Gary Clark Jr. – Austin Blues Guitar Emerges

So tell me, what does Texas put in their water that creates so many great blues guitar players?

Actually it isn’t hard to understand when you visit Austin a see the incredible mix of bars, clubs and street musicians – the question becomes, how can you NOT become a musician.

But then, out of this blues mecca comes what everyone is buzzing about…the next great blues guitar legend?  His name is Gary Clark Jr. and yes, he’s the real deal.

He caught the attention of one Eric Clapton ending up as one of the only new guitar players on Crossroad Blue Festival 2010’s line-up – a show certainly to remember up there with Doyle Bramhall II – they tore it up!

Here’s Gary Clark showing his retro shuffle chops with a sweet mix of Chuck Berry, Texas shuffle (a la Vaughan Brothers) and traditional Lightning Hopkins, Freddie King on this version of Shotgun Blues written by Donnie and Hock Walsh of the Downchild Blues Band.

And now for the real test – a slow blues…sounds of BB King mixed with Buddy Guy?

Apparently he is working on a CD that will come out next year – but already generating significant buzz…or as we like to say “paying his dues”

Nice to see that blues is alive and well.