Cliff Gallup

Clifton Elwood Gallup ( born June 17, 1930 in Norfolk, Virginia; † October 9, 1988 in Chesapeake, Virginia) was an American guitarist. Gallup was considered the best guitarist of the early rockabilly and was inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame and the list of the 100 best guitarists of all time the music magazine Rolling Stone.

Life

Gallup played before 1956 together with Jack Neal in a band called The Virginians, who came from his home town of Norfolk. When Sheriff Tex Davis in 1956 took over the management of Gene Vincent, he of this a band of local musicians, the Blue Caps. Gallup was as the lead guitarist of this band in Nashville made ​​the first recordings in May 1956. For these recordings had the producer, who did not trust the abilities of the band, in addition engaged studio musician. However, these were not needed. Among other things, the title Be-Bop -A- Lula, Blue Jean Bop and Race with the Devil were recorded, in which Gallup played technically demanding guitar solos. His style was influenced by Chet Atkins and Les Paul and combined elements of blues and country. Gallup used an ordinary pick and an additional two finger picks. His guitar was a Gretsch Duo Jet.

Rejecting long tours for family reasons he left the band still 1956. Thereafter Gallup played occasionally even in some local bands. He also took a solo album, Straight Down the Middle, published in 1966. In 1988, he died of a stroke.

Jeff Beck in 1993, Crazy Legs, a tribute album to Gallup, on.