industry friendships can be fleeting but the bond between Smokin' Joe Kubek and myself endured the test of time. Our love of guitars kept us in touch with each other no matter where we separately were in the world and I miss him dearly today. Rocky & Joe's Hail Damage Shuffle is the result of our first and last opportunity to record some fun together.
Please join me in celebrating fellow Texas guitar slinger, Smokin' Joe Kubek's birthday. Click the video below and enjoy some mean guitar and slide playing!
After years of non-stop touring, I wanted to make an album that would let me connect with my friends and just have fun playing guitar. Long time friend, Smokin' Joe Kubek was a natural fit and we had a lot of fun hanging out together jamming in the studio. In retrospect, I am grateful and blessed to have spent this time with my very dear friend and I am very proud of the results. You can never go wrong when you combine work with pleasure and Joe was a real pleasure to work with!
If you love everything guitar, you can get your copy of the album Let My Guitar Do The Talking...with my friends HERE.
Please join me in celebrating Larry Samford’s birthday! Larry was a talented artist, a partner, a friend, and a brother. I'm honored to have worked so closely with him and to have lived my life with him in it.
Larry was a man with a true sense of brotherhood and “I’ve got your back” attitude. He may be gone but his lyrics are the gift he left with us. Happy heavenly birthday, Larry! Please enjoy his performance of Miracle below.
Miracle is available on The Essential Rocky Athas series - Volume II by clicking HERE.
Clearly, John Lennon was (and is) my most influential artist. I spent my childhood mesmerized by him and my adulthood studying his artistry in song structure. This recording is the result of deconstructing Dear Prudence with Walter Watson. All of the tracks are performed solely by the two of us. Walter did an amazing job on all of the vocal parts. I handled all of the bass and guitar duties. Man....did we have a good time in the studio! Thank you, John and Happy Birthday!
Steve and I met in the 5th grade at the talent show in the school auditorium of L.K.Hall Elementary School in the Oak Cliff neighborhood of Dallas, Texas. In the audience, sitting on the first row, was Stevie Ray. We didn't call him that back then...he was just Steve. After I played, Steve came up to me and said "Hey, I saw you playing guitar and I play guitar, too." It was an innocent, simple moment that formed the friendship that was fueled by endless talk of guitars and Jimi Hendrix and the newest album at the record store. It was really nice to have someone like-minded, as we were, in those early days of our childhood. To this day, I still love talking about guitars and Hendrix. Wow...what cool days those were. Happy Birthday, Steve! Miss you, brother.
Music Extra - Listen very carefully to the end of the song and you will hear how I voiced my guitar with my wah wah to say "Stevie Ray, Where have you gone?"
This video is just so cool because it shows how Steve was “one” with his guitar. I love it! His confidence and style developed from years of playing every night, wherever he could. Enjoy his showmanship! This is #TexasStyle!
Rocky and Jimmie at the Wildflower Music Festival talking about their Oak Cliff days.
Buddy Miles was an amazing musician with many historic music experiences that he joyfully shared. The collaboration with Buddy Miles on the Bluesberries album with Double Trouble in 2002 produced many timeless tracks but on Rock and Roll the Blues Buddy tells a biographical story the way only the Buddy Miles could do it. Please play it LOUD while you enjoy watching some classic rock history and smile! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BUDDY! Thank you for sharing your gift!
The Bluesberries Album was Rocky's introduction to Jim Gaines, the Grammy Award winning producer for Santana, Steve Miller, Stevie Ray Vaughan and many others. After this meeting, Rocky and Jim became life long friends and Jim produced Rocky's solo albums.
At home with Jim Gaines and his wife, Sandy Carroll.
